Hi guys,
I’m interested in this skull collar tab, Is it original?
Thanks!
Mauro
INFANTRY LINERS
Frontal eyelet hole
A true US WWII M-1 helmet liner can be identified through the frontal eyelet hole. If an M-1 helmet liner has one, there's a good chance it was made during WWII.
Note: US liners produced in the 1950s and some European copies still retained that feature and some modern dealers drill them into the M1958 liners.
Cotton HBT suspension cloth
The majority of US WWII M-1 helmet liners had a cotton herring bone twill (HBT) cloth suspension. The HBT cloth was either a single or multiple weave pattern. This HBT suspension was held tightly within the M-1 helmet liner by rivets and a series of triangular "A" washers. The three upper suspension bands were joined together with a shoe string. This way the wearer could adjust the fit.
Note: A true US WWII M-1 helmet liner would always have this string tie. Later M-1 helmet liners made in the 1960s did not.
Back & nape strap
A distinguishing feature of the US WWII M-1 helmet liner was the back-strap. The back-strap was a single piece of cloth that had four female-ended snaps within it. It was riveted to the back of the liner near the base of the wearer's neck (also called the "nape").
The back-strap was used in conjunction with the "nape" strap. The nape strap was another method used to guarantee a snug fit for the M-1 helmet and liner. The nape strap came in both single and two-piece varieties.
Size adjustment
US WWII M-1 helmets and liners were "one size fits all". The M-1 helmet shells were one standard size. The M-1 helmet liners were too, but were adjustable. Through three methods the wearer could adjust the fit of the M-1 helmet liner; through the top string tie, nape strap/back-strap and headband adjustment.
Note: The "nape" strap was another item left out of the 1960 era production. Pictured to the right is a two-piece "nape" strap adopted around 1943.
Internal garter studs
A major identifier of a WWII US M-1 helmet liner are the internal garter studs. On each side of the M-1 helmet liner were two small posts attached by an external cap. These studs were for the fastening of the leather liner chinstrap. This feature was retained in the US M-1 helmet liner all the way up to the M-1958 and disappeared in the early 1960s.
Note: These garter studs were made from both steel and brass, depending on the time period of manufacture.
My latest purchase, 1942 dated and MM'd ITA.
Always wanted a green heer 1st pattern and got this from a friend for a good price.cool militaria
Jerry:D
