I recently picked what I thought to be an 1887 Model Garde Pickelhaube. However, I am a bit stumped.
The two-piece Prussian Garde Wappen, brass Adler, and Silver Garde Star are secured to the leather body using the standard wire loop and leather wedge setup outlined in the 1895 orders concerning the Pickelhaube. At the same time, heaver Alders used a screw and bolt version, which was well in the realm of possibilities for a helmet that was used for a longer period. The front of the Pickelhaube has one pair of holes for fitting the Adler to the helmet.
However, centered below the mounting holes is a stamping of “L.G.,” and below the letters, the year “1887” is stamped. I have found no other stampings inside the helmet body nor on the leather front or rear visors.
The “1887” date stamp on the helmet, the high dome-like leather shell, and the ventless back brass spine indicate that the Pickelhaube is a Model-1887 Pickelhaube. The chinscales are held in place by the 1871 threaded screw post; the rosettes are absent from the helmet screw post.
The brass chinscales look to have been painted steel; what would be the purpose of this change?
I have used Tony’s Imperial German Pickelhaube Evolution 1842 – 1915 https://www.kaisersbunker.com/pe/m1860.htm and Sandy’s https://historien-kabinett.de/1871-1886-en and still wonder what the proper classification of the helmet might be; is a Garde Helmet repurposed, or a Landes Gendarmerie repurposed to a Garde Pickelhaube?
Best regards,
John
The two-piece Prussian Garde Wappen, brass Adler, and Silver Garde Star are secured to the leather body using the standard wire loop and leather wedge setup outlined in the 1895 orders concerning the Pickelhaube. At the same time, heaver Alders used a screw and bolt version, which was well in the realm of possibilities for a helmet that was used for a longer period. The front of the Pickelhaube has one pair of holes for fitting the Adler to the helmet.
However, centered below the mounting holes is a stamping of “L.G.,” and below the letters, the year “1887” is stamped. I have found no other stampings inside the helmet body nor on the leather front or rear visors.
The “1887” date stamp on the helmet, the high dome-like leather shell, and the ventless back brass spine indicate that the Pickelhaube is a Model-1887 Pickelhaube. The chinscales are held in place by the 1871 threaded screw post; the rosettes are absent from the helmet screw post.
The brass chinscales look to have been painted steel; what would be the purpose of this change?
I have used Tony’s Imperial German Pickelhaube Evolution 1842 – 1915 https://www.kaisersbunker.com/pe/m1860.htm and Sandy’s https://historien-kabinett.de/1871-1886-en and still wonder what the proper classification of the helmet might be; is a Garde Helmet repurposed, or a Landes Gendarmerie repurposed to a Garde Pickelhaube?
Best regards,
John
