My New Fibre Glass M1

[Ronnie]

[patches]

What is this a movie prop Ronnie?

[Ronnie]

No patches it was a helmet made by an officer or a Noncom for purpose of training or parades. This is the second one I’ve had. The first was giving to me directly by the vet who made it. He was a retired Major and had it strictly for training missions, parades and such. This one has the soldiers serial

number in it. It has a few nicks on it and I was gonna repair those but the fellow I bought it from discouraged that. Said I would destroy the history. 

[patches]

Thank you Ronnie,

 

Interesting, so the individual made it themselves? I wonder what they need to make it wonder how they made it, shaped molded it etc

[Ronnie]

The first one I had was given to me by the soldier who made it. According to him the placed pieces of wet fiber glass over an M1 and let it dry. He told me they then had to do the same thing on the inside and then put the two pieces together.

[Ronnie]

One other observation. The first fiberglass helmet I had….had no rim

around the edge. This one has a rim. 

[The Rooster]

Thats pretty cool Ronnie.

Hard to find too as no one wanted anyone to know they were wearing one.

I have one.. Yours is in better shape than mine..

Nice !!!

 

 

[ludwigh1980]

Cheater Helmet. They are supposed to be lighter and less prone to heat up in the sun, thus staying cooler. They are typically used on ruck marches and akin to placing a bunch of pillows in your ruck sack to emulate bulk and mass, or a tree branch in the M-249/240B spare barrel case.  They are typical taboo in the infantry and those caught with them face intense ridicule. With a cover they are indistinguishable from a true steel pot M1, unless some-one happens to pick it up or handle it, which does happen with serious consequences. 

[The Rooster]

7 hours ago, ludwigh1980 said:

Cheater Helmet. They are supposed to be lighter and less prone to heat up in the sun, thus staying cooler. They are typically used on ruck marches and akin to placing a bunch of pillows in your ruck sack to emulate bulk and mass, or a tree branch in the M-249/240B spare barrel case.  They are typical taboo in the infantry and those caught with them face intense ridicule. With a cover they are indistinguishable from a true steel pot M1, unless some-one happens to pick it up or handle it, which does happen with serious consequences. 

Thats an interesting take on these....

I always assumed they were worn by officers,

on post for inspections and reviews etc. Something that

you would not need a real helmet for. And officers can get away with that kind of thing.

I could not imagine an Infantryman wearing one in the field though for any reason.

It wouldn't make any sense. It would be downright stupid as your melon is always vulnerable

even in training, you would not want one of these.

I think these are garrison items for reasons I stated above

and some are possibly from Hollyweird?

The one I own is a little under half the weight of a real M1.

Its made from a steel rim with about an inch of steel and 2 liners.

And what looks like colored bondo and sand. ?

Some of which has fallen off.

I do think they are exceedingly rare for the reasons you state in your post.

The ridicule and shame if you were caught wearing one..

Means most were disposed of.. quietly...

I wore an M1 back in the day, in the infantry...

I got mine off of Ebay.

lol

Ronnie got his directly from the Officer who made it!!!

I always got the feeling it was an officer thing....

Honestly, its a smart idea!

lol

 

 

[Ronnie]

Rooster if you wanna get rid of yours please let me know. I would have a neat collection of these. Thanks for the input….everybody.