NFL helmet face masks

[RKGIBSON]

Can any one explain the dating system used on late NFL facemask. Attached are several that I have, CJF, DIG, AIE.

I also attached different facemask clips with dates. Are others also used are is this typical with all teams?


Roger

[ironmanfan]

Have you tried www.helmethut.com?

[DrJ]

Count the letters, with the first being month, then decade, then year. For example DIG as you posted previously would be D=4 , I = 9 and G = 7, therefore the mask is April 1997. The clips of course have the date on them. Hope this helps.

[RKGIBSON]

DrJ,

Thanks for the info. Knowledge of this kind of thing makes it harder for the guys who build fake helmets, for specific players, to pass them off as all original. Finding date coded parts makes the task more difficult.

Do you know how early they used this method?

The other dates above are:
CJF= March 2006
AIE= January 1995

I have a college helmet with a Riddell mask. It has the month/year date code, 06-96, photo attached.

Roger

[DrJ]

Your welcome, glad I could help.

I don't know when this method started though. I've seen masked marked like your Riddell and I've seen mask with no markings at all.

[DrJ]

I might add that by looking at your pictures below it looks like your helmets and facemask clips match up good. That will always make one feel better...