229 E HIGH ST · POTTSTOWN, PA 19464 MON–FRI 09:00–17:30 · SAT 09:00–16:00 · SUN CLOSED · (610) 323-8000
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EST. 1984 · SURPLUS & MILITARIA 🔎 Cart 0
GENUINE SURPLUS

Original USGI Cat Eye Helmet Band – Elastic Camouflage Band with Luminous Tabs for M1 Steel Pot, Olive Drab

Store rating 4.3 · 149 Google reviews of our Pottstown shop
$8.95
ORIGINUSA
ERACold War
CONDITIONNew
Genuine surplus · Final sale
No returns or exchanges on this item. Please check the condition notes, photos and size before you buy. Questions? Call (610) 323-8000 and we’ll pull it off the shelf for you.
Our promise: if it arrives damaged or isn’t as described, contact us within 3 days of delivery and we’ll make it right. Full policy
Ships from Pottstown, PA. Estimated arrival in 4–7 business days. Exact shipping cost shown in your cart.
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Original USGI Cat Eye Helmet Band – Elastic Camouflage Band with Luminous Tabs for M1 Steel Pot, Olive Drab
FIELD NOTES

Original USGI Cat Eye Helmet Band — Elastic Camouflage Band with Luminous Tabs, Olive Drab, Genuine U.S. Military Surplus

An original U.S. government issue elastic helmet band with two “cat eye” tabs. It stretches around the helmet cover, holds the cover in place, and secures foliage for added camouflage. The cat eyes are luminous strips that charge from light and glow faintly in the dark, so soldiers could identify friendly troops at night without a flashlight. Flip the band inside out to hide them. The glow may have faded with age. Elastic bands like this were standardized for U.S. helmets around 1981, in the final years of the M1 steel pot. This one is shown here fitted over an M81 Woodland cover on an M1 steel pot, which is how most buyers will use it.

Verified Info:

  • Item: Elastic helmet band with two cat eye tabs
  • Color: Olive drab
  • Tabs: Two luminous cat eye tabs
  • Material: Elastic
  • Issue type: Genuine USGI surplus, not a reproduction

Fits: M1 steel pot helmets and PASGT helmets. It stretches over the cover.

Included: One cat eye helmet band.
Not included (sold separately): Steel pot, liner, M81 cover, chin strap, and headband.

Ideal for: M1 and PASGT helmet displays, Cold War and 1980s impressions, reenactors, and collectors.

Condition Note: Original military surplus. Please review the photos for the band you’re buying. Email PottstownArmyNavy@gmail.com for more photos and questions.

GOOD TO KNOW
Is this real military issue?
Yes. Items in our Genuine Surplus section are government or military issue, not reproductions. We describe origin, era and condition from the markings and our own research. If a listing also offers a reproduction version, that option is clearly labeled “Repro.”
Why does surplus sometimes have storage marks or a smell?
A lot of surplus spent years in military warehouses. We note anything significant in the condition details. Most storage odors fade with airing out or washing; follow the care label where there is one.
How does military sizing work?
Military clothing is often sized by chest or waist plus length, like “Medium-Regular.” Check the Size & fit chart when there is one, or call (610) 323-8000 and we’ll measure the actual item for you.
Can I return it?
Genuine surplus is final sale, so please check the photos, condition notes and size before you buy. New merchandise and items labeled “Repro” are returnable under our return policy. Either way, if something arrives damaged or isn’t as described, contact us within 3 days of delivery and we’ll make it right.
How fast does it ship?
Orders ship from our Pottstown store within 1–2 business days. You can see your exact shipping cost in the cart before you pay.
Can I pick it up instead?
Yes. Choose “Pickup” at checkout. It’s free, and we’ll call when your order is ready at 229 E High St, Pottstown (Mon–Fri 9:00–5:30, Sat 9:00–4:00).
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