Normally, we would auction restoration candidates or sell them directly to our client base of restorers, however this is anything but the average restoration candidate. This original and exceptionally rare WWII U.S. M1 helmet shell resulted from the partnership between Parish Pressed Steel Co. and Reading Hardware Corp. Parish-Reading helmets account for less than half of 1% of all M1 helmets produced during the war. To learn more about this little-known manufacturer, please view our article. Its heat stamp of P6 dates its production from June to August 1945, and is the last known heat stamp of this particular manufacturer. When originally discovered, this helmet showcased a post-war paint finish, indicating it did, in fact, make its way into military supplies (only one other P6 is known to exist and it is an unfinished example). Its post-war finish was painstakingly removed, revealing the miraculously-intact original "heat" and "lift" numbers of "76512" and "180936", respectively. These numbers were applied by Parish's steel provider for traceability purposes. Its original swivel loops remain intact, however one could benefit from a reenforcing weld as there is a little "give". There are no cracks or significant dents, however there is some rust damage. This is a rare opportunity to own a truly uncommon helmet at a far lower price than an as-issued example.