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Post by stretch on Jan 24, 2007 21:57:45 GMT -5
I posted recently that I had obtained a front seam, swivel bale helmet. I had completely failed to notice something until I tried to put a chin strap around the back tonight. This helmet does in fact have a front seam but the bales are further forward than on my other WWII helmet. Also, there is a third bale at the very back (where the rear seam is at on a later helmet). I obviously can't get the chin strap to fit due to it not being long enough and why is there a third bale? I can't find any pics or info about a helmet that has this arrangement. I thought if it had a front seam it was US WWII. Were there any other countries that copied the M1 helmet with a front seam? Is it a tanker or paratroop helmet perhaps? Anybody have any ideas? Thanks in advance.
Stretch
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Post by stretch on Jan 24, 2007 22:25:28 GMT -5
Ok, I went back and looked at the helmet closer and its now obvious that the left and right side bales were removed and replaced with later style ones. The were also moved forward about an inch on each side. Also, the rear swivel bale is a WWII bale and it was added probably at the same time the other bales were replaced/repositioned. It appears this mod was done professionally, perhaps by a gov't refurbishment facility (US or abroad) as the welds were drilled and replaced very cleanly. I don't think it would be worth it to fix back to original (drilling spot welds and rewelding without doing alot of damage). I wonder if anybody else has seen a modification like this and could tell me if it was a military mod or just somebody fixing for it their own needs.
Stretch
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Post by phantom12321 on Jan 24, 2007 23:43:34 GMT -5
Here's a sure fire way to tell the age/production era of your helmet.
Take the liner out and go into a very well lit area. Push the center strap at the inside of the crown of the liner aside and look for a stamped symbol. If it is anything like "F"(the little firstone ~ for the top of the F) or, WILK TIRE or BILSON PP or some company name that you don't recognize, it's wwii" If it's post war, it will have an M or one letter and a 2 digit number. I've never heard of a third bale on the back but, that is interesting.
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Post by themango on Jan 25, 2007 1:44:23 GMT -5
You have yourself an Israeli M1 helmet. Not sure when they used them a whole lot. Probably 70s-80s. But it is definitely Israeli.
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Russian
Corporal
Magician
Posts: 923
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Post by Russian on Jan 25, 2007 19:44:50 GMT -5
I was just gunna say, Israeli. Not very common, atleast, I havn't seen that many. Good find!
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Post by themango on Jan 25, 2007 21:11:34 GMT -5
There are tons and tons at one of the surplus stores near my house.
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Russian
Corporal
Magician
Posts: 923
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Post by Russian on Jan 25, 2007 21:49:48 GMT -5
Really? I have seen about 50 in my entire life.
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Post by stretch on Jan 25, 2007 22:01:31 GMT -5
Israeli huh? Well, to be honest it does me no good then other than being interesting. It does have a front seam on it though. It had a Vietnam liner in it when I got it from a surplus store but I aquired a Firestone liner to put in it afterward. I even repainted/corked the helmet because it was rough looking (before I realized it was modified). It didn't have any dents though. Lol, anybody interested in a repainted/corked Israeli helmet ;D Thanks for the info everybody.
Stretch
PS- I actually found an original paint WWII M1 helmet with original chin straps at my grandparents house in a closet after I bought the Isreali one (guess one of my uncles played with it as a kid). I used the Firestone liner in it and now I've got a pretty complete, very clean M1 helemet.
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