Need help! Argentinean M-1 Clone Maybe?
Just arrived yesterday, some of you may have seen this helmet on eBay. The chin strap caught my attention so I grabbed it up in hopes that it might be an Argentinean M-1 as we do not have one on the shelf. I think the chin strap will tell the story as the Argentines did use large rivets to secure the chin straps to the helmet bales. The J-Hook and Clasp are not familiar to me however, and I have yet to stumble on another of the same configuration, although to be honest, I have not spent much time doing so as of yet. The J-Hook and clasp are highly corroded, from near salt water use maybe? The rest of the helmet is free of corrosion.
The shell is definitely a clone and has no heat stamp or other markings of any sort. It is a front seam with a non-magnetic rim and is a few ounces lighter than a WWII US M-1. The liner is US made post Korea. I have no idea if the liner was recently put together with the helmet of if they have been matched for some time, no way of really knowing I guess. I’m not sure what is up with the black paint job either.
Any thoughts/ideas?
Thanks in advance,
Russ & Son
