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I can only offer an estimate based on what we see in France. Here, the officer’s helmet is less sought after than that of an enlisted man—the so-called “regulation” helmet—which is personalized and strictly regulated… with a record of battles fought, etc. Furthermore, unlike the enlisted man’s...

Hello, No problem. This is an M71 Pioneer Reserve officer’s helmet, but from 1914. It’s of lower quality, marked “Kriegsfertigung.” The metal is no longer silver-plated nickel silver but zinc. The silver plating and gold plating have worn off. The four stars, the Perlring, and the ribbed crowns...

If you're interested in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 and are visiting France, feel free to ask me for a list of museums related to that period.

Nice outfit! Well done! The helmet is a modified M43 53 model because the visor extends under the shell. Previously, the visor was hinged by the two side rivets and could be raised slightly. But rain would seep into the cuirassier’s eyes! Another flaw was the absence of a reinforcing band...

😊That's where I live! Just today, I crossed the battlefield! 😍

The absence of a front insignia on Colback's uniform indicates that these were Landwehr Hussars. These units were assigned, among other duties, to guarding prisoners, serving in the Hilfspolizei, and guarding bridges, railroad tracks, and borders...etc...

Wonderful helmets !! Note that the crest finial on Rob"s GFAR Eigentum helmet is a stylized design. In fact, the cap should be flat, with two rings, as on Philippe's helmet. This is an M67 crest finial (with a coiled Perlring) for a Busch-style infantry helmet, which is designed for a spike...

It is true that a rough reproduction in terms of detail is fine for re-enactments, films and so on... But to complete an authentic helmet, given the scarcity of period cockades and chin straps, a faithful copy is indeed required… but one that is recognisable as a reproduction.

Philippe (Argonne) might be able to tell us more.

Hello Steve, Fortunately, these reproductions have flaws. In France, some shrewd individuals buy the most accurate copies for €20, then artificially age them to resell them for €200 while guaranteeing they’re authentic!!! So be careful not to fall for reproductions that look too good to be true.

Not everything we read in recent books is free from errors. Take, for example, an article from last month in a French military history journal about Prussian M1867 cuirassier helmets. It states that all the chin straps have brass scales (yellow). Error: Those of the GdC and GKR were made of...

Hello Alan, So this is an error on the part of Jim Turinetti. Jean-Louis Larcade—whom I otherwise admire, though he has also made a few rare mistakes—in his publications on spiked helmets. All spiked helmets with nickel silver fittings had a leather chin strap with nickel silver fittings...

👎No that's no good. 🫣 I hope you didn't throw away the M91 nickel silver chin strap; they're hard to find, and that was definitely the one you should have kept on this helmet. The brass chin strap is for the infantry, not for the technical troops. Here is a PB10 with the field chin strap...

Hello, Chin straps on helmets with nickel silver fittings are complicated. Apart from a few Leib-Grenadier helmets (115 Hessian, 100 Saxon, 1st Prussian Foot Guard, etc.), the scale-type chin straps were made of brass, but the M91 chin straps with leather straps and square sliders were made of...

Thank you for this illustration, which illustrates what I argued above. However, the silver Landkokarde is for an “Unteroffizier Portepee.” The officer's version is ribboned.

On the other hand, colonial helmets had optimal ventilation due to the tropical climate. However, on Weitez's helmet, there is no ventilation on the crest... :unsure:

In this photo alone, there are 2 or 3 different “Troppen-Helm” helmets!

These Troppenhelms (whether French or not) were issued to the See-Bataillon, featuring the Reichsadler with its large wings and the naval anchor, as well as to the officers of the Askaris, the Macedonian artillery, etc. . Some bore the Guard Eagle, while others bore the Reichsadler... There...

Yes ! Nothing but Alsatian units!!! (except DR3).

Hello, I've never seen this canvas “chin strap” before. However, it is a peacetime “Offizier-Manöverkappe.” M1884 ( It was, however, commonly used by officers as a “Feld-Überzug” during mobilization. The Überzug wouldn't arrive until 1892. 🤔As for the two fasteners, I think I know: The...