10th Pioneer Battalion Unusual Pickelhaube

ww1czechlegion

ww1czechlegion

Well-known member
Hello,

I found this helmet a few years ago, and never got around to posting it, partially due to it being incomplete.

I showed it to several members at the last SOS without the chinscales, or kokardes, including Brian, James, Bruno, Steve M, and Amy.

It came without the chinscales, rosettes, or kokardes. The holes in the side of the helmet are made for rosette/chinscales, and not for the side posts.

I finally acquired a nice set of chinscales this past year at the SOS that fit the helmet perfectly, thanks to James.

I cleaned the front plate with advice from Bruno, and the helmet looks better now with the front plate cleaned.

It has a non-removable spike with no pearl-ring, and the spike has the 2-officer lines on the tall spike. The backspine is an enlisted pattern with the ventilator. The front visor trim is the wider, enlisted pattern visor trim.

The helmet came with the gold officer stars on the spike base.

Best Regards,

Alan

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The helmet looks great, Alan!
I was wondering whether you should try to put it back in a full officer configuration. However, thinking twice, it might well be a genuine OYV helmet, of which the spike, notably, is reminiscent: tall, officer-type, but no Perlring and five aeration holes. Then you would not expect stars though...
I will send you a picture of an OYV helmet that is very similar to yours. Same spike, stars, officer type front plate, but side posts and officer rear spine.
Do you think your helmet was born with this rear spine? Is there a matching hole in the shell under the mobile part?
Best;
 
I would say that the spine is original to the helmet, as it appears to fit very tight to the shell. It matches the curve of the shell perfectly. Trying to replace a missing spine on a helmet is very difficult. The soldered prongs seldom match up with the shell holes and getting a tight fit is almost impossible. Soldered prongs can be moved but matching the curve of the shell :( .
 
Alan,
I have a Saxon Pioneer helmet with a strange configuration as well.
I posted the Kokarde of mine once in the enlisted Kokarden post, but the photo disappeared.
I will try to put in another post on my helmet soon.
You have a nice helmet, and judging by the fit and trim, it would be hard to argue that it is not original.

John :bravo:
 
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