mwesson030 Posted January 15, 2018 Share #1 Posted January 15, 2018 I came across this white M1 helmet and was somewhat interested in it, but I would like some more experienced collector's opinions on it. https://www.ebay.com/itm/US-KOREAN-WAR-VINTAGE-M-1-HELMET-W-WHITEWASH-CAMO-PAINT-NAMED/152860118915?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmaher55 Posted January 15, 2018 Share #2 Posted January 15, 2018 Good at first look.... Red on the liner, I think is USMC....? Just guessing on my part. I'd say good, Korean War era good... Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Costa Posted January 15, 2018 Share #3 Posted January 15, 2018 i have 1 just like it. white paint flaking same as that. i say a good kw. as for the red on liner?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntssurplus Posted January 15, 2018 Share #4 Posted January 15, 2018 I like the look of this one too, nice KW lid for sure. As for the liner at first I was thinking a put together but the rust looks to possibly match up on with the shell, a top picture of the liner would be needed to be sure though.Hunt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tarbridge Posted January 15, 2018 Share #5 Posted January 15, 2018 Please add the images and not just a link... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tarbridge Posted January 15, 2018 Share #6 Posted January 15, 2018 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Der Finn Posted January 15, 2018 Share #7 Posted January 15, 2018 Does anyone know what "LSSN" stands for on this helmet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronnie Posted January 15, 2018 Share #8 Posted January 15, 2018 L is the first letter of his last name and the SSN I suppose is the last five digits in his SSN. Ronnie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BEAST Posted January 15, 2018 Share #9 Posted January 15, 2018 Those are the oddest markings I have ever seen in a US helmet. Could this have been used by a foreign army? "LSSN" doesn't make any sense for a WWII/KW/ or even early Vietnam as social security numbers weren't used by the military until the late 60s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill47 Posted January 15, 2018 Share #10 Posted January 15, 2018 Those are the oddest markings I have ever seen in a US helmet. Could this have been used by a foreign army? "LSSN" doesn't make any sense for a WWII/KW/ or even early Vietnam as social security numbers weren't used by the military until the late 60s. Interesting point. I don't see any reference to the name Kardlak Leon (or Leon Kardlak, for that matter) anywhere among the online resources. Maybe someone else will have better luck, but the chance that he was not serving with US forces seems to be a possibility to me. Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USMC-RECON0321 Posted January 15, 2018 Share #11 Posted January 15, 2018 The Rank abbreviation painted before his name inside the shell (If U.S.) SFC = Army Sgt First Class. No idea on the rank painted on the front of the liner? To many for USN or USCG? So guessing either foreign or Battle of the back yard. Maybe helmet brought home and the kids painted up the liner with red paint? This set could be WWII or later as all parts are WWII manufactured. I also think the shell is most likely a Schlueter based on it having OD7 chinstraps with OD3 stitching. Is there a picture of the spot welds at the seam? I like the look of it all though. Troy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frogskin7 Posted January 15, 2018 Share #12 Posted January 15, 2018 I was going to buy this a few months back but I couldn't find anything about the man. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aef1917 Posted January 15, 2018 Share #13 Posted January 15, 2018 I think the last name is Karolak. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill47 Posted January 15, 2018 Share #14 Posted January 15, 2018 The only person named Leon Karolak that I can find was born in Poland in 1886 and emigrated to the U.S. He registered for the draft in 1917 but whether he served is unclear. He died in Pennsylvania in 1958. Two other Pennsylvania Karolaks--Henry and Edward--listed Leon as their closest contact when they registered for the draft. Henry in 1940 and Edward in 1947. That doesn't come very close to solving this mystery. Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregory Posted February 15, 2018 Share #15 Posted February 15, 2018 I think the last name is Karolak. You are right. Karolak surname has always been popular in Poland. At present some 5,500 Karolaks live in Poland. For comparison my surname has 189 Poles of 38-million population. User of this helmet -- Leon Karolak -- did not have to be a serviceman of the US Armed Forces. In view of popularity of Karolak surname equally well he could serve in the (ETO) French 1st Army, where (since December 1944) 2,900 Poles served in two Groups. In the French FFI some 36,000 Poles took part. Of them 2,900 joined French 1st Army after D-Day. Both Polish Groups mentioned were equipped with US M1 helmets. I do not tell that this is the only one -- and nothing more -- possible version, none the less it could be possible. Agree that the number of chevrons painted on liner is a kind of fantasy. Best regards Gregory Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captainofthe7th Posted February 15, 2018 Share #16 Posted February 15, 2018 When I first saw this, the wild chevrons reminded me of Turkish ranks used in the Korean War. I thought between that and the name something would connect, but that got cold when I found it was a predominantly Polish name. It's a mysterious helmet and really interesting. Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted February 15, 2018 Share #17 Posted February 15, 2018 could the name be KARDLAK? the letter O being the letter D instead? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregory Posted February 16, 2018 Share #18 Posted February 16, 2018 Frankly speaking I do not think so. "Kardlak" would be too odd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted February 16, 2018 Share #19 Posted February 16, 2018 odd....but seems legitimate last name https://lastnames.myheritage.com/last-name/kardlak Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nirvana Posted February 16, 2018 Share #20 Posted February 16, 2018 I guess I'll be the odd man out and say that I don't like it. The wear seems bizarre. A shell with rust and wear and paint that's almost gone, and chin straps that are damn near new. Both the straps and shell have the name? It's possible; but it just seems bizarre. If a great many people thought it was real, it would've sold quickly at $175, but the eBay auction is now closed with zero bids, which says something to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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