Need help on this us m1917 helmet with 77th id flash

[chevyfan2k9]

I have this helmet I got a couple of weeks ago and was wondering about the 77th id flash on the front, I didn't pay much for it but would like opinions on it, I been told real and also post war applied, now some else told me they didn't put insignia on helmets and uniforms til after the war so not sure if that is true or not but heres the helmet so real or fake insignia

Thanks
Jack

[Tinhat]

Personally, I don't like it, the blue looks a bit bright compared to other examples you can see online and it doesn't look to have the right age to it.
It's inevitable we will need to get better at identifying good or bad on these, so hopefully others will join in.

Generally these were not field applied, but done for homecoming parades.

Steve.

[aef1917]

Looks fine to me.

Some helmets were painted during the war, but the majority were painted under orders during the Occupation. The 77th Division painted theirs in April, 1919, so they are one of the relatively rare units that painted them specifically for their victory parade.

[OldSteel]

Hello everyone,
if it can useful for comparison, I have a British Mk1 used by a 77th soldier; the badge should have been painted on it in occasion of the return to home parade.

Regards
Roberto