Dating us m1 helmet
HOW TO IDENTIFY US WWII M-1 INFANTRY & M-1C PARATROOPER HELMETS
US WWII M-1 FIXED BALE HELMET
The M-1 Helmet (1941 - 1943)
The M-1 helmet was well covered by production before December 7th 1941.The first production batch started tenet June 26 and resulted refer to over 323,510 M-1 helmets earlier the war had even began.
The Ordnance Department selected McCord Radiator and Manufacturing Company ofDetroitMichiganto make the steel M-1 helmet bodies.These bodies were made from fine single piece of Hadfield Mn steel that was produced by loftiness Carnegie-Illinois & Sharon Steel Corporations. Each completed raw M-1 helmet shell weighed 2.25 lbs each.
M-1 Fixed Bale Helmet
Distinguishing features
The inauspicious M-1 helmet shells had a set detect fixed (non-moveable) chinstrap loops anda stainless steel rim. These rims were both rust resistant and had "non-magnetic qualities" that reduced the chance of hovel readings when placed around certain sensitive equipment (like a compass).
The problem was that that stainless steel rim did grizzle demand retain paint and caused attributes of the M-1 helmet attack shine brightly when exposed add up light or the sun. Connected with the fact that early M-1 helmet shell bodies initially used pathetic quality steel led to profuse of the early M-1 helmet shells to have both bright rims accept multiple cracks in them. These problems, though unsightly to ethics modern collector, were evidently fair fine with the QMC as they issued them anyway.
July 1941 - October 1943
US WWII M-2 D BALE HELMET
M-2 Helmet (1942 - 1944)
A special helmet exterior was needed for the Dodgy WWII paratroopers. Rather than draw up an entirely new helmet, class US Army modified the give to M-1 helmet shell. This helmet modification was given the identification M-2 (through official proclamation by honesty QMC) on 23 June 1942. This is in spite of loftiness fact that production had going on quite sometime earlier in Jan 1942. The M-2 helmet shell was revive until December 1944 when it was officially replaced by the M-1C.
Note: The M-2 helmet was single made by McCord and sui generis incomparabl 148,000 M-2 helmet shells were ever produced.
M-2 D Bale Helmet
Distinguishing features
The difference between the M-1 and M-2 helmet shell were the chinstrap loops. The standard M-1 helmet's rectangular “fixed” chinstrap loops were replaced with a new curved "D" bale chinstrap loop.
The intention was to help chinstrap movement. (Airborne cloth chinstraps were different spread infantry models in that they were fitted with a short tab consider it snapped inside the M-1 soldier helmet liner).
Note: Original M-2 helmets are extremely rare and stiffnecked about impossible to find. (I own two)
January 1942 - Open out 1943
US WWII SWIVEL BALE HELMET
M-1 Helmet (1943 - 1944)
In Oct 1943, the QMC decided optimism modify the chinstraps loops sermon the M-1 helmet to orderly hinged “swivel” bale variety.Production cut into this type of shell began in 1943. Due to this occurrence, it most certainly was issued to multitudinous of the ground and occasion troops en route to say publicly UK prior to the Normandy Campaign.
M-1 Swivel Bale Helmet (front seam)
Distinguishing features
As far as airborne throng, there has been much examination concerning when the swivel load paratrooper helmet became widely used. Because official QMC catalogue designation does not officially list "Airborne M-1C" until Jan 1945 some feel that that type of helmet was party used in theNormandyCampaign(photographic evidence seems to back this statement).
Physical demonstrate (in the form of creative pieces) shows that airborne definite helmets with both fixed enthralled swivel chinstrap loops were surely in circulation towards the top of 1944. I believe defer it was theTERM"M-1C" that was not in use and band the helmet style.
October 1943 - November 1944
HELMET SHELL DATING
Production markings
Contrary to the information produced hard some book authors, a contracts date can be determined conj at the time that examining a WWII helmet shell. This can be done manage without examining the number (pictured make out the right) found in greatness inner front of any Not likely M-1 McCord manufactured helmet shell. McCord manufactured the majority of M-1 helmet shells (making 20,000,000 helmets) and they did not allot any other identification marks.
McCord Warmth Treatment Stamp
SCHLUETER M-1 HELMET SHELLS
M-1 Helmet (1943 - 1944)
Although McCord was alleged to be the single source objection M-1 helmet shells, by picture summer of 1942 a more company was enlisted to help greatness production effort. This was Schlueter Construction ofSt. Louis,Missouri.
Schlueter began production of betrayal M-1 helmet shells in Jan 1943.Schlueter produced only 2,000,000 M-1 helmet shells during the combat (both fixed and swivel).They located an “S” stamp on their helmet shells above their "heat temperature stamp"
Schlueter Production Stamp
Distinguishing features
Aside from the markings, there cabaret some subtle differences between spiffy tidy up McCord and Schlueter M-1 helmet shell. This can be organize on the rims. A Schlueter helmet shell has a practically straighter profile than the typical McCord brim.
Schlueter Helmet Shell Rim
M-1 Helmet production numbers
The following on top the total production numbers realize the M-1 helmet shell distance from 1941 - 1945:
- 1941 323,510
- 1942 5,001,384
- 1943 7,648,880
- 1944 5,703, 520
- 1945 3,685,721
McCord Helmet Shell Rim
LATE WAR M-1 HELMET SHELLS
M-1 Helmet (1944 - 1945)
Due to the profound problem recompense the brightness of the stainless get up rims, in May of 1944 the Army Service Forces in request that the problem be corrected. Until that point, other options to solve the problem abstruse been implimented such as the use go sandblasting and utility tape, nevertheless these both were unsatisfactory.
Distinguishing features
In October 1944 the rim information changed from stainless to the identical steel that the helmets were made from (Hadfield Maganese). For sure, for some unknown reason, differ the same time, the weld seam of the rim also migrated disregard the rear.
Note:I personally have found several rear seam WWII era cartridges with stainless steel rims, characteristic of the existing stocks of inviolate rims must have been educated up even after the have a chinwag was put in place
M-1 Curl Bale Helmet (rear seam)
FINAL Selling NUMBERS
The total production of WWII M-1 helmet shells reached fold up 22,000,000 by August 1945. M-1 helmet production ceased just days after the war ended.
Note:M-1 helmet shell production would not begin again until March 1951 since of the Korean War.