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WWII Helmet I picked up today, Unknown to me marking on front?

USMC_ROB

By USMC_ROB,
in STEEL AND KEVLAR HELMETS

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USMC_ROB

USMC_ROB

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Hello folks! I picked up this M1 helmet today, Front seem, swivel bail, I believe it is a McCord. I have no idea what the marking is on the front, if it is U.S. I'm stumped. If it is a foreign marking, then a story from the seller might be true. Waiting on some one here to help. 

WWII helmet 1.JPG

WWII helmet 2.JPG

WWII helmet 3.JPG

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doyler

doyler

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Italian infantry post WW2.....

In Memoriam:
Lieutenant J.Kostelec 1-3 First Special Service Force MIA/PD 4 March 1944 Italy
I HAVE SEEN THE ENEMY AND IT IS DAYLIGHT
Forget about the tips..We'll get hell to pay (AC/DC)
"If you cant get out and run with the big dogs then sit on the porch and bark at the cars going by.."

​Have you Hugged a Clown Today?

​You Cant Get A Sun Tan On The Moon..





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USMC_ROB

USMC_ROB

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Thank You doyler! Any tips on safely preserving this helmet? As can be seen, it is fairly rusty. 

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Blacksmith

Blacksmith

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1 minute ago, USMC_ROB said:

Thank You doyler! Any tips on safely preserving this helmet? As can be seen, it is fairly rusty. 

I am not Doyler, but the tip is to do nothing.  Keep it in a low-humidity environment (40% or less), and it will be fine.  No oil, no wax, no nothing.  Guys get the urge to do stuff to helmets like this, and end up destroying what value is left. 

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ArchangelDM

ArchangelDM

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Doyler is correct, it’s the Italian Flaming bomb. 

"Rise and rise again until lambs become lions."

 

Always looking for ww2 USMC items, helmets and any camo'd items

 

 

"thinking outside of the box"

 

New website

 

https://combatusedmilitaria.com

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doyler

doyler

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19 hours ago, Blacksmith said:

I am not Doyler, but the tip is to do nothing.  Keep it in a low-humidity environment (40% or less), and it will be fine.  No oil, no wax, no nothing.  Guys get the urge to do stuff to helmets like this, and end up destroying what value is left. 

 

Agree..less is best. It survived this long with no special care and now it will be better taken care of.

In Memoriam:
Lieutenant J.Kostelec 1-3 First Special Service Force MIA/PD 4 March 1944 Italy
I HAVE SEEN THE ENEMY AND IT IS DAYLIGHT
Forget about the tips..We'll get hell to pay (AC/DC)
"If you cant get out and run with the big dogs then sit on the porch and bark at the cars going by.."

​Have you Hugged a Clown Today?

​You Cant Get A Sun Tan On The Moon..





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USMC_ROB

USMC_ROB

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2 hours ago, ArchangelDM said:

Doyler is correct, it’s the Italian Flaming bomb. 

What time frame would Italy have used this in? I'm guessing 1950's?

 

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doyler

doyler

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My example...

 

image.png.2021246754392e55cbe687561a9d2945.png

In Memoriam:
Lieutenant J.Kostelec 1-3 First Special Service Force MIA/PD 4 March 1944 Italy
I HAVE SEEN THE ENEMY AND IT IS DAYLIGHT
Forget about the tips..We'll get hell to pay (AC/DC)
"If you cant get out and run with the big dogs then sit on the porch and bark at the cars going by.."

​Have you Hugged a Clown Today?

​You Cant Get A Sun Tan On The Moon..





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doyler

doyler

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image.png.32daf34b9bdbc30fc4cc263946ad25af.png

In Memoriam:
Lieutenant J.Kostelec 1-3 First Special Service Force MIA/PD 4 March 1944 Italy
I HAVE SEEN THE ENEMY AND IT IS DAYLIGHT
Forget about the tips..We'll get hell to pay (AC/DC)
"If you cant get out and run with the big dogs then sit on the porch and bark at the cars going by.."

​Have you Hugged a Clown Today?

​You Cant Get A Sun Tan On The Moon..





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Paddyd00

Paddyd00

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Strange how its so rusted out but the insignia is still in decent shape.  On Doyler's example the paint is intact on the shell yet his insignia is more faded then the rusted out Original Post.  Any ideas about this? Just an observation. 

 

Z

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USMC_ROB

USMC_ROB

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The insignia on mine is in a swath of green paint that has not rusted as much as other parts of the helmet. That is a nice helmet that doyler has. I have to look for a liner. 

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Burning Hazard

Burning Hazard

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I used to own one as well, still kicking myself for letting it go haha.

 

I'm yet to find a period photo of one in wear, I saw footage of US troops occupying Italy as late as 1949 so it is possible that for a brief time the M1 was used by Italians before they reverted back to the M33.

 

Another example here:

 

 

donation2014.gifdonation2015.gifdonation2016.gif

 

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huntssurplus

huntssurplus

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is it possible these were used by italian military during WW2? Like by the half of italy that was under allied control. I know a lot of french divisions were armed in US gear in the latter half of WW2, but do not know if any similar italian formations existed. 

 

Hunt

I am an amateur collector of US military items of the 20th century.

 

Looking for items related to:

-The Aleutian Island Campaign of WW2, Alaskan Theater, Alaska Defense Command, and more specifically the Battle of Attu

-Items related to the 50th Combat Engineer Regiment/Battalion

-Items related to Wheelus Air Force Base Libya, particularly from 1957-1960

-WW2 items belonging to service members from Northern Virginia

-WW2 Uniforms (all branches and services)

-Cheap/Throwaway WW2 named uniforms

-Smaller WW2 Groupings

-7th Infantry Division Items

-WW2 Photos and Letters (all branches, theaters, services, etc)

 

^^ PM ME!!

 

Instagram: @surplus_central https://instagram.com/surplus_central/

eBay: http://www.ebay.com/usr/giovachm

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ArchangelDM

ArchangelDM

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18 hours ago, USMC_ROB said:

What time frame would Italy have used this in? I'm guessing 1950's?

 


Their military police force still use the flaming bomb today on there uniforms - nice looking helmet congrats 

"Rise and rise again until lambs become lions."

 

Always looking for ww2 USMC items, helmets and any camo'd items

 

 

"thinking outside of the box"

 

New website

 

https://combatusedmilitaria.com

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USMC_ROB

USMC_ROB

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57 minutes ago, huntssurplus said:

is it possible these were used by italian military during WW2? Like by the half of italy that was under allied control. I know a lot of french divisions were armed in US gear in the latter half of WW2, but do not know if any similar italian formations existed. 

 

Hunt

I was wondering this myself, it would be really cool if it is so.

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