Early Fixed Bale M1 Hood Rubber Liner

**aj4010** · 01-03-2013, 11:31 PM

I've been waiting quite a while to grab one of these, so I just have to show my latest pickup. Please indulge me if there are a few more photographs than usual. It's a front seam, fixed bale helmet, and I'm not sure of the maker as yet, and it has the early brass hardware. I've tried to highlight the "raised bar" buckle, which is found on some of the earliest M1's. Note the very sharp hooks on the early catch too. These "bend over" more than later ones, and can be very sharp. These ones are

. For reference, there is a clear shot of the factory bar tack stitching on the pot chinstraps too, which is very difficult to fake. For those needing a reference on these, enlarge the pics, and please take as many copies as you wish. Windows snipping tool is excellent for this
The liner is an early production Hood Rubber Co example, which has very distinctive construction. I've been trying to get my hands on one for a long time. It has dark green factory paint, which was known to have problems fixing to the liners, due to rushed early production. There is also an early "double wire" sweatband.
The insignia, well it could be original, it certainly has age. It could also have been a "played with" liner.
Either way, I'm not too worried.

I've had to struggle with various lighting today, both indoors and out. Except for me altering exposure compensation, and later contrast, the colours are about right.
Comments welcomed.

Best Regards,

Andy