How do you identify a World War 2 M1 Helmet?

Answer 1

First, be advised, that several European nations copied the US M1 steel helmet shell during the early part of the cold war. Those helmets can be identified by usually having revits in them along with an interior suspension system (no liner required). Some will have slightly different edges and rolls to them, and some will be slightly smaller in diameter to a US M1 steel shell (commonly referred to as "steel pots"). In those cases, one must compare the US M1 to a European clone side by side to tell the difference.

Secondly, over 22 million US M1 steel pots were made during WWII, and all them had varying degrees of shapes, colors, seams, and swivels. Those M1 shells also fought in the Korean War (which was only 5 years after WWII ended).

On or about 1967, the US produced another 1 million M1 steel helmets, these were aired on the TV news about that year; and as shown on television, were being produced from scrapped cars. These M1's were to augment the diminishing WWII supply, and be sent to the Vietnam War, going on at that time. If the M1 steel helmet has a lowered crown (foreward top portion), and the usual swivel bales, and the usual rear seam, and has an ORIGINAL FACTORY redish/browish primer with an ORIGINAL FACTORY "Olive Green" exterior paint job, non-corked (smooth), then it's one of those 1967 produced Vietnam War era M1 steel helmet shells.

Anything other than explained above, is one of those 22 million WWII steel pots.