It seems by the number of questions about dating M1 helmets, we should have a basic thread on dating and identifying M1 helmets. Basically (without going into Hawley liners, variants, etc.) the basic WW2 liner used khaki webbing, a leather liner strap, and an integral nape strap at the rear. These were used post-war (attention German collectors) until the early 1950s. Something like this:
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M1 Helmet 101
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The last pattern (this one is dated 1983) is shown here:
I hope this is helpful, please feel free to correct and add to this thread!Attached FilesLast edited by MattS; 01-31-2010, 03:26 PM.
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It is important to note that almost all M1 helmet shells are technically "WW2" shells, the dating of a complete helmet comes from the liner and the bale and chinstrap configuration. Only two companies made all the approximately 22 million M1 shells from 1941-1945, McCord Radiator Company of Detroit, MI (~20 Million) and Schluter of St. Louis, MO (~2 Million). These shells were refurbished and repainted numerous times until finally being replaced in the early 1990s. I know this site is geared toward German collectors and this is a different concept than the mindset that anything produced or used after May of 1945 is fake or reproduction.
Case in point, this M1 was worn by a soldier of the Massachusetts National Guard (26th Inf Div) in the late 1970s. Removing the liner and peeling off the cover reveals it is a front seam helmet originally made in 1941-43.Attached Files
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Good basic information for newcomers to M-1 helmet collecting! However, I will add a little to this below:
Originally posted by MattS View PostBasically (without going into Hawley liners, variants, etc.) the basic WW2 liner used khaki webbing...
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True, thanks for helping out with this thread Scott!
The early rayon liners had a series of 6 sets of double snaps (12 total) around the webbing which the sweatband snapped in to. These early snap-in sweatbands only had leather on the front 1/3 or so. This continued on the earliest khaki webbed liners until the futility of stocking 13 different sized sweatbands prompted someone to make an adjustable sweatband for that "one-size-fits-all" solution. These bands feature leather almost all the way around (except in the rear). This is the earliest liner I have with the snaps on khaki webbing, but a replacement (tattered) sweatband.Attached Files
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Another feature of M1 liners that should be pointed out is the change to removable suspension systems. From the beginning to about 1972, the webbing was held in by washers. These were initially rectangular, then changed to an A shape early in WW2. The washers held the webbing firmly in place, but made it impossible to repair torn straps easily. This 1973 dated liner has an early removable suspension system, notice the round button in place of a washer in the upper left:Attached Files
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