WW2 U S helmet liner combo prototype, or Iraqi M80 type?

January 22, 2022

Hi there! Just posted in another section about this helmet. I'm looking for info on it. I posted it in the thread about WW2 prototype helmets. (I'm no expert on this, just did a lot of research!). As you can see this one is a thick weave fiberglass/resin helmet with a very thick metal rim. I don't see a seam anywhere. Inside are the remnants of a helmet liner suspension/nape strap. Unfortunately the only thing left are the rivets that held it in place. It has an unusual metal chin-strap bracket on each side near the rim, maybe where a chin-strap hooked in? The last pics show it next to an M1 liner, and a metal M1 type helmet. The size is similar to the liner, and obviously smaller than the metal helmet. It weighs 1 pound 16 ounces, so more than a liner and less than an M1. Might this be one of the many prototypes submitted during the hearly 1940s? It would make some sense to do something like this to save time and money. Just speculating though. I am looking forward to what you all think of this helmet. The paint has a "crinkly" finish, just might be from age though. Very thick and hard as a rock! So here are a bunch of pics of it. Whatever it is, it's pretty cool. Thanks!

*******I have been told it might be an Iraqi M80 or M90 type helmet, but I looked at a bunch of them on-line, but most had no rim, and others had a rubber rim. Plus the chin strap holder on the Iraqi helmets was a 3 rivet triangle shape, where this one is completely different, and none of the interior liner rivets matched this helmet. Plus this just doesn't seem like a Gulf or Iraqi War era helmet, seems way older. Well, I look forward to hearing from you guys!