What is this Paratroop Steel Helmet and Liner worth?

[ulflyer]

Found this at an antique bike show for $35 but don't know anything about helmets. Its missing the left prong hook on the chin strap and also the leather sweatband. Otherwise its pretty decent. The helmet seam is on the front.
Have not pulled the liner out yet as it looks like the clips on the movable bales? would have to be bent to do so.

I do a couple of gun shows a year to sell an M1 Carbine or two and would like to offer the helmet for sale if I can determine a fair price.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[gsimmons]

There should a snap fastener holding the strap to the liner.

[ulflyer]

Good info; hadn't noticed the snaps. Took liner out and examined it again and there appears to be a mark in the top, very small, looks like a W with a II or 11 out beside it and perhaps a numeral 3 off on an angle. The nettng appears old, and smells old, but is nothing but a loose piece laid over the pot with the liner holding it in. Were they that way, or is this likely something added?

Been looking around the internet and see there are a couple diff types of hooks or prong for the left chin strap. Any idea which is correct, and if the hook/prong can be spread apart in order to slide it onto the tab?

I see there are some repro sweat bands on Ebay. Should I put one on, or leave it without?

Any idea of value?

[browningautorifle]

I'm pretty sure it's a Vietnam era Para helmet, the USMC also used them. That's where I got mine originally. I used mine for my whole career. The chin strap is replaceable, I may have one lying around but I'd need to look. The leather sweat band is available and they're a new enough item I don't think they'll be repro. The snaps holding the inner/outer together are present. You'll find the manufacturer's mark inside the liner at the very top. Use a wet cloth to clean and identify. Use a good light and your glasses, it's small. Maybe Inland, maybe Westinghouse. Maybe Firestone... The inside of the steel outer at the front will have an alpha/numeric inside that's the heat lot for the outer shell. It will also identify it. They're not worth the sum that their predecessor from WW2 are. Not nearly. That's why I suggest the strap change and the headband addition. I'll get back to you about the outer shell strap.

[ulflyer]

BAR: thanks for the info and offer of help on the chin strap. I've since been surfing and found some more info about the helmet and liner:

The pot itself is marked towards the front with a "2 8A" . The A could possible be a 4 as there are some spots of rust inside. No idea what this means. The rim seam is on the front, not the back. Doesn't that make it a WWII pot?
As to the left chin strap: is the prong or clip or whatever its called sewed onto the strap, and a prong by itself can't be spread apart enough to slip on the the existing strap? Both straps have a small tear/wear spot but are overall fairly strong.

Having examined the liner further I see the marking is "M II" and above that a "3" with indistinguishable marks in front of the 3. And it has some words stamped in ink on the left side band and those that I can read say: Liner, Soldiers Steel Helmet, Type II, a large numeral 4, bunch of letters I can't make out ending with: "64 P" (possible an F but P looks best). The liner has a cloth chinstrap intact, as well as the rear head/neck band, so all its missing is the leather band. Any suggestions where I might look to find a band?

[browningautorifle]

The head bands are around. Guys here have them so it's not much of a reach. The outer strap fasteners are sewn in so I think you'll have to change the strap. I'm sure this outer matches the inner and it's a swivel bale from the 70s. The whole affair's called the M1C. The WW2 model's the M2. Different rig. If you take some closer more detailed pics I can post the ones of my old one to compare. Harlan has it now. The net would be wrong for this one and you'd need a reversable cover with two colours, green and brown. The pics I have will show you where the markings I talk about are. Like I say, they're hard to make out.

[ulflyer]

Jim, if you have that left chin strap, or both sides for that matter, I'd be glad to pay you for them. Meanwhile I'll go shopping for a headband. I've already taken the net off as it isn't original.

ted/clem@ptmc.net

PS: the pot has some spots of fairly light rust inside. Should i leave it, or can I oil and wipe good without hurting value?

[browningautorifle]

Attachment 33974Unless the rust offends you, don't get too wrapped around it. A bit of oil may help. More on the chinstrap, I actually found one of each. The inner with grommets and the outer both parts new. But save your coin, the buckle comes out without trouble. I send pics so you can imagine. I simply squashed the strap and took out the buckle. I layed it on the strap so you could see clearly. If you still want to buy the new set off me, we can PM about it...

[ulflyer]

Jim, PM sent

[browningautorifle]

Still wish you could give us some more detailed pics when the dust settles. The front seam normally would indicate a WW2 helmet but this one has the later straps which could be retrofitted. They cut the old ones off. They were sewn on. The little W in the top of your liner would mean Westinghouse. Those are things we can sort out when you have time.