1canpara Posted June 28, 2011 Share #1 Posted June 28, 2011 Can anyone tell me when the PASGT came into use and who were some of the early makers? I have one that I can't make out the date or any of the markings in it...I think it dates from around 1999-2000 thanks, Rick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted June 28, 2011 Share #2 Posted June 28, 2011 Can anyone tell me when the PASGT came into use and who were some of the early makers? I have one that I can't make out the date or any of the markings in it...I think it dates from around 1999-2000 thanks, Rick Rick...can I refer you to Mark Reynosa's book "(PASGT) HELMET. An illustrated study...." (Amazon have it) I have my copy in front of me as I type. Early contracts were awarded to Aqua-Aire; Gentex; Devil's Lake Sioux Manufacturing; Northwest Polymeric Inc; Gibraltar Industries. Hope this helps? Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1canpara Posted June 28, 2011 Author Share #3 Posted June 28, 2011 Rick...can I refer you to Mark Reynosa's book "(PASGT) HELMET. An illustrated study...." (Amazon have it) I have my copy in front of me as I type. Early contracts were awarded to Aqua-Aire; Gentex; Devil's Lake Sioux Manufacturing; Northwest Polymeric Inc; Gibraltar Industries. Hope this helps? Ian Thanks Ian, the one I'm looking at seems to start with a U----, but it's so faded it's hard to tell...I'll look up that book on Amazon as I was going to check there for De Trez new para helmet book anyway thanks again, Rick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hitman_one Posted June 28, 2011 Share #4 Posted June 28, 2011 Now correct me if im wrong but wasnt the PASGT helmet first used around 1983?I seem to remember pics of Operation Urgent Fury with troops wearing them... :think: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted June 28, 2011 Share #5 Posted June 28, 2011 Now correct me if im wrong but wasnt the PASGT helmet first used around 1983?I seem to remember pics of Operation Urgent Fury with troops wearing them... :think: Full-scale production kicked-off in 1980. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OEF COLLECTOR Posted June 28, 2011 Share #6 Posted June 28, 2011 Thanks Ian, the one I'm looking at seems to start with a U----, but it's so faded it's hard to tell...I'll look up that book on Amazon as I was going to check there for De Trez new para helmet book anyway thanks again, Rick Rick, your helmet is probably made by UNICOR. -Joseph Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgtdorango Posted June 28, 2011 Share #7 Posted June 28, 2011 Thanks Ian, the one I'm looking at seems to start with a U----, but it's so faded it's hard to tell...I'll look up that book on Amazon as I was going to check there for De Trez new para helmet book anyway thanks again, Rick I recommend that book too, i think the maker you have is UNICOR or something like that, will check my book later!....mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig_pickrall Posted June 28, 2011 Share #8 Posted June 28, 2011 The PASGT system was approved by letter on 26 June, 1978. These are some of the early press releases and spec sheets for the helmet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1canpara Posted June 28, 2011 Author Share #9 Posted June 28, 2011 Rick, your helmet is probably made by UNICOR. -Joseph Thanks Mike and Joesph, I think you're right...it looks like Uni----- so I'll bet that's it Rick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longbranch Posted June 28, 2011 Share #10 Posted June 28, 2011 Unicor made a ton of PASGT helmets, and had some of the last contracts for PASGT shells as well. If you look closely at the top of the dome on the inside of your helmet, you should see a strange logo molded into it, as well as a size (XS, S, M, L, XL) followed by a dash and a number. You might also find something like "87" or "86" molding into the inside of the helmet, which corresponds to the year of the particular mold used to form your helmet. This can give you an approximate date of production. This should give you most of the information you need to figure out the timeframe it was made and who made it. The only information you'll be lacking due to the rubbed off markings is the contract information. I don't know if I'd consider "full scale" production to have started in 1980. They were indeed making PASGT helmets by then, but not in large numbers. The early 1980-82 helmets were more like "trials" helmets for each manufacturer to figure out the best ways to produces the helmets in large numbers, get the specifications nailed down, etc. Any pre-1983 contract PASGT helmet is uncommon at best. 1983 contract helmets from manufacturers like Devil's Lake Sioux are EVERYWHERE (understandable, since their first 1983 contract contained in excess of 100,000 helmets). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OEF COLLECTOR Posted June 28, 2011 Share #11 Posted June 28, 2011 The UNICOR stamp on the top of the inside of the helmet should look like this. -Joseph Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longbranch Posted June 28, 2011 Share #12 Posted June 28, 2011 Actually, that's not correct. That is actually the logo for Devil's Lake Sioux. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OEF COLLECTOR Posted June 28, 2011 Share #13 Posted June 28, 2011 Longbranch, that is the correct logo for a UNICOR helmet. The photo came from Chris Armold's Steel Pots book. Actually, that's not correct. That is actually the logo for Devil's Lake Sioux. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longbranch Posted June 28, 2011 Share #14 Posted June 28, 2011 I'm well aware of that, and I have his book. It's a pretty blatant misprint, and is completely incorrect. Not every book is perfect... but remember this book is called "Steel Pots" and not "Kevlar Pots". This is a case of "don't believe everything you read". The Unicor logo is a strange looking little sucker. It's a couple of little rectangles bunched together. I'd be more than happy to prove my point. I have several PASGT helmets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P-E Posted June 29, 2011 Share #15 Posted June 29, 2011 I agree with Longbranch !!! I've one Devil's lake Sioux with this stamp inside. I can take some pictures if you'll (my helmet is brand new, and so we can perfectly see the stamp and the printed label). I'm 100% sure this is not an UNICOR helmet but well a Devil's lake sioux !!!! That's probably a mistake in the Steel pots book (no book is perfect...). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
irvwyner Posted March 3, 2022 Share #16 Posted March 3, 2022 what is the significance of the dash number in PASGT helmets? such as L-4 or L-7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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