Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice example of a WWII U.S. Officer’s M1 Helmet produced by Schleuter, complete with its original liner made byCAPAC. It is in very nice shape, and the shell is marked on the front with a Major’s Oakleaf Cluster. The helmet is complete with original complete liner and original foliage net. All appear to have been together since their service in WWII!

In World War II the production of the M1 helmet began in June 1941 and ceased in September 1945. The total production of M-1 helmet shells during the war reached 22,000,000. Of these about 20,000,000 were produced by the main contractor McCord Radiator and Manufacturing Company of Detroit. Although McCord was supposed to be the single source of M-1 helmet shells, by the summer of 1942 a second company was enlisted to help the production effort. This was Schlueter Manufacturing of St. Louis, Missouri.

Schlueter began production of its M-1 helmet shells in January 1943. Schlueter produced only 2,000,000 M-1 helmet shells during the war (both fixed and swivel). They placed an "S" stamp on their helmet shells above their "heat temperature stamp". Aside from the markings, there are some subtle differences between a McCord and Schlueter M-1 helmet shell. This can be found on the rims. A Schlueter helmet shell has a much straighter profile than the classic McCord brim. Also the weld marks for the fixed bales and rim are small and round on a Schlueter, while they are oval and wide for a McCord.

The steel shell on this example is stamped 367A indicating Schleuter manufacture and dating from mid-late 1944. The helmet is of the swivel bale, rear seam, variety. M-1 helmet shell originally had a stainless steel rim with seam in the front. Stainless steel rims were both rust resistant and had "non-magnetic qualities" that reduced the chance of error. The chinstraps are Olive Drab, and are fitted with a cast steel “female” buckle, and the T-1 Pressure Release standarized in the summer of 1944. The interior of the helmet is painted with initials “A.T.” and a name and serial number that are difficult to decipher.

The liner is a rank painted M1 Helmet Liner made by CAPAC. The original paint is evident, and overall, very worn. Interestingly, a Technical Sergeant’s Rank Chevrons are hand painted to the front in white. This leads us to believe that this helmet was originally worn by an NCO who received a field promotion, and simply painted an Officer’s Vertical Leadership Recognition Stripe (aka “Invasion Stripe”) on the back of the helmet. The liner features khaki suspension secured by the means of riveted “A”-washers. There is some damage to the liner, obviously from heavy use. The liner appears to have been worn on a sweaty, dirty, head extensively… just what you would expect to see in a combat-worn helmet.

It is a WWII M1 helmet high pressure helmet liner. It is stamped with the Capac Manufacturing Company logo with frontal eyelet. Manufactured in Capac, Michigan this high pressure manufactured M-1 helmet liner is identified by an embossed cross with the words Capac in the crown. Capac Manufacturing Company started M-1 helmet liner delivery to the US Army in September 1942. They produced approximately between 2,000,000 -4,000,000 M-1 helmet liners and discontinued production around August 17 1945 when the war ended.

The net on the helmet is a piece of Khaki Vehicle Net, cut from a larger piece. These were very common with GIs in both theaters of the war.

Overall, this is an excellent example of a circa 1944 M1 Helmet that is painted with rank and had certainly been worn in the field!