Original WWII U.S. Navy Painted Front Seam Fixed Bale McCord Captain’s M1 Helmet with Brazed Captain’s Eagle Insignia - Complete

Original Item. Only One Available. This is a lovely U.S. Navy painted M1 helmet with a front seam and fixed bales. This example is in very good condition considering signs of honest wear from use, and decades of storage wear. The front of the helmet has a fantastic brazed Navy Captain’s Eagle insignia. From the design of the eagle, we know it to be Navy, and not an Army Colonel. There is a heat stamp, 494A, on the interior. The liner is by CAPAC and is complete with a heavily worn leather chinstrap stretched taut over the front brim.

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 shell is painted in a very faded green that almost appears blue. 

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. 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 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 late 1943, a set of bales which swiveled were introduced, which reduced the risk of breakage like the earlier fixed bales. This particular helmet is of the early fixed bale variety, with khaki chinstraps fitted with a stamped brass buckle.

The helmet comes complete with high pressure WWII issue and stamped with the CAPAC Manufacturing Company logo with frontal eyelet. Manufactured in Capac, Michigan this high pressure manufactured M-1 helmet liner is identified by an embossed cross with the words Capac in the crown. Capac Manufacturing Company started M-1 helmet liner delivery to the US Army in September 1942. They produced approximately between 2,000,000 - 4,000,000 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 shape. 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 still present and in fair service worn condition, and is inscribed with initials G.A.J.. The liner chinstrap is intact but heavily crazed, seated upon the front brim. 

This would make a worthy addition to any WWII or Helmet collection. Ready to display!