Original U.S. WWII-Era US Marine Corps Issue M-1940 Pressed Fiber Sun Helmet with Original Chinstrap & EGA Device

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a good example of a service-used condition “American Fiber Helmet”. The fiber helmet was originally designed by Jesse Hawley in the early 1930s. Hawley subsequently designed the first fiber helmet liner for the original M1 steel helmet, alongside the General Fibre Company, a subsidiary of the International Hat Company. This example doesn’t have an explicit maker. The first patent for the Hawley pressed fiber sun helmet was petitioned to the U.S. government in 1935 and subsequently granted in 1938.

This is a heavily worn genuine United States Marine Corp WW2 sun helmet. It retains the original WWII EGA insignia along with the chinstrap which is stretched taut over the front brim. The shell itself has some heavy staining. The liner / sweatband is retained with some wear, with the tie string still there. The interior is stamped:

U.S.N.
CONTRACT N140
02236s-19047B

Comes ready for display.

History of the USMC Press Fiber Sun Helmet (courtesy of militarysunhelmets.com):

When the helmet of the United States Marine Corp in World War II is discussed it is likely the M1 steel helmet with the famous herringbone twill cover. But in fact this wasn’t the only helmet used by the USMC.

The pressed fiber sun helmet - which was first adopted by the USMC on October 1, 1940 - saw use throughout the Second World War. Two companies, Hawley Products Company and International Hat Company, manufactured the helmets and more than 100,000 were produced.

While the pressed fiber helmet saw use by all branches of the military it is most recognized as a helmet of the USMC. In fact, it was widely used as a training helmet while production of the M1 steel helmet was ramped up.

The pressed fiber helmet was actually officially adopted and entered service prior to the M1 helmet, while it remained in service with the US Navy until the 1990s, more than a decade after the M1 helmet was retired from service. This makes the pressed fiber helmet one of the longest serving types of US Military headgear. It saw use in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Grenada and even Desert Shield/Desert Storm.