Help Needed… Again - Reuss M1895 Pickelhaube

[HatEnjoyer]

Hello everyone! I’m back again asking a question on behalf of a friend.

My buddy saw this pickelhaube for sale the other day and he was thinking about purchasing it. If I’m not mistaken, this should be an M1895 from the principality of Reuss, correct? It is listed for $450. Any help is greatly appreciated, as per usual.

 

[ww1czechlegion]

Hi Noah,

Tell your friend to save his money.

The so-called "Reuss" wappen device and star is a modern made fake.

The spike appears to be a modern made replica, shaped wrong.

The helmet body is an old and tired example.

Someone played with this helmet by adding the bogus star and crummy fake/replica "Reuss" wappen device.

An original Reuss wappen device should be neusilber or nickel-silver in color. And there's a number of other things wrong with the device that show it to be a modern made replica/copy.

So, to summarize, someone doctored up a tired old original leather helmet body by adding a newer made spike and a poor quality replica/copy Reuss wappen device and star to the helmet body.

Best Wishes,

Alan

 

[coert65]

I have the same views about this helmet as Alan has.
Better to leave it...

Regards, Coert.

 

[HatEnjoyer]

Hi Noah,

Tell your friend to save his money.

The so-called "Reuss" wappen device and star is a modern made fake.

The spike appears to be a modern made replica, shaped wrong.

The helmet body is an old and tired example.

Someone played with this helmet by adding the bogus star and crummy fake/replica "Reuss" wappen device.

An original Reuss wappen device should be neusilber or nickel-silver in color. And there's a number of other things wrong with the device that show it to be a modern made replica/copy.

So, to summarize, someone doctored up a tired old original leather helmet body by adding a newer made spike and a poor quality replica/copy Reuss wappen device and star to the helmet body.

Best Wishes,

Alan

I have the same views about this helmet as Alan has.
Better to leave it...

Regards, Coert.

Thank you both kindly, Alan and Coert! I will have to let my buddy know, but knowing him, I’ll probably need to send him the whole thread to completely convince him

 

[CLOVIS 57]

With its tan leather liner, it is probably a composite M15 helmet, meaning it was assembled from disparate parts. As mentioned above, the spike is a modern reproduction, as are the star and the Reuss insignia.

 

[ww1czechlegion]

Thank you both kindly, Alan and Coert! I will have to let my buddy know, but knowing him, I’ll probably need to send him the whole thread to completely convince him

You're welcome.

I'm sort of surprised that he hasn't bought the other Prussian helmet on that venue for $250 that is missing the back visor and backspine. At least that helmet has an original brass spike on it, along with an un-messed with brass Prussian wappen.

I have an original M95 Prussian helmet I will list here that needs cleaning. It's complete with the visors. It's missing the chinstrap and kokardes. I will post it on marketplace later today. Maybe your friend will be interested in it.

Best Wishes,

Alan

 

[CLOVIS 57]

Another issue.

The Reuss eagle is a princely eagle marked "FÜRST". This eagle has five folds of the Vaterland headband, two per wing, and "Fürst" under the neck.
Here, we have only one fold per wing, with "Koenig" under the neck. It's a Prussian Royal Eagle, the most common type to find, but not suitable for this context.

 

[HatEnjoyer]

With its tan leather liner, it is probably a composite M15 helmet, meaning it was assembled from disparate parts. As mentioned above, the spike is a modern reproduction, as are the star and the Reuss insignia.

Another issue.

The Reuss eagle is a princely eagle marked "FÜRST". This eagle has five folds of the Vaterland headband, two per wing, and "Fürst" under the neck.
Here, we have only one fold per wing, with "Koenig" under the neck. It's a Prussian Royal Eagle, the most common type to find, but not suitable for this context.
View attachment 76489

Thank you for your insight, Clovis! The reference image is particularly appreciated. Hopefully this thread will be helpful for anyone dealing with a fake Reuss wappen like the one I posted

 

[HatEnjoyer]

You're welcome.

I'm sort of surprised that he hasn't bought the other Prussian helmet on that venue for $250 that is missing the back visor and backspine. At least that helmet has an original brass spike on it, along with an un-messed with brass Prussian wappen.

I have an original M95 Prussian helmet I will list here that needs cleaning. It's complete with the visors. It's missing the chinstrap and kokardes. I will post it on marketplace later today. Maybe your friend will be interested in it.

Best Wishes,

Alan

Oh dang I didn’t realize that was there, very cool. I will definitely let him know but I think he might actually already have an example of an M15 and M95. Though I’m not 100% on that. Been a while since I’ve seen his collection, so I could be mistaken but we’ll see.

 

[Dane Jensen]

It’s a shame the poor thing was bastardized, like Alan said, all junk.