Original Item: Only One Available. This is an extremely rare Pre WWII (Pre M38) “Helmet, Tank-Drawing #C-66424” often referred to as simply The Infantry Style Tank Helmet, the “Cavalry” style was more like the M38 we all know and love. This is the first of these helmets we have ever been able to offer, so act fast as items of this caliber do not last long.

In 1937, the Infantry Board requested the Rawlings Sporting Goods Company submit designs for a helmet to replace the Helmet, Tank 1919 Pattern, which was then in use in all Army tank units except the mechanized cavalry. A design, heavily influenced by the cavalry style tank helmet, was accepted in late 1937 and designated the “Helmet, Tank-Drawing #C-66424” like this one here.

This helmet was commonly referred to as the infantry style tank helmet. Actual production of this new helmet appears not to have begun until 1938 at the Rawlings plant in St. Louis, Missouri. The design of the infantry style tank helmet generally conformed to the cavalry style tank helmet although with several noticeable differences. The new infantry tank helmet incorporated features such as a longer leather neck piece with three small snap fastened straps to retain the wire harness of a radio headset and goggle straps, all of which are still present. We have made no attempts to undo any of the snap buttons, not wanting to risk any damage.

In addition, the leather cheek pieces each had leather “cups” or pockets sewn to them externally to hold radio headphones, both of which are still present and firmly attached. Each of these leather cups had two retention straps attached to securely hold radio headphones. However the most noticeable difference was the addition of a large donut ring around the outer circumference of the helmet bowl. This crash pad or “donut” was made of foam rubber covered in doe skin and though undoubtedly effective added a great deal of weight to the helmet. The crash pad does show staining and wear but is still fully attached and is actually quite soft still.

The predominant maker of the infantry style tank helmet was the Rawlings Company and their helmets are easily recognizable by the Rawlings logo impressed on the rear neck guard of the helmet; however, there are examples known which were produced by the Sears Saddlery Company of Davenport, Iowa. The helmets produced by Sears Saddlery Company have their company name ink stamped in red on the interior central leather pad of the liner. This one is the Rawlings model and their proper lodo can still be seen impressed on the rear leather pad, reading as Rawlings.

Both manufacturers ink-stamped the helmet size onto the central leather pad of the liner. The interior lining of both the Rawlings and Sears Saddlery-type helmet consists of four cotton straps running from the circumference of the helmet bowl and intersecting centrally where they are sewn to the central leather circular pad. The lining straps of the Rawlings-made helmets have a black line of stitching running through the center of each strap, whereas the Sears Saddlery models are plain. This Rawlings model is in the correct configuration with the size stamp 6 ¾ still visible.

A major difference in the construction of the two types of helmets is in the way the circular foam rubber bumper cushion is attached to the outside of the helmet bowl. The Rawlings produced infantry style helmets utilize waxed cotton thread to stitch the bumper cushion to the helmet, while the Sears Saddlery models use a leather strip. While the wax is no longer really visible, the thread is the correct type utilized by Rawlings.

This is an excellent example, still fully functional components by the looks of it! These types of helmets did not last long or were tossed for the more favorable and lighter M38. This is a type that will not be found again for quite some time, making this a wonderful addition to any helmet collection. Comes more than ready for further research and display.