hink441 Posted April 5, 2019 Share #1 Posted April 5, 2019 Found this in a local antique shop. I nearly passed it by thinking it was an old airsoft kid's toy. I picked it up and looked at the helmet closely and remembered reading about the mid 1970s prototype Kevlar helmets. I wasn't sure this helmet was a prototype helmet but the price was really cheap so I took a chance. I got it home and did a little research and I believe this is an early prototype PASGT Kevlar helmet. It is hand numbered #89 in the crown and is hand marked medium. Also has an airborne jump pad installed. Here are some pics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hink441 Posted April 5, 2019 Author Share #2 Posted April 5, 2019 Crown number. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hink441 Posted April 5, 2019 Author Share #3 Posted April 5, 2019 More pics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hink441 Posted April 5, 2019 Author Share #4 Posted April 5, 2019 Last pics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anton67 Posted April 5, 2019 Share #5 Posted April 5, 2019 Nice prototype I have 3. There is another member who knows all about them. I am sure he will chime in soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr.Jerry Posted April 5, 2019 Share #6 Posted April 5, 2019 Cool, I have always like that painted camo look! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgtdorango Posted April 5, 2019 Share #7 Posted April 5, 2019 Wow!!....mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted April 5, 2019 Share #8 Posted April 5, 2019 Cool, I have always like that painted camo look! Me too. When I first started to see these in the 1978-79 SOLDIERS magazines I used to get from my local recruiting station before I joined up myself, I thought it was the intention that these would be CAMOed like this when they really would start issuing them whenever they were going to, I was disappointed a bit when I seen these were in solid OD, but then that was a bit after I got out, but never was issued with one, wore only the steel pot, BDUs yes, the Fritz no. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hink441 Posted April 5, 2019 Author Share #9 Posted April 5, 2019 Does anyone know how many of these were made? I have read up on these but I really have no idea how many are out there. I saw what one sold for on eBay (2016) and was shocked at the price!! Anton, please feel free to show your 3 helmets. I would love to compare. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digi-shots Posted April 5, 2019 Share #10 Posted April 5, 2019 Nice find, Chris! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hink441 Posted April 5, 2019 Author Share #11 Posted April 5, 2019 Thanks Linda. I found this helmet up on Bonney Rd. Here is a 1977 US Army picture of this prototype of helmet. The Camo pattern in the Army picture is very similar to the pattern on my helmet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longbranch Posted April 5, 2019 Share #12 Posted April 5, 2019 Great helmet!!! Always nice to see another one of these show up! They used a few distinct camo patterns on them, possibly 3 or 4 different ones. Likely painted with stencils, causing some helmets to have basically identical camo paint jobs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anton67 Posted April 5, 2019 Share #13 Posted April 5, 2019 Here is a link to some good info on these prototype helmets. http://www.gostak.co.uk/composites/usa/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anton67 Posted April 5, 2019 Share #14 Posted April 5, 2019 Here is a link to my helmets. http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/288090-pasgt-test-prototype/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hink441 Posted April 5, 2019 Author Share #15 Posted April 5, 2019 Thanks for the comments everyone. Anton, the link is very informative and your helmet is really interesting. It appears your helmet was used to test the different weights/density of Kevlar, and tested against different compositions. According to the provided link my helmet falls into this pictured group; Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted April 5, 2019 Share #16 Posted April 5, 2019 Here's a very early proto, from 1974 a Ft Devens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tarheel1 Posted April 5, 2019 Share #17 Posted April 5, 2019 Oh My the glasses! TH1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capa Posted April 5, 2019 Share #18 Posted April 5, 2019 A great case of listening to your gut and going back to look. What a great find, congrats! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anton67 Posted April 5, 2019 Share #19 Posted April 5, 2019 Here are my other ones. http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/289910-pasgt-prototypes-what-are-the-differences/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Government Issue Posted April 5, 2019 Share #20 Posted April 5, 2019 I would have passed that over if I saw it. Good on you for taking the risk and initiative! That photo though patches. That's priceless. Guy on the left is giving me Dark Lord Helmet vibes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hink441 Posted April 7, 2019 Author Share #21 Posted April 7, 2019 Here are my other ones. http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/289910-pasgt-prototypes-what-are-the-differences/ Thank you for the kind comments. Anton, those are some really nice helmets!! I think your "helmet B" and mine are a match. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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