M16, with M17 Liner System S.i.66

[Adler 1]

Indeed an excellent helmet as you don't see them very often...

Adler

[PlaceOfBayonets]

Amazing helmet! Original paint but so good looks like a re paint. Look at the rim. No wear. Was not worn in combat. Had to have been taken from a depot shelf. Only thing that does not add up is the chin strap. I think it was added. Or was worn in combat, added to a re issued helmet that saw an hour of combat before the soldat was taken prisoner.

What do you make of the liner band being the exact same color as the inside of the helm? I don't see that on my originals.

W

[Hoss]

Chuck
We are friends. I want it, give it to me.

Eric

[C. Roelens]

Amazing helmet! Original paint but so good looks like a re paint. Look at the rim. No wear. Was not worn in combat. Had to have been taken from a depot shelf. Only thing that does not add up is the chin strap. I think it was added. Or was worn in combat, added to a re issued helmet that saw an hour of combat before the soldat was taken prisoner.

What do you make of the liner band being the exact same color as the inside of the helm? I don't see that on my originals.

W

W.,

The chinstrap is original to this helmet. Take a close look at the steel fittings... all four pieces are mint. The leather was most likely weakened from being stretched over the front visor for many years. The aging is probably from bad storage, and time. There is also a bad/weak spot in the leather where is has broken, however; both end pieces of the break fit perfectly. I think I'll leave it just as it is though. I'm not so sure this one made it to the field.

I don't think anything about the liner band except it's original to this helmet, and matches perfectly to the overall condition of the rest of the helmet. Every one of my M17 liner systems are the same in various conditions of wear. All of these steel liner bands match in paint color. I have no reproductions in my collection.

Chuck

[PlaceOfBayonets]

All my helmet with original M17 or M18 bands seem to have been painted at a factory and then later added to the helmet in the manufacturing process. That is the first one I've seen like that.

W.