M17 Liner pads?

[C. Roelens]

Looks good William, but I'll stick to my American weapons - 1918 BAR, 1928 Thompson, M1, M14, M16, M79, 1911 etc. I have a few modern non military also.

So much for all the hope and change huh...

Everythings good Eric...

Chuck

[PlaceOfBayonets]

Looks good William, but I'll stick to my American weapons - 1918 BAR, 1928 Thompson, M1, M14, M16, M79, 1911 etc. I have a few modern non military also.

So much for all the hope and change huh...

Everythings good Eric...

Chuck

My Dad taught me how to strip my M1 Rifle but then I put it in the closet and forgot how. Looking at it I don't want to get it apart and have it stuck that way. Same goes for my never fired AR15.
Point being the AK was designed simple so even a dumb as rocks Russian Peasant could figure it out. Being the grandfather I seemed to have gotten my smarts from was not the Dr. on the German side but the Albanian Goat Hearder on mother's side the AK suites me well since with mechanics I am dumb as rocks too

William

[PlaceOfBayonets]

Here are the close ups of the liner pins. Looks like they been there for some time but I can't rule out them having been rebent once. I think it's possible and the pads replacments.

What does anyone make of the extra hole in the liner band? Ever seen on period examples?

[PlaceOfBayonets]

...

[PlaceOfBayonets]

last two

[Hoss]

W
Got a bad feeling. The rivet that 'got a new hole' looks repop to me.
Still dont like the pads. Not for me W1 that,s for sure.

Sorry Chum, just my own opinion.

Eric

[Hans K.]

What does anyone make of the extra hole in the liner band? Ever seen on period examples?

Clearly the extra hole was put there so that the liner band and shell holes would line up. I think that in itself is a bad sign. Often, one of the liner holes shows signs of being widened on messed with helmets, but this is the first time I've seen an extra hole.

I've noticed that quite a few helmets with these types of liner pads have shown up for sale during the last year or so, I can't recall having ever seen examples like them prior to that. I don't like the cut or look of them either. The liner band itself looks fine, but I seriously doubt it originated with that helmet.

[PlaceOfBayonets]

On the other hand I've never seen a liner band in the correct size for a helmet not fit in. Never seen one that needed modification. If the liner band is not the right size it's obvious and it won't fit in right no matter where you drill a new hole.

W.

[PlaceOfBayonets]

I believe that the liner pins on this helmet are originals after reviewing the thread "Help!!! Liners pins from Ebay".

W.

[Hans K.]

On the other hand I've never seen a liner band in the correct size for a helmet not fit in. Never seen one that needed modification. If the liner band is not the right size it's obvious and it won't fit in right no matter where you drill a new hole.

W.

I disagree. I've seen a lot of helmets with replaced liner bands that had one of the holes widened drastically to line it up with the shell; possibly even seen this with one or two wartime refurbished helmets. And this one clearly didn't line up even though the liner band fits snugly inside the shell.

Back in the day I took measurements of different makers of shell size 64 and noticed that spacing differed quite noticeably between the vent and liner pin holes. Around the same time, in my early days, I was surprised to find that a size 64 marked liner band would not fit inside a size 64 Bellinger shell.

The liner in this helmet has the F.C. Bellinger stamp, which I've seen only in Bellinger stamped helmet shells so far. I don't recall that the shell maker was mentioned, but it looks more like a Thale than a Bellinger, and if it is, this could explain why the liner band holes don't line up.

[PlaceOfBayonets]

Stramge and news to me! What you say additionally supports the helmet being monkyed with then.

What would you say this one is worth all things considered?

W.

[Hans K.]

I don't know William. As is, this helmet has no historical value to me. What do shells sell for these days? The fact that it was carefully made up to deceive would make me want it even less. Did this thing come out of Europe by any chance?

Hans

[PlaceOfBayonets]

All I know is the owner is in Italy and he said he got it from someone in a face to face sale he knew pretty well. I told him it was possible the other owner had no idea.
I hope he did not pay over 300 USD for it.

W.