NVA/VC Pith Helmet from the Vietnam War

Today we're going to take a look at a very interesting helmet from my collection, a captured enemy Pith Helmet that was worn by the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) also known as the Peoples Army of Vietnam (PAVN) and by the Viet Cong (VC) also known as the National Liberation Front (NLF). I am no expert and I have long avoided these helmets because they have been faked so much, but I had the chance to buy this one from a reputable collector so I took the dive. I would love to hear from the experts in the field of enemy militaria from the Vietnam War.

[@vietnamonly]

So true. My father and his brother, cousin wear those helmet during war with US, China, Cambodia. So much history in a simple helmet

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

Cảm ơn rất nhiều vì đã xem!

[@timothiusthegreat6856]

The hole for the star on Vietnam War helmets are higher up. Usually they are either touching the line or right on top of it.

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

Thanks for that tip! I had also noticed the higher location of the hole on some helmets, even a few above the line.

[@capatinswifty]

Im almost certain this is a post vietnam made helmet. Due to the manufactures tag on the inside. This would have been used during the sino-vietmenese war or just after.

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

I am still on the fence with this one and there is a real scarcity of reference material. Your assertion may be correct. Can you tell me about any references you know of?

[@donavantew8278]

I have one that is stamped vetinam. But no star. Mine has the same stamp as yours my liner is missing

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

Thanks for that. If it is stamped Vietnam that is probably because it was imported pretty recently. If it has the same factory label that is another indicator that mine is a post-Vietnam conflict helmet.

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

So, I had to re-upload the video with the Cuervo Negro music that I normally use because the "free" video editing software Clipchamp, offered royalty free music - that caused a copyright infraction with YT.

[@donavantew8278]

Awesome video my friend 🙏🇺🇸

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

Thanks for coming by!

[@dalekemperor4407]

Many Pith Helmets are post war made by the actual PAVN and are still in use in the PAVN today, so there is a chance its just a post war made pith.

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

Indeed you are right, and I am no expert on these helmets. Thanks for watching!

[@ShadowScoutSwede]

Thank you for sharing and i agree it is an interesting piece of equipment and i´m no expert on those helmets either. But anyhow it is a nice helmet and if you bought it from a seller with good reputation you can trust that is a genuine helmet.

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

I feel pretty good about it's authenticity, otherwise I wouldn't have bought it, but I know eventually I will sell or trade it and I want to be able to represent it correctly. I don't want to be they guy that sold a helmet and it turn out not to be what I said it was.

[@ShadowScoutSwede]

@@FreeAmericaChannel I agree with you about that one my friend. But it does not hurt to check how authentic it is with an expert in that field.

[@longtranthanh8544]

It means: Factory 26, Department of Logistics.

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

Thank you very much! Cảm ơn rất nhiều!

[@longtranthanh8544]

@@FreeAmericaChannel no problem. God bless Uncle Sam!

[@larpingtonboogecke]

If that's a fake it's the best one I've seen. I have a NVA pith helmet also. Mine is a lighter khaki color. But identical otherwise

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

Silly how we get wrapped up about that stuff, right? Thanks for the encouragement and thanks for watching!

[@Reece_Garrod]

nice i might purchase this

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

Good luck!

[@face_]

The 70 model look kinda different form the 90

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

Interesting comment, thanks. Where can I find out more about the different models of pith helmets used by the PAVN?

[@face_]

@@FreeAmericaChannel i have a collection of the 70 , the 84 , the 90 the 70 doesn’t have a metal sheet in between but the 84 does also the 90 is made form a different fabric form the 84 and 70 , some of the 70 will have a res stamp of the Chinese army they come in a pack with a steel body armor

[@face_]

@@FreeAmericaChannel the model of pith helmet is like in the museum of uniform in vietnam

[@face_]

@@FreeAmericaChannel the helmet image is very rare but there is a few different colors and materials some old one that were used in the pol pot war have like metal sheets in them most of the research i found is actual form the old pith helmet of the Vietnamese vet , but the main difference of the 70 and the 90 is the 70 is made by Chinese so they are made for a fabric they call gabadin which will change color under the sun to the color to a little bit golden the 90 won’t change color because they made out of different fabrics and inside of the 70 will have Chinese markings in them like a small red Chinese stamp

[@face_]

@@FreeAmericaChannel also there is a police version which is very rare

[@therandomekekistani5812]

What are these helmets made out of? Wood? Plastic?

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

This helmet has a Vietnamese tag inside, so it is probably made from strips of lightweight plant material (pith) covered with green or tan cloth as demonstrated in this short video I found on YT: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ppmzc4WHd7SLd80 Current Chinese pith helmets seem to be made of plastic foam covered with green or camo cloth.

[@therandomekekistani5812]

@@FreeAmericaChannel The video was very informative, that you for sharing

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

@@therandomekekistani5812 Thanks for your comments!