Airborne Chin cups.

i have one on mine but tuck it up under the helmet out of the way sometimes, it can whack you in the chops when running, but does look good lol.

They wore them to jump but then took them off or tucked them up inside their helmets, which is what I do.

There's no need for them in the field as you have the regular chin strap. Most people use their M1 helmets with the strap undone, as does every war film ever made, and there's no real disadvantage to this as the helmets stay on pretty well and are then easy to take off too.

There are some thoughts that chin straps were rarely done up because a helmet with the strap done up provides a very good grabbing point and lever in close combat, but that's possibly bollocks.

If you want to fit a chin cup and A straps it could be difficult as you have to mess about with the rivets. I have a contact who restores M1s if you want anything done.

Take a look at the excellent 'Top Pots' website which has all the information you'll ever need on M1 Helmets.

http://www.toppots.net

Specifically about liners:
http://www.toppots.net/main.php?do=clie ... ink_id=142

Thanks for the info guys, most likely for the moment i will stick with it as is, as its not a simple case of just changing the strap, and the conversion kits i have seen are nearly as expensive as the helmet.

Thanks again

helmets with solid webbing chinstaps can cause seriuos injury if caught by blast , british elastic chinstraps are slightly less dangerous, british airbourne 3 point are even safer. apparently US m1 helmet straps led to a lot of neck injuries while fastened. ( thats what my old platoon sargeant told us anyway, he might have been full of shit tho,,,,,,,,, lol)

I remember reading that the common practice of wearing your chinstrap round the back of the rim was frowned upon - the commander of the 29th ID even made it an offence not to have it on your chin in combat. The troops were scared that the chinstrap would tear their heads off if caught in a blast wave. Leather chinstraps such as the German ones would seem to me safer as they were more prone to breaking.

Needless to say, I disobey orders when playing as a 29th GI.

With airborne liners the strap doesn't fit around the back anyway. I've no idea why. At least mine doesn't.

Check out the guy's strap hooked onto his helmet net in this pic:

I've got an M1C and my chinstrap fits fine round the back of the helmet and as for the leather chin cup, I tuck it up in to the webbing on top. at D Day + 2 it stayed up there quite happily if you thread it through a couple of holes.
If you're thinking of buying an M1, I'd just go ahead and buy the actual para one, because like me you'll probably just end up buying one anyway later and then your stuck with a spare M1 that never gets used. Plus they look the dogs...well they look pretty cool anyway.
That's a great picture by the way Ste.

Already bought a regular m1, which is why i was asking if it was an issue, i'm on a budget being a student, and the m1c's i have seen are not cheap at all, for the moment i will just stick with my m1, and then in the future once i have the cash invest in one.

i love my chin cup,saved me having my teeth shot out once,when i enter inside buildings,i just move it over my mouth sometimes entering a building now,a very handy protection.

I just keep my mouth shut.

speaking of chin cups,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, what the hell is that thing john wayne has on in the longest day ?????

ermm, a swagger, clenched jaw and true grit?

Rickets?

Kirk Douglas's chin?

lol,

i love my chin cup,saved me having my teeth shot out once,when i enter inside buildings,i just move it over my mouth sometimes entering a building now,a very handy protection.

Do you often bare your teeth as you charge in to buildings? Do you growl as well haha

With airborne liners the strap doesn't fit around the back anyway. I've no idea why. At least mine doesn't.

Check out the guy's strap hooked onto his helmet net in this pic:

The chap with his back to the camera has his strap around the back, looks to have the spade on his helmet so I assume he has an airborne liner. I always thought that the airborne troops just hooked it on to the net because to make it stretch around the back you have to adjust the length which is a bit fiddly and probably not a priority if you've recently jumped into hostile teritory.

That's the canvas chinstrap he's got round the back. I'm guessing many of them just discarded the leather chin cup after the drop (double buckle).

Just tuck it in the helmet,or the net or leave it to dangle,what ever is easier for you i say.