Original U.S. WWII 1945 M1 McCord Rear Seam Swivel Bale Helmet with M44 Net and Firestone Liner

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice example of a late WWII Produced M1 Helmet, with a rear seam swivel bale shell by McCord, and a "High Pressure" liner by Firestone. It shows wear consistent with service, and likely saw some service post war, but it is still in quite good condition.

The U.S. WWII M-1 helmet was only produced from 1941 to 1945. The first production batch resulted with over 323,510 M-1 helmets before the start of the American involvement in the war. This helmet is partially heat-lot stamped 1285, which indicates a very late-war manufacture date.

The Ordnance Department selected McCord Radiator and Manufacturing Company of Detroit Michigan to produce the steel M1 helmet bodies. These bodies were made from a single piece of Hadfield Manganese steel that was produced by the Carnegie-Illinois & Sharon Steel Corporations. Each completed raw M-1 helmet shell weighed 2.25 lbs each.

The early M-1 helmet shells had a set of fixed (static) chinstrap loops called "bales" and a stainless steel rim. These rims were both rust resistant and had "non-magnetic qualities" that reduced the chance of error readings when placed around certain sensitive equipment (such as a compass). In October 1943, issues with the fixed bales breaking off resulted in a change to the "swivel bales" that this helmet has. In 1944, to deal with paint wearing off the very shiny stainless steel rim, the material was changed to manganese steel in October, and then the seam moved to the rear in November.

This helmet is a fine example and still retains all of its original WWII parts and the shell has "corked" grain paint with rear seam and swivel bails. The chin strap is khaki with brass stamped hardware, and it is causing some heavy rust staining on the shell underneath it. The shell and chinstrap are in very good condition, showing very little wear related to service. The number 95 is stenciled on the interior. 

The liner is correct “high pressure” WWII issue and stamped with an F logo over A24 for the FIRESTONE TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY. Manufactured in Akron, Ohio this “high pressure” manufactured M-1 helmet liner is identified by an embossed “F” in the crown. Firestone Tire and Rubber Company started M-1 helmet liner delivery to the US Army in September 1942. They produced approximately 7,500,000 M-1 helmet liners and discontinued production around August 17 1945 when the war ended.

This true US WWII M-1 helmet liner can be identified through the frontal eyelet hole. Other correct WWII features include OD Green #3 cotton herringbone twill (HBT) cloth suspension liner, with the webbing in good condition. This HBT suspension is held tightly within the M-1 helmet liner by rivets and a series of triangular "A" washers. The three upper suspension bands are joined together with the correct OD green string. This way the wearer could adjust the fit. The sweatband is worn but still fully intact. The liner chinstrap is original but has heavy cracking as shown. The liner is void of paint. 

The helmet retains a lovely helmet net which shows moderate wear from use.

A good late war M1 helmet, ready for further research and display.