Pickelhaube Opinion

R

rocky

New member
Hi,

I know a guy that has this Pickelhaube & I was looking at it & took a few pics. I believe it is one of those late war ones. It is missing the chin strap & cockades and someone put an extra frontal plate on it. It is also unit marked. Any Opinions?

Thanks,
Rocky
 

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Wow, a nice original ersatz cloth covered felt, that someone has messed with by adding another plate!

Actually, that is the first time I have literally seen two plates on one helmet.....
 
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Hi Rocky,
Nice helmet, and nicely marked!
As said, a shame that someone added an extra plate, but hopefully that only added two small holes on the back. The eagle belongs to the helmet, that also fits with IR 136.
I’m no expert on this type of helmet, but it looks ok to me. The disc under the spike belongs on the inside of the helmet, but otherwise it seems to be in very good condition.
Regards,
Lars
 
This is an Ersatz helmet made from leather, pressed cardboard or cork. Unlike felt helmets, these are edged with a sewn-on leather or coated canvas band for added strength.
The eagle alone corresponds to the Prussian Line Infantry Regiment 136, which I know well as it is garrisoned in Dieuze (Lothringen-Reichsland). This helmet is undoubtedly a 'trophy' brought back from the front by an Allied serviceman. To condense his booty, the soldier has placed a Württemberg plate on the back, which has no business there, and which obviously has to be removed. To transport it, French, British or American soldiers used to dismantle the spike and replace it inside in the opposite direction. At home, when reassembling the spike, we often make the mistake of placing the Teller under the spike, on the outside, instead of fixing it in the hull.
 
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Dear collector,
the helmet is a original prussian infanterie ersatz helmet. The wurttemberg plate is not of the same helmet. It's correct in all its parts.
This helmet is not common and quite rare. Something we can find some helmet with the reinforcement metal disk wrongly mounted under the spike's base. I heard that the helmets when had to be stored for long period were deprived of the spikes and the the different part were stored separately to maximize space.
Zeb
 
Another thing:
the magnetism of the fittings should be checked... The plates look grey-iron to me, but the tip is not the M15 retractable model.

In reply to CLOVIS,

the frontal plate should be magnetic?

Thanks,
Rocky
 
As of now the guy that has the helmet does not want to sell it. What would be a reasonable offer when he does want to sell it?

Thanks,
Rocky
 
rocky said:
As of now the guy that has the helmet does not want to sell it. What would be a reasonable offer when he does want to sell it?

Thanks,
Rocky
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Canvases are rare. The hull and liner are good. That's a plus.
Missing the roundels and chinstrap, quite a lot of damage and handling, that's a minus. 600€ in France. (The Württemberg plate is recoverable).
 
Here is another picture of the other side of the helmet. The black disc should be on the inside and by bending the tabs & placing it on the tabs & bending them back.

Thanks,
Rocky
 

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Clovis makes a good point, M15 wurttemberg plates are quite scarce and you could remove it and sell it or keep it on the helmet and maintain its integrity as a souvenir piece. Similar to how people will take pins and other insignia off of hate belts and capture holsters. Personally I think it just makes the helmet unique, I guarantee you'll never find another one like it!
 
I agree, if you take off the Wurttemburger plate someone is just going to put it on and unmarked Prussian M15 and falsely sell it as a Wurttemburger M15 for someone desperately looking for one. :devilish:

It's a unique piece of history as is and looks like it's been that way for a long time. (y)

Great point with regard to the hate belts. Think about it how many hate belts have we seen with one- or two-pieces cutoff? Every time I see one, I wonder what rare piece once filled that spot.

I'll admit I have a soft spot for untouched complete pieces which are super rare.
 
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The black disc should be on the inside and by bending the tabs & placing it on the tabs & bending them back? Is that correct? Again, thanks for all the information.

Rocky
 
rocky said:
The black disc should be on the inside and by bending the tabs & placing it on the tabs & bending them back? Is that correct? Again, thanks for all the information.

Rocky
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That's the way all the other ones I've seen over the years have been.

But and it's a BIG BUT it looks like it's been that way for a long long time and by trying to remove it you could find yourself with some problems or worse damage.
 
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