One of our expert forum members has pointed out in a PM that these chin scales with the special M91 end fittings were introduced in 1891 which would date this helmet from that year. So, I was incorrect in my statement that this was a pre 1891 helmet. It was also pointed out, that the pearl ring arou...

No idea...did you use the forum to host them or another web site like Smugmug?

Congratulations, well done. This is the kind of effort that needs to be done in order to educate the public and further interest in our militaria collecting.

Yes, some problems as noted...I also see that the "brass button" which links the scales together has been lost and replaced by a steel facsimile.

They could have been later additions Jaap. I have an older Saxe helmet in my collection with these characteristics which also has the M91's. We know that the Germans never threw anything out which could be revamped/repaired and reissued. What really stands out are those heavy thick chin scales and w...

Thanks very much Glenn! No extra threads in those holes. Don't forget the trim has to go on over the edge of the visor, any thread in those holes would prevent this. Stitching has to stop before the edge to allow the trim to slip over it. Junemann Leutnant de Reserve but his helmet wappen is regular...

Older Garde Dragoner helmet probably pre 1890's. Wide brass visor trim, thick heavy convex chin scales, NCO pearl ring around spike neck, these are all characteristics of an older style helmet. Squared front visor(cut on the diagonal) and proper dragoon rear spine with 2 domed brads holding down the...

Finding the correct length and curvature is the real challenge, the soldered prong in the middle can be moved. I speak from experience, you could buy 6 of these and still not get one to fit your helmet....front visor trim is the same. The other factor with M15 replacement fittings is colour/patina. ...

Helmet was finished today: https://photos.smugmug.com/Before-Helmet-Restprations/i-jGnwDjc/0/4fedb00d/L/IMG_0147-L.jpg Fittings have much of their original mercury gilding left. https://photos.smugmug.com/Before-Helmet-Restprations/i-VKSLZXr/0/fc710d40/L/IMG_0148-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Bef...

Thanks John, Jaap and Sandy, I just hope some member in Europe can track J/Tunemann down. Good to hear everyone is still enjoying these restoration posts. Few collectors get to see/handle so many of these helmets as I do let alone, take them apart, I am very lucky! John, those marks around the chin ...

Congratulations, excellent tunic! Thank you for posting these photos.

Looks like a Hungarian or Austrian crown to me. That eagle? in the center of the wheel might give a clue.

We began this post showing the unique way that this helmet was "named". Here is another rare example of "naming", clearly printed in ink by Lt. Junemann 2. Komp J.R. 160. Examples of easy to read officer names are rare, most times they are scrawled in pencil or ink on the inside of the shell, someti...

First, my apologies to Alan for screwing up his State location in the title, my knowledge of US Post nomenclature let me down. :( . It was a beautiful day in the neighbourhood today..... https://photos.smugmug.com/Before-Helmet-Restprations/i-MkzprQS/0/dd09bf9c/L/IMG_0139-L.jpg Stichin Haube Gulf si...

John, there is no gaping hole in the helmet...that's just the loose rear visor popped away from the shell. The camera angle is deceiving.

Another officer helmet has arrived, both visors to be restitched. This helmet is from a rare Infantry Regt and also named in a unique way which I have never seen before. https://photos.smugmug.com/Before-Helmet-Restprations/i-VMZXKKQ/0/631eb881/L/IMG_0105-L.jpg We do find owners names in helmets but...

No I was correct and James's was incorrect....brass stars. Laine shows these and it is correct for this regiment. Bruno has also confirmed this. The severe cold has affected the minds from MN!

I do not have my reference books with me but I believe the stars are brass to match the contrasting brass chin scales.

Joe refers to my comment..." I never believed that Elvis was alive". He responds: Sacrilege :thumbsdown: and then states he has seen him panhandling in Vegas and then...he was in the 2nd Marine Div. Gulf War. To roughly translate using my Canuck brain..... basically: "Shit I saw him in Vegas panhand...

Some pics of the completed helmet: https://photos.smugmug.com/Before-Helmet-Restprations/i-Hb6f39M/0/8e325177/L/IMG_0081-L.jpg Stitching complete however, you can see that the needle chips finish off of the stitch line. There is no way to avoid this and the final step is to use black shoe polish to ...

Fireman helmet most likely. It does not belong on a pickelhaube.

Visor pinned finally and stitching has begun. This helmet was more finely stitched than the normal M95 so, I am using a gauge of thread that I would normally use for officer helme. https://photos.smugmug.com/Before-Helmet-Restprations/i-WJMThMH/0/26a0b2cb/L/IMG_0074-L.jpg During the stitch, I do 3 t...

Some pics taken during the restoration process. I had to repin this visor 3 times before I finally got the holes lined up properly. Obviously, I have done dozens of these and it should be simple but...it never is! :( . The problem was that these helmets are machine stitched but there is a human runn...

I am presently in the USA for the winter months and made plans with James and others to send their helmets to me while i am here. This saves on postage and gives me some challenges while I am down here. James' 2nd Bavarian Pioneer helmet just needs a front visor restitch but I am going to use it to ...

