John Josef
Well-known member
I think that is just fine patina which has changed the appearance of the true color by about 99.9%.
Prussian infantry helmet M1867 for enlisted men
- Thread starter Sandmann
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I think that is just fine patina which has changed the appearance of the true color by about 99.9%.
Zebedeus
Well-known member
Dear Steve,
The helmet is not attributable only to the 1st garde pionier rgt although I consider it very likely.
The white metal finishes (it seems yellowish due to the patina of time) and the round base of the nail can accredit it to the following regiments:
1st garde regiment zu fuss - 1-2 btl & fusilier btl
5th garde regiement zu fuss
Garde fusilier rgt
1st garde pionier rgt.
Other regiments that could carry this adler in 1867 did not exist.
Zeb it’s my understanding that Garde Pionier wore gilt chinscales. Not silver.
Sandmann
Well-known member
You're right, Tony. I thought I was seeing traces of silver on the chinscales because I was fooled by a later book of uniform knowledge. In it the chinscales were shown as silver. But according to the clothing regulations of 1868, the emblem and fittings of the Guard Pioneers were made of nickel silver and the flat chinscales of tombac. So there shouldn’t be silver plated brass parts.
I should look more at the regulations as a reference again. Or was this changed later and the book was right after all?
Zebedeus
Well-known member
Tony, you are right. I made a careful inspection. It is no easy to distinguish because ofthe very heavy ancient patina
The spike is silver as the rosettes. Only the chinscales appear to be gilt. In my opinion it's all ok
The spike is silver as the rosettes. Only the chinscales appear to be gilt. In my opinion it's all ok
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KAGGR#1
Well-known member
Sandmann
Well-known member
Thank you Frank, I‘m looking forward to see your helmet too 
Zeb, your helmet is fine. But instead of chinscales made of tombac, nickel silver chinscales were probably used, which were then gilded. This explains why they now look silver at some points. But if you look closely, the silver areas are exactly where the top layer is most likely to be rubbed off. That means the silver areas are the material of the scales. But under the rosette, the gilding is still perfectly preserved.
Zeb, your helmet is fine. But instead of chinscales made of tombac, nickel silver chinscales were probably used, which were then gilded. This explains why they now look silver at some points. But if you look closely, the silver areas are exactly where the top layer is most likely to be rubbed off. That means the silver areas are the material of the scales. But under the rosette, the gilding is still perfectly preserved.