Please Help Identify Steel Helmet

Hey, everyone. I could really use some help identifying this helmet. I had assumed it was a US military helmet at first, but it only sort of looks like an M1 and it certainly isn't a PASGT. I'm now thinking its of European or Asian origin.

The lining and chin strap give me the impression that it could be some sort of airborne/paratrooper helmet, but I'm obviously not an expert.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Hi Craig, welcome to the forum! We'd appreciate it if you'd post up an intro for yourself in the Introductions section. It helps us get to know everyone a bit better.

I'm not 100%, but it looks like you have a French F1 helmet (official designation Modèle 1978). As far as I know, this design is considered obsolete, as the French military now uses the SPECTRA helmet, similar in design to the older US PASGT-type helmets. Although there is a photo from 2008/09 of a French paratrooper on a training exercise alongside some US Army airborne soldiers, wearing this type of helmet... so it may still be issued in small numbers.



Hopefully one of our dedicated helmet gurus can confirm my suspicions.

Again, welcome to the forum.

Camo_fiend wrote:Hi Craig, welcome to the forum! We'd appreciate it if you'd post up an intro for yourself in the Introductions section. It helps us get to know everyone a bit better.

I'm not 100%, but it looks like you have a French F1 helmet (official designation Modèle 1978). As far as I know, this design is considered obsolete, as the French military now uses the SPECTRA helmet, similar in design to the older US PASGT-type helmets. Although there is a photo from 2008/09 of a French paratrooper on a training exercise alongside some US Army airborne soldiers, wearing this type of helmet... so it may still be issued in small numbers.

Hopefully one of our dedicated helmet gurus can confirm my suspicions.

Again, welcome to the forum.

Thanks for the welcome. I made an introduction just after you posted this.

I looked up the Modèle 1978 after reading your post and I think you've hit the nail on the head.

Thanks for your help, Camo_fiend! To think, my father found this awesome helmet in the trash a few years ago....