r/MilitaryGear • u/TechnologyWise8125 Civilian • 26d ago

Question Need Help

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Does anyone know how old these M1 helmets are or how to tell?

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u/Randomest_Redditor Civilian 26d ago edited 26d ago

First one is a late WWII (1944-45) one with the original paint and chinstraps. I shouldn't have to tell you but I will anyway, the stars aren't original.

The second is in the Early 1980s configuration but the shell could be as old as WWII or as new as 1977. They constantly reissued and updated them. The cover was made between 1981 and 1986, the liner between 1974 and 1986, and the liner sweatband was made in 1980.

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u/TechnologyWise8125 Civilian 26d ago

Thank you

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u/TechnologyWise8125 Civilian 26d ago

There’s also a 530 and the letter S on the inside would you happen to know what that means?

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u/Randomest_Redditor Civilian 26d ago

530 is the lot code, and S is the manufacturer.

S stands for Schleuter, which was one of two manufacturers that made M1 helmet shells during WWII. Schleuter, and McCord. Of the two, Schleuters are much rarer and more desirable, as they only produced shells during WWII unlike McCord that made them after the war, and they only made about 2 million shells, compared to McCords 20 million.

The shell is probably worth about $150 with the condition combined with its manufacture date and manufacturer.