Greetings to all,
I found this unusual “test helmet”. I'm quite sure this is a WWI M1917 Doughboy Helmet. The rivets are smaller and finer (looking at the outer rim) which holds the chin strap swivel bail to the helmet which was actually riveted and not with a split pen of that to the English Brodie's and the lining is slightly different. This helmet was a “test shot” helmet which failed the specifications “speaking to the hole on the rim”. There was never as it seems to have had the wool dome pad as this is missing, the lining and chin strap is in perfect condition. From what I picked up is that a selected “lot Number” of helmet's were chosen and tested with a 1911 .45 hand gun at a range of 10 feet. If the bullet penetrated or dented the helmet deeper than 1 3/16 inch the whole lot No. was rejected. The “failed helmets” received a red strip running across the top of the helmet from edge to edge or better to say from ear to ear (my helmet actually has this stripe, can be seen on pics. It was at one point over painted, maybe for training purposes). These failed lot numbers were never issued into combat but were used for training purposes. There is a batch or heat No. on the inner rim it could have been a “Y” but the bullet hole cut most of it then U17. The leather chin strap which is attached the the dome shows 6 ¾ of size and in pencil as it seems 5 or 6 then 3172. The lining was some stampings on it, but is not readable. There is a white “P” on the inside near the dome. I don't know if this means something or if this is just co-incidental. I thought this one of interest as you don't get to see these every day.
Regards
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