WWII US Army M1 Helmet -
The M-1 steel pot helmet is one of the most utilitarian designs produced for a U.S. helmet and one of the longest lasting. Many news reels and pictures show the GI's using their helmet to cook, dig, carry water and many other functions.

The helmet is composed of a metal shell and a separate liner with a plastic shell. Both shells are illustrated on the pictures below. Notice that the plastic shell has a hole in the front-center. This hole is where an insignia could be placed.

This helmet might be one of the most recognizable icons of WWII. Approximatelly 8 million helmets were produced during WWII by a large number of companies.





This page is a recognition and identification guide for WWII US hats and helmets. Multiple detailed photos of a specific sample are provided. Descriptions point out clearly defined points that should be noted.

One of the most commonly asked questions is "How much is my WWII US headgear worth?". A price guide is included here to address this question. The value of the hats and helmets is reviewed over a period of several years. A trend can be observed. The present worth of US militaria in the collector's market is illustrated.

This service is provided free of charge to the visitor/enthusiast courtesy of MilitaryItems.com, a company dedicated to the preservation of military history and to providing quality military antiques and collectibles to museums, institutions and the general public.

WANT TO LEARN MORE?
  1. Identifying fakes and reproductions
  2. Stamps and manufacturing markings
  3. Construction materials
  4. Pins, hinges and other
  5. Perspective view
  6. Purchasing WWII US Headgear


A quick way to tell if a helmet is from the WWII period is by looking at where the welding point is located. This is known as the seam. The WWII helmets have it in the front of the helmet (As shown in the picture below). Later examples had the weld in the back.




This US headgear is currently being reproduced. It is becoming more difficult to be able to tell the fake ones from the real ones because the quality of the reproductions is improving. The collector must become familiarized with the construction style and materials employed in the manufacturing of this headgear. Attention to the details is critical in order to be able to determine the authenticity of the collectible.



If you have an interest is seeing other WWII American military headgear, you can do so by going to our WWII US Military headgear identification guide. Where we cover Army, Navy, Army Air Force and other organizations.



PRICING GUIDE INFORMATION



Year 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Value $140.00 $175.00 $200.00 $225.00 $225.00 $ $
Availability Medium Medium Medium Medium Medium
Invest Grade A A A A A


While the item featured here is not for sale, similar items like it are available for purchase in our website MilitaryItems.com