Description
This is an original restored rear seam M1 helmet. The heating lot is hard to read due to being hidden under the paint, but the shell appears to be made by Ingersoll. The helmet still has the original Vietnam era applied factory paint.
The helmet has been restored to look like it might have been worn by member of the U.S. military during the Vietnam War. The reproduction Mitchel cover is heavily worn showing sun damage, rust and the general battlefield wear and tear. The cover has nicely molded to the helmet. This was done by boiling the cover then while still hot installing it onto the helmet and letting it dry to the helmet in the hot sun. This was a practice utilized by both Soldiers and Marines during the war. The cover is secured by a neoprene foliage band, which bears the proper Vietnam era stamps. There is an original 1960s era Ace of Spades jammed into the foliage band. U.S. troops at the time often dropped Ace of Spade cards on the corpses of their enemies. This was done with the mistaken belief that the Vietnamese believed the spade was bad luck.
Several sarcastic messages have been written with a Sharpie onto the cover. This was a pretty common practice among the rank and file. A method of both personalizing one’s kit, but also venting frustration with the situation.
The helmet comes fit with an original late 1950s liner. This version is the same as the WWII design, but it is missing the grommet on the front. The sweatband, suspension and nape strap are original Vietnam era production.
This is a great looking helmet for a collector, reenactor or anyone interested in the Vietnam war.
