Pat13 Posted July 27, 2020 Share #1 Posted July 27, 2020 Howdy from Texas, I've recently acquired an M-1 helmet with hand painted 36th infantry division insignia on both sides. This is a rear seam post WWII helmet possibly Korea era, but I know that the 36th infantry division was used as a State Guard post WWII. I'd like your opinions on its authenticity as I mainly collect WWII German helmets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Costa Posted July 27, 2020 Share #2 Posted July 27, 2020 I don't like it at all. a total hump job. cotton webbing in the liner with a nam era pot with black painted hardwear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArchangelDM Posted July 27, 2020 Share #3 Posted July 27, 2020 That paint is still drying by the looks of it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cap Camouflage Pattern I Posted July 27, 2020 Share #4 Posted July 27, 2020 I thiiink the shell is November 1944- August 1945 McCord production but I'm not certain on that. The shell chinstraps were made between 1962-1964. The liner was made between 1954 and 1964, the sweatband looks like a Steinberg Bros which would make it 1971-???? As for the painted insignia, I'm not experienced with telling fakes but it looks fine to me, and most people who would fake a helmet would fake a WWII helmet, not post-war, as that's where the money is. Nice helmet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat13 Posted July 27, 2020 Author Share #5 Posted July 27, 2020 @ArchangeIDM The paint is coming out brighter after I put the images through adobe Lightroom. The second to the last image is the closest I can get to the natural color. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArchangelDM Posted July 27, 2020 Share #6 Posted July 27, 2020 Hi Pat in the first few pics the paint actually looks wet, makes sense now as you are using adobe light room. That last pic looks good 👍🏻 Without the light right on it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cap Camouflage Pattern I Posted July 27, 2020 Share #7 Posted July 27, 2020 Wow! I am on my phone now and I see what you mean, the blue is absolutely glowing! It looked completely different on my old computer monitor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
36thIDAlex Posted July 27, 2020 Share #8 Posted July 27, 2020 The style is correct for the “thin” T Patch helmet, but the color and lateness of the production makes me think if it is legit, it is likely some sort of NG piece. Like the others said everything but the shell is pretty whack. Here is a photo of the color on an original T Patch helmet owned by another collector. Yours looks to be a brighter blue even in your last non-adobe photo which was more common after the war. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
36thIDAlex Posted July 27, 2020 Share #9 Posted July 27, 2020 While not an exact shade match, yours tends to make me think of the tealish blue that became popular with the postwar NG. Considering it retained close to the original style, if its not just a repaint someone tried to pass off for sale, it was probably a late 40s or early 50s helmet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
36thIDAlex Posted July 27, 2020 Share #10 Posted July 27, 2020 Very possible this could also be a reenactor piece. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iron bender Posted July 29, 2020 Share #11 Posted July 29, 2020 On 7/27/2020 at 3:15 PM, 36thIDAlex said: Very possible this could also be a reenactor piece. This helmet reminds me very much of the Camp Mabry 36th ID reenactors back in the 80's or early 90's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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