A felt M15 Bavarian with a twist

Adler

Adler

New member
A few months ago I went to the Wavre militaria show. I was actually very late and wasn’t expecting to find something that day. After a few coffees and a nice chat with the friends, I was finally making my first tour. Just a few minutes later, I discovered this haube and actually was very surprised that it still was sitting on the seller’s table. I suppose a lot of collectors must have disliked this one or maybe they just missed it… Anyway, after a little discussion about the price, I was very happy to take this little Bavarian to the bunker.
This haube has some special features, which I actually like very much… Aaahh Ersatz!

First of all, it’s named inside the front visor (with the typical purple pencil). Maybe not so super special, but for me this always adds a little extra character to a helmet…

Obviously there are made some new holes in the helmet shell and the old ones are covered with a felt washer and grey rivets. The rivets appear to be the same as the ones they attached the front visor and the spike with. This is of course not standard… a logical explanation could be that the original holes were made for another helmet plate and that at one point the helmet was altered to fit the Bavarian plate.
Everything fits so nice together and there is no indication to find that there was ever another plate on this helmet, so I can only assume that this was period done. These two little “horns” look just great and give this haube a special appearance in my humble opinion…

Another important rarity is the non removable M15 spike. I also can’t give a logical explanation for this, but this variety does exist.
Also a little bit non standard are the felt retainers that hold the helmet plate… normally they are made of leather…

The chinstrap should normally have the grey fittings, but this is not the first time these don’t mach… I could change the strap, but then it certainly isn’t “as found” anymore…

All in all a strange helmet, but I like it…

Adler



















 
I Like it a lot! Love those Bavarians!

Some really great pictures, I like the horns as you call them, someone went through some work to put those on, agree probably period.

Thanks for sharing

James
 
I love these that are correct but different! What do you make of the entire pencil marking? My first look was forty-second infantry Regiment but that cannot be. Can you read the Regiment? I know you like the blue pencil but it drives me insane especially on postcards. They should have outlawed it. :-" :-" :-"
 
That is a great piece, period repairs and excellent markings. Congrats! I also have an M15 spike in my collection that does not twist off. It came on my M15 Wