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G008458 PRUSSIAN M1895 EM/NCO'S PICKELHAUBE.

BACKGROUND: Development of the pickelhaube may be traced back to the Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm IV who initiated the original design and introduced it for wear by most of the Prussian line Infantry regiments on October 23RD 1842. The pickelhaube became a visual symbol of Prussia's military might and underwent numerous modifications starting in 1860 and continuing right up until 1915. The demise of the pickelhaube began in the fields of WWI as a result of increased head wounds suffered by the German troops which were mainly caused by grenade and shell fragments. As a result of the increased head wounds and the development of the first "modern" steel helmets by the French army in early 1915 and by the British army later that year the German army began tests for their own steel helmet at the Kummersdorf Proving Grounds in November, and in the field in December 1915. An acceptable pattern was developed and approved and production of the new steel helmets began at the Eisen-und Hüttenwerke, AG Thale/Harz, in the spring of 1916. After the introduction of the M16 helmet the pickelhaube was relegated for wear only on ceremonial occasions. The M1895 pickelhaube was used all the way until the end of the First World War in Nov of 1918.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: 1895 pattern, Prussian EM/NCO’s blackened lacquered leather construction pickelhaube with red brass metal fittings. The pickelhaube features a rounded body and crown with stitched on, extended, rounded corner, front and rear visors. The pickelhaube has a tombac Prussian EM/NCO’s helmet plate (wappen). The helmet plate features the crowned Prussian eagle with upswept wings, clutching a royal scepter and a royal orb with an embossed scripted banner superimposed on its wings and breast. The embossed script to the banner consists of, "Mit Gott Für Koenig und Vaterland", (With God for King and Fatherland), and has the royal, "FR" cypher to its breast indicating, Friedrich Rex, (King Friedrich). The helmet plate is attached to the pickelhaube by two metal loops which extend into the interior through corresponding holes to the front. (No extra holes & complete with original grommets). One of the leather securing straps is missing and now have a piece of wire in place as a temporary holder. Would be an easy fix. The top crown of the pickelhaube has the typical, circular, magnetic sheet metal spike base with all four of the original dome headed split pin retaining rivets intact. The plain, regulation, non-detachable pattern, brass spike has five circular ventilation holes to the "neck" portion. Spike is bend forward, would probably bend back into place. The reverse center of the pickelhaube has a vertical, red brass, reinforcement spine with the sliding ventilation shutter intact near the top edge. The spine is secured to the pickelhaube by a spilt pin rivet and a screw with a retaining nut. The forward leather visor has magnetic sheet metal trim to the forward edge secured by two large dome headed rivets. The pickelhaube has M1891side posts positioned on either side of the body for securing the chinstrap and the national and state cockades. The chinstrap and cockades are both absent. The interior of the pickelhaube is in natural tan leather with a nine finger blackened leather liner. The liner is complete and still supple and all the fingers are intact. Original leather liner string is also still present. The interior crown has the magnetic stamped sheet metal spike base retainer intact. To the top interior crown are the unit numbers "R.84. 1898 II R". Also present is an oval makers stamp, hard to read. The pickelhaube is in overall decent condition and the exterior shows the typical surface light surface checking to the lacquered finish. Untouched. Just needs korkarden and a chinstrap to complete it.

GRADE ***½                             PRICE $795.00

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