• Front seam, fixed-bale M1 shell - With khaki chinstrap affixed with rivets / split pins.  On page 14 of “Doughboy to GI” author Kenneth Lewis describes an early M1 helmet and states the following, “On the helmet outer, the webbing strap was riveted, this being the first form of attachment before they were stitched to the fixed loop.”  I’ve included page 14 (see pics) for reference.  In the images of this helmet you see the straps have never had stitched bar tacking and the rivets have developed undisturbed patina from age.  This shell could be an extremely early fixed-bale, or the straps could be field replacements.  I’ll let you and/or the web boards decide.
• Fiber Hawley liner – Structurally immaculate.  Peter Oosterman describes this liner as “Type 1″ in his book “M-1 Helmet of the WW2 US GI”, meaning it is the earliest variation with rectangular aluminum suspension washers, brass chinstrap holders, and a brass square slide buckle.  This Hawley dates between circa late 1941 to mid 1942.  There appears to be a faint embossed “G” (no ink) inside the crown for General Fiber Company.  This company produced only 3% (120,000 units) of the total fiber liners.

This M1 fixed-bale shell is definitely a one looker combat helmet with its wartime finish worn to a smooth sheen in places from real combat use.  On the rear of the shell, you can faintly see “PFC” (Private First Class) marked in black.  The number “26″ is painted in white inside the shell.  The Hawley liner has soiling on its cloth surface that may come out with delicate cleaning.  I decided to leave the liner as-is.