Original Item: Only One Available. Now this is a salty yet beautiful example of a WWII Marine Corps issue M1 helmet! This helmet has been in this exact configuration more than likely since the war ended and has a very nice “rested” appearance. This is an untouched example and as you can see from the pictures, we didn’t even want to attempt to separate the shell and liner. To make this offering even better, the liner is a rare “low-pressure” liner by St. Claire!
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 total production of M-1 helmet shells during the war reached 22,000,000. Of these about 20,000,000 were produced by McCord, the primary contractor.
This M1 shell has correct early war fixed chin strap 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 October 1943, issues with the fixed bales breaking off resulted in a change to the "swivel bales". Then in October 1944, the rims were changed to non magnetic manganese steel, due to issues with the paint wearing off the rim. Shortly after this in November 1944 the specification was changed to have the rim seam in the rear of the helmet.
This helmet is a fine example and still retains all of its original WWII parts. The original "corked grain" can still be seen on the exterior, with no sign of repainting that we can see through the cover. The chin strap is the correct mid war OD Green #3, with correct blackened brass hardware. The shell is covered with a very lovely service-worn 2nd Pattern Reversible USMC Camouflage Helmet Cover, in the standard HBT weave used during WWII. Of note is that this helmet cover has never had an EGA stamp applied, which generally was done AFTER WWII!
The USMC camouflage helmet cover was made from the same 8.5 once herringbone twill material as the standard Army and Navy work uniforms. It was fully reversible with a green side for areas with lush vegetation and a brown side that could be used on beaches or other sun-baked areas. The USMC helmet cover was the most widely used and long-lived camouflage uniform item developed during WWII. It was produced into the early 1950's and used by the Marines into the 1960's. The condition reflects that of one who had a long service in the field. There is staining, holes, tearing and all the evidence of hard fighting and does not appear to have ever been removed.
The helmet also features one of the rare early-war "low pressure" liners, which were constructed of rubber fiber, and were the thinnest construction of all WWII Liners. This liner was manufactured by St. Clair, and features the yellow stamped SC marking on the crown. This liner is a bit interesting though, as it has galvanized steel triangular "A" washers, and the standard OD Green #3 HBT suspension, which was held over for the later versions of the liner. Usually St. Clair liners have unique square washers, and rayon suspension, so this is the second pattern. The low pressure liners were then deemed insufficient, so new contractors were found to make the "high pressure" liners.
This true US WWII M-1 helmet liner can be identified through the frontal eyelet hole. Other correct WWII features include cotton OD Green #3 herringbone twill (HBT) cloth suspension liner, with the webbing in very 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 present, though the leather has deteriorated slightly due to age, which has resulted in cracking and flaking. The liner chin strap is present though worn and delicate in some spots. We do not recommend making any attempts to remove the chinstrap and liner.
This is an incredible example of a service used M1 Helmet worn by a United States Marine during WWII. Comes ready to display!
Marines During WW2:
In World War II, the Marines performed a central role in the Pacific War, along with the U.S. Army. The battles of Guadalcanal, Bougainville, Tarawa, Guam, Tinian, Cape Gloucester, Saipan, Peleliu, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa saw fierce fighting between Marines and the Imperial Japanese Army. Some 600,000 Americans served in the U.S. Marine Corps in World War II.
The Battle of Iwo Jima, which began on 19 February 1945, was arguably the most famous Marine engagement of the war. The Japanese had learned from their defeats in the Marianas Campaign and prepared many fortified positions on the island including pillboxes and a network of tunnels. The Japanese put up fierce resistance, but American forces reached the summit of Mount Suribachi on 23 February. The mission was accomplished with high losses of 26,000 American casualties and 22,000 Japanese.
The Marines played a comparatively minor role in the European theater. Nonetheless, they did continue to provide security detachments to U.S. embassies and ships, contributed personnel to small special ops teams dropped into NSDAP-occupied Europe as part of Office of Strategic Services (OSS, the precursor to the CIA) missions, and acted as staff planners and trainers for U.S. Army amphibious operations, including the Normandy landings. By the end of the war, the Corps had expanded from two brigades to six divisions, five air wings, and supporting troops, totaling about 485,000 Marines. In addition, 20 defense battalions and a parachute battalion were raised. Nearly 87,000 Marines were casualties during World War II (including nearly 20,000 killed), and 82 were awarded the Medal of Honor.
In 1942, the Navy Seabees were created with the Marine Corps providing their organization and military training. Many Seabee units were issued the USMC standard issue and were re-designated "Marine". Despite the Corps giving them their military organization, military training, issuing them uniforms and redesignating their units, the Seabees remained Navy. USMC historian Gordon L. Rottmann writes that one of the "Navy's biggest contributions to the Marine Corps during WWII was the creation of the Seabees."
Despite Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal's prediction that the Marine flag raising at Iwo Jima meant "a Marine Corps for the next five hundred years", the Corps faced an immediate institutional crisis following the war because of a suddenly shrunken budget.
Army generals pushing for a strengthened and reorganized defense establishment attempted to fold the Marine mission and assets into the Navy and Army. Drawing on hastily assembled Congressional support, and with the assistance of the so-called "Revolt of the Admirals", the Marine Corps rebuffed such efforts to dismantle the Corps, resulting in statutory protection of the Marine Corps in the National Security Act of 1947. Shortly afterward, in 1952 the Douglas–Mansfield Act afforded the commandant an equal voice with the Joint Chiefs of Staff on matters relating to the Marines and established the structure of three active divisions and air wings that remain today.
