1917,or 1917A1???

[VA-75 Puncher]

...found this in antique store yesterday...at first thought it may be an early WW2 M1917 A1 but now I'm not sure abd more confused than ever...its in pretty nice shape,paint seems original and looks like original liner with chinstrap-leather dry and getting stiff now but can be moved carefully...

....I've gone back thru previous posts and find next to nothing on info-my confusion is about the heat stamp,and the shape of the bale anchoring-they are sort of "half moon" shaped,and code of XH C -cant find anything on it of help...is this a WW1 1917 or a 1917 A1?....early WW2???....only stamp I can find inside the liner seems to be the number 1917

....can anyone provide any info or insight?...thanks🙂

[aef1917]

m1917.  Pretty uncommon maker.

[mikie]

In the 1930s, The M1917 helmets were taken out of storage and had the liner removed and replaced with a different design.  The refurbished helmets were redesignated as M1917A1.  So the big, easy way to tell difference is the liner.  The one you posted has the original WWI type liner so is a M1917.  Here is a picture of the M1917A1 that my Dad was issued when he joined the NY National Guard in 1940.  He sent it home when he got hs M1 in 1942.  There is of course more to the story, but this is it is a nutshell.

Mikie

[polihelmet]

Nice example! crist m17 helmet even the tag is present

[VA-75 Puncher]

I didnt realize till later that tgere seems to be a name written under the rim....in pencil or graphite in cursive....it only showed when tge lighting hit it just right...I can make out some, like a capital L then a capital P-or R... tgen it gets 'iffy'...another lower case letter,then 2 lower case r's-or t's...??? some after that...anyone have any guesses?