WW2 Helmets

[Davep]

Can you tell if any of these are WW2 proper liners?

 

[Widebrim]

As far as I know, WWII liners had a striped brown, or green and black finish inside (I'm looking at mine right now). The examples you post, except maybe the last, don't seem to exhibit this, although the metal clips are correct. They appear to look more like the liners we used in the '80s.

 

[Eyemo]

Top three definetly not ww2..last one possibly..difficult to tell with the low light photograph. but it does look like it's cut down at the front??

 

[Davep]

They are all Nato Helmets. The last one is a French version. As we get more and more guys coming to reenactments from the airsoft ranks, we're having to deal with people using "facsimiles". Also since the liner is not seen too often people try to slip it through, using the "new guy excuse".

Which is all well and find, but WW2 reenactors base their hobby on using "correct gear of the time" as the primary reason for having a reenactments. This is over warfare and tactics.

 

[DutchIndo]

I have 2 original WWII ABN Liners I bought years ago when they were cheap. They are pretty ratty suspension wise. I thought about refurbing them but want to leave it in its original state. Lucky for me the "A" straps are in very good condition. The first helmet appears to have a cloth OD liner chin strap.
They might be Belgian or Post-War German liners.

 

[Edward]

The bottom one looks similar, from memory, to the liner in a Vietnam era helmet which I own. This one did actually see service over there - and has a large dent in the top from the bullet that would otherwise have brained the wearer. no access to it at the moment, though - it's still in my folks' place back in Ireland.

 

[green papaya]

the first three are probably 1970's 1980's Belgian or Dutch and the sewn on chin straps appear to be taken off a French M51 helmet and sewn back on these helmets

the last helmet looks like a French M51 helmet dating from around 1953 - 1970

the chin straps are sewn on the wrong side on the 2nd helmet and the last helmet, the long strap should be on the wearer's right side of the helmet and the short strap should be on the left side.

original WWII US M1 liners in usable condition are hard to find, lots of reenactors use Vietnam era liners because there cheap and easy to get, plus it doesnt show when the helmet is being worn.

http://www.pottia.net/pottia/potat/index.htm

 

[Davep]

original WWII US M1 liners in usable condition are hard to find, lots of reenactors use Vietnam era liners because there cheap and easy to get, plus it doesnt show when the helmet is being worn.

http://www.pottia.net/pottia/potat/index.htm

You're spot on, on the last helmet and liner being post war french. As for reenactors, while WW2 Liners are rare, it is easier to get and start with a Korean era liners, and re-web the liner using repro parts and componets.

But as you noted some reenactors, less concern with authenticity, will skimp and use plastic liners which may or may not be web correctly, because you won't see the farbee item. They also will allow swivel bale helmets for the same reason, they are cheap and easy to get. This is usually done to get new members into reenacting, so authenticity standards are reduced temporarily