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Salty Vietnam Era Helmet, real?


Cap Camouflage Pattern I
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Cap Camouflage Pattern I

What are your opinions? Used in Vietnam? Real but not used in Vietnam, fake/ reenactor?

 

I know helmets used in Vietnam are very rare, of course I'd like it to be, but it's unlikely, especially because the 26th Infantry Division didn't go to Vietnam.

 

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Has a Staff SGT rank on the front, and "L F C" written above and to the viewers left, " L F C" written in 3 places on the cover, other than that I see no markings, which IMO is a good sign, most fakes are crazy over the top. The cover is stained a very dark color, it looks even a little darker in person than in the photos. It is lighter where a camouflage band was once around the cover. The Cover is a high arch one, the kind that was introduced in 1969.

 

post-153751-0-41473300-1502430958_thumb.jpg

 

More photos to come in comments.

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Cap Camouflage Pattern I

post-153751-0-44773800-1502431161_thumb.jpg

 

The seller had it listed as a WWII helmet and was selling all sorts of antiques, not just military items, which is a good sign.

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Cap Camouflage Pattern I

post-153751-0-56804100-1502431402_thumb.jpg

 

My photos turned out bad, but the sweatband has a DSA contract, but I can't see the date because it is right after it goes through the buckel

post-153751-0-56815900-1502431402_thumb.jpg

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Cap Camouflage Pattern I

post-153751-0-78734400-1502431504_thumb.jpg

 

The shell is a front seam, swivle loop, which I think is a good sign, no reason for a faker to use a WWII helmet.

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Cap Camouflage Pattern I

post-153751-0-42011500-1502431559.jpg

There are some weird sparkles on the cover, especially near the bottom rim, I wonder if they are from this.

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Cap Camouflage Pattern I

post-153751-0-78738900-1502431702_thumb.jpg

 

This non rusted scratch worries me, perhaps it was done by accident fairly recently, but maybe it was a faker adding damage to the cover with a knife?

 

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Cap Camouflage Pattern I

post-153751-0-07443900-1502431822_thumb.jpg

 

This one has what looks like bare metal on the right side of the slit, not where the cover is ripped.

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Cap I like it , the grime for me and the general wear looks consistent.

Also I'm likin the grafitti

 

Congrats , I would be happy to own it

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Probably would never know definitively if it was used in Vn without provenance. I would offer that the dark staining of the cover is opposite of the sun bleached look of helmets in Vn. Just my thoughts.

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I tend to agree with you. However, that could be specific to MOS. If straight 11B, then I would expect a dry sun-bleached look. This cover has a black shiny dirt to it, almost like a grease. Could be a motor pool lid, truck driver, who knows? Bottom line, based on what is KNOWN, it's a dirty worn cover. Whether it was in Vietnam - or got that way from kids playin with it - is a guess.

 

Probably would never know definitively if it was used in Vn without provenance. I would offer that the dark staining of the cover is opposite of the sun bleached look of helmets in Vn. Just my thoughts.

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Cap Camouflage Pattern I

 

That would be the DUI for the 169th Infantry Regt., Connecticut NG.

 

Brent

 

 

 

THANK YOU, I spent a lot of time searching through the Institute of Heraldry's database and coming up with hundreds of results.

Probably would never know definitively if it was used in Vn without provenance. I would offer that the dark staining of the cover is opposite of the sun bleached look of helmets in Vn. Just my thoughts.

I agree, however, I have seen some pictures of guys in Vietnam with dark helmet covers, maybe they are just wet, I can't tell.

THANK YOU! I spent a lot of time searching through the The Institute of heraldry's database and getting hundreds of results.

 

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I would buy this helmet in a heartbeat ! I see nothing that I don't like about this one.

Love that greasy look ,

 

Once again congrats

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Cap Camouflage Pattern I

I would buy this helmet in a heartbeat ! I see nothing that I don't like about this one.

Love that greasy look ,

 

Once again congrats

Thanks, I'd rather have one of your ID'd helmet that you know where there.

 

Would it be likely that LFC was sent to a different unit and went to Vietnam?

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Chickenpuffball

What are your opinions? Used in Vietnam? Real but not used in Vietnam, fake/ reenactor?

 

I know helmets used in Vietnam are very rare, of course I'd like it to be, but it's unlikely, especially because the 26th Infantry Division didn't go to Vietnam.

 

{style_image_url}/attachicon.gif Front.jpg

Has a Staff SGT rank on the front, and "L F C" written above and to the viewers left, " L F C" written in 3 places on the cover, other than that I see no markings, which IMO is a good sign, most fakes are crazy over the top. The cover is stained a very dark color, it looks even a little darker in person than in the photos. It is lighter where a camouflage band was once around the cover. The Cover is a high arch one, the kind that was introduced in 1969.

 

{style_image_url}/attachicon.gif LeftSide.jpg

 

More photos to come in comments.

Real or not, I like the look.

 

Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk

 

 

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i'm digging it, good look to it and as others have said pretty grimy.

 

could it be a possibility that even though its a 26th Infantry Division marked liner the owner may have still gone to VN?

 

seconded to another unit or some such?

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Thanks, I'd rather have one of your ID'd helmet that you know where there.

 

Would it be likely that LFC was sent to a different unit and went to Vietnam?

It just takes time and a lot of luck , like Justin said these named Vietnam rigs with provenance from the family just never ever come up , there are grafitti rigs out there but it's just so raw to say it's actually 100% been there.

 

Your lid to me looks like it would have been used in theatre , the grease and dirt looks like it's spent time in a wet , sweaty environment.

I would have bid on it , if you picked it up for a good price then I would be super happy with it on display.

 

We will never know 100% whether is saw combat but I really like it

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  • 2 years later...
Cap Camouflage Pattern I

It was pointed out to me that the sweatband is a Steinberg Bro's Inc, who's earliest contract was 1971 as far as I know, making it even less likely this helmet was used in Vietnam, not that it was in the first place.

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