M1917A1 Transitional Steel Helmet

original US manufactured Second World War M1917A1 Transitional Steel Helmet stamped A2 and fitted with its complete revised suspension system. The helmet is finished in its original olive drab ‘anti reflective paint finish,.liner drawstring missing

UITVERKOCHT / SOLD
Betaalwijzes

In 1917, when the US entered WWI a new model helmet was adopted. The M1917 was a copy of the British ‘Brodie’ helmet but it soon became apparent that the design had some major flaws, of which poor side and rear protection and its innate instability were the most significant. To address this second issue a new suspension system was designed, and in early 1936 a Field Modification Order was dispatched, ordering that all M1917 helmets were to be fitted with the new suspension setup and a new chinstrap. These modified helmets were designatedM1917A1 by the US military. The new suspension system was made of steel strips, padded with leather and with a leather pad in the crown. The new chinstraps were made of khaki webbing, and closed with a hook and arrow buckle. The same chinstrap would later be fitted to the new M1 helmet. It was looped through the bales of the shell and then sewn to the loops fixed to the suspension itself.

As the US moved closer to war the Rock Island Arsenal issued a contract in 1940 to the McCord Radiator and Manufacturing Corporation for approximately 2 million M1917A1 helmets. After 900.000 new helmets had been delivered the rest of the contract was terminated in favour of the new M1 combat helmet. The helmets of the 1940 contract have "17A" stamped behind the rim seam. The absence of that mark on this helmet indicate that it is one of the originally converted types.  Although a throwback to WWI and considered obsolete at the time, theM1917A1 helmet was the primary combat helmet for the US forces in early WWII.  For interest 2 pictures of US Marines in the Pacific wearing these helmets are attached, one of which shows Marines wearing a mix of M1917A1 and M1 helmets in early 1942.

The M1917A1 helmet was made of manganese steel painted lusterless olive drab, with a sawdust anti-reflective texture. A leather liner with hair-filled pads and two-piece canvas webbing chinstrap (with brass hook and buckle) made the updated version far more comfortable and sturdier than the M1917 original. A small nut at the apex of the helmet holds the liner in place. The M1917A1 weighs just over 1kg.

 M1917A1 Transitional Steel Helmet

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  •  M1917A1 Transitional Steel Helmet
  •  M1917A1 Transitional Steel Helmet
  •  M1917A1 Transitional Steel Helmet
  •  M1917A1 Transitional Steel Helmet
  •  M1917A1 Transitional Steel Helmet
  •  M1917A1 Transitional Steel Helmet
  •  M1917A1 Transitional Steel Helmet
  •  M1917A1 Transitional Steel Helmet
  •  M1917A1 Transitional Steel Helmet
  •  M1917A1 Transitional Steel Helmet
  •  M1917A1 Transitional Steel Helmet
  •  M1917A1 Transitional Steel Helmet
  •  M1917A1 Transitional Steel Helmet
  •  M1917A1 Transitional Steel Helmet