I would point out something which also relates....if you want to sell newspapers, you need eye catching/blazing headlines. Magazines, comic books...the front cover is everything (think Playboy) if you want sales. The front cover/title of any modern book is designed with great deliberation to attract...

I have an M95 brass spike in my collection which has had the spike removed (un screwed) and the top of the neck filled in with solder. I had assumed that this was done to lower the profile. These pictures confirm this. My thanks.

That is a perfect Garde M15 example. Thanks for solving my problem by posting the link. A picture is worth a thousand words!

M 95-14 chin straps have brass fittings. M15's have steel fittings which is what you need. The fittings are both the same just different metal. The strap you have shown has steel fittings so it will work. These M15 grey steel plates sometimes come up for sale on Ebay. There are also militaria dealer...

Ha ha! The answer would be a big yes!

That is the correct plate but not the correct metal. You need a grey M15 Garde plate. You also need to replace the rear spine and the brass spike with M15 versions. Can some member please post pics of a correct M15 Garde here so we can show PG what is needed?

Fortunately, my wife and I are wintering in Florida over the worst winter months so we have escaped the brutal temps back home in Ontario. One of the many benefits of retirement. As usual, we will be attending the SOS and I look forward to meeting up with all my forum friends in Louisville.

I have only owned one of these but it came from the estate of a Canadian WW1 veteran. Unfortunately, I sold it years ago. Yours looks original to me.

In my opinion, the larger holes are the originals and the distance between them would probably indicate this was originally a Garde M15.

Take the helmet plate off, the grommets are steel or brass circles around the holes in the shell. Take a pic of the front of the helmet with plate removed. There should only be 2 holes on an original helmet that has not been messed with. I think I see 3 in yours because some one put in an extra for ...

Ok this is an M15 helmet which originally had all grey steel fittings, probably Prussian as they are the most common M15's here in North America. You have the typical M15 undyed leather liner, model 1895's are dyed black. Looks like you have an extra hole in the front of the shell to fit that repro ...

The plate also looks like a repro to me as it lacks the definition (crisp details) of an original one. A frontal pic of the plate would really help. It also looks like the holes for the missing garde star are crudely punched from the inside out....not normal. A pic of the inside liner will also help...

Finally finished the front visor stitch today. Here are the results: https://photos.smugmug.com/Before-Helmet-Restprations/i-cc8KMnf/0/f12ad5e8/L/IMG_0051-L.jpg I got a surprise when I took the visor off the styrofoam head form. This has never happened before but you can never guarantee anything whe...

Very interesting post. I think a lot of us forget just how popular the "spike style" helmet became after the Franco Prussian War of 1870-71. There are published lists of the many countries who adopted some form of the pickelhaube or spike topped headdress.

Beautiful Victorian helmets...fantastic quality!

Obviously, with crossed canon, we are looking at an artillery helmet and due to the added pictures...Portuguese. Also a smaller version of the Brit style spike. Perhaps this reflects their alliance with Britain against the French in 1812??

We also have the ancient Athenian leader Pericles on the top of the scabbard.

I stand corrected Sandy, you obviously have more knowledge on this subject than I. Taking a closer look I see winged gryphons on that cypher which would indicate non British. A very beautiful sword though.

The three feathers in the cypher also indicate the Prince of Wales, the title given to every first born son in the British monarchy. Prince Charles is the present day Prince of Wales and heir to the throne.

Sunny today so why not restitch? The restorer often must shed blood for his craft :). https://photos.smugmug.com/Before-Helmet-Restprations/i-KcVKhF4/0/aeb219eb/L/IMG_0045-L.jpg Rear visor pinned in place for stitching. The spine lines in the finish and visor are lined up and the first pin is put in...

The shell has dried and is back into proper shape: https://photos.smugmug.com/Before-Helmet-Restprations/i-grsHHMc/0/ec07f3f5/L/IMG_0037-L.jpg A picture of the antique wooden hat stretcher used in the process. These show up in antique stores but there are modern copies for sale on Ebay. This one was...

Sorry Nacuaa I missed this post....I have good reproduction ones that I could sell you. I had these made up years ago. Otherwise, you could try making your own....look in antique stores for some tinware...plates, cups etc where you could cut out the metal to make your own.

Thanks, I do the best that I can. Cool to have the original drawstring in this liner as well with no tears in the finger holes. For new collectors....most M95's will have a thin leather drawstring woven through the finger holes.

Lets try these: https://photos.smugmug.com/Before-Helmet-Restprations/i-RmwKmB4/0/07837d04/L/IMG_0020-L.jpg A couple of spiders nests on this one....spidey loves the rear spine for nest building . :) This fitting has never been off since manufacture. https://photos.smugmug.com/Before-Helmet-Restprat...

Some additional Before pictures: IMG_0015.JPG IMG_0016.JPG IMG_0017.JPG The helmet has an excellent Korps marking...BA IV and great M95 style liner. I do not believe the piece was ever issued, probably a War Bond Helmet. I am the first person to remove the fittings etc. You can also see how the fron...

It has been a while since my last restoration post. I have been working on other helmets but I got it into my head that members would get bored with the same type of posts. However, I know you guys like to follow along with these projects, so why not take a look at this M15? I had the customer remov...