Complete Paratrooper Helmet – Original McCord 884C

Name: Complete Paratrooper Helmet – Original McCord 884C
Brand: Mon Casque M1
Price: 459.00 EUR
Availability: InStock

459,00€

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Complete M1-C paratrooper helmet, built around an original McCord shell, lot number 884C, front seam and swivel bales, paired with its Westinghouse liner modified to paratrooper configuration.

The shell carries the markings of the 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, in non-commissioned officer (NCO) configuration. It is fitted with a mid war flat buckle chinstrap and its original fine mesh net.

The whole presents a battle battered patina, consistent with equipment used during Operation Market Garden.

About

The shell is a McCord product (lot number 884C) featuring a front seam, consistent with mid-war production. It is fitted with swivel loops—an articulated system that replaced the fixed loops of early production runs. It retains its original small-mesh net, a camouflage accessory commonly used by airborne units to break up the helmet's silhouette and allow for the addition of foliage.

The liner is a Westinghouse model modified to paratrooper configuration, featuring the addition of the A-yoke strap system characteristic of airborne units. The A washers are painted green, consistent with period manufacturing standards. The headband is fitted with a green buckle and clips. The liner chinstrap features a green buckle, consistent with Westinghouse assemblies of this generation. This modification, designed to keep the helmet secure during a jump, is the defining feature of the American paratrooper helmet.

1.9 kg

Combat helmet: Steel
Chinstrap: Cotton
Fittings: Brass

The original McCord shell has been fully restored. The process involved careful air-abrasion cleaning and the application of a new textured paint finish that meets period-correct standards. Components such as the movable bails and the rim band were inspected and preserved to ensure the helmet's authenticity.

The helmet liner is one-size-fits-all; however, it is adjustable in terms of both depth and head circumference.

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Helmet Shell Details

Painting Complete Paratrooper Helmet – Original McCord 884C

The helmet shell is painted to represent the configuration of an NCO from the 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment (101st Airborne Division). The markings follow the tactical identification system used by the division from the summer of 1944 onwards, combining a regiment-specific playing-card suit symbol with a position marker indicating the battalion, and a horizontal bar denoting NCO rank. The "battle-battered" finish replicates the appearance of paint subjected to the rigors of airborne jumps and ground combat. The base color conforms to US Army Olive Drab standards.

Texture Complete Paratrooper Helmet – Original McCord 884C

The McCord shell features a granular surface texture—achieved by mixing cork into the paint—designed to reduce glare and noise. It bears a "battle-battered" patina, with edge wear and localized chipping consistent with gear used in combat operations.

Chinstrap Complete Paratrooper Helmet – Original McCord 884C

The shell is fitted with a "mid-war" chin strap featuring a flat buckle—a variant produced midway through the conflict that differs from the raised bar models of earlier series. This configuration is frequently documented in photographs of American paratroopers deployed in Western Europe from the summer of 1944 onwards.

Helmet Liner Details

Image description contre rivet peint vert olive drab de sous casque US M1

Painted Steel A Washer

Since 1943, the steel washers underwent a modification of their surface finish. They were now painted green, replacing previous chemical coatings. Although this paint offered a less effective protection against corrosion and wear, it was adopted. This decision was mainly motivated by economic considerations. The painted finish was indeed a much less expensive solution to implement. This change illustrates a preference for the cost reduction of production.

Non-adjustable Neckband

The neckband, now manufactured in khaki cotton following the abandonment of rayon, incorporated new specifications. These parts were now marked with ink (by stamping) to clearly indicate their size and manufacturer. The standardization of sizes, which took place in 1943, distinguished three categories: “small", "medium" And "large". As for the snap fasteners, they are mostly engraved with the words "United Carr", although one can come across pieces devoid of any inscription.

Green Loop Headband

From 1942, the headband was equipped with a new stamped steel buckle. This buckle, painted green for protection and camouflage purposes, improved the fit. At the same time, the fixing clamps were also revised, as the first model was deemed too flexible. The new clamps received a stamped bead additional near their end. This technical modification had the effect of making the clips more rigid, thus ensuring better closure and more secure fixation. This marked an important step towards making the suspension system more reliable.

Non-Returned Neckband Support

After October 1942, a seemingly insignificant change was made to the making of the headbands. From now on, the ends of these bands were no longer folded before being riveted to the liner. This change, however minimal in the manufacturing process, had significant logistical repercussions. By eliminating this folding, the army achieved a substantial savings of raw material. This simple measure made it possible to save nearly two million meters of suspension strap. This demonstrates the major impact that small optimizations can have on the resource management on a large scale.

Image d'illustration du crochet de jugulaire en cuir de liner US M1 peint en vert.

Green Chin Strap Attachment

The second type of chinstrap represents a crucial development, becoming removableand no longer integral with the hull. To ensure this quick attachment, a triangular-shaped attachment hook is present at each end of the strap. On the model presented, this attachment triangle is green. It locks onto a male stud (similar to a garter belt system), securely riveted to the inner shell. These fastening studs could be made of brass or steel, and came with either a rounded or hollow tip. This mechanism offered unprecedented flexibility of use compared to the first fixed models.

Jugulaire de Liner Verte

L'année 1943 fut marquée par la nécessité de corriger un problème de fiabilité au niveau du système de réglage.
Un défaut initial de conception de la came entraînait en effet une usure prématurée.
Sa pointe fut donc modifiée et arrondie, l'ancienne forme émoussée ayant tendance à endommager par cisaillement le cuir du bandeau de tête.
Concernant la quincaillerie, le rivet de l'extrémité non ajustable demeura provisoirement en fer peint en vert.
Il conserva cette spécification matérielle et chromatique jusqu'à ce que la production opte pour de nouveaux standards vers la mi-1944.
Ces ajustements successifs visaient à prolonger la durée de vie du matériel et à garantir une meilleure fonctionnalité.

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Complete Paratrooper Helmet – Original McCord 884C

On September 17, 1944, the 101st Airborne Division was dropped into the Netherlands as part of Operation Market Garden, the largest airborne operation ever undertaken. The 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment jumped into the Son sector with the mission of securing the bridges over the Wilhelmina Canal and opening the road to Eindhoven. The Germans destroyed the Son bridge just minutes before the paratroopers arrived, forcing the men to improvise a crossing and delaying the advance of the British armored column. Eindhoven was liberated on September 18 by the 506th, who were welcomed by a jubilant civilian population. In the weeks that followed, the division held the route nicknamed "Hell's Highway," which was subjected to repeated German counter-attacks that frequently cut the road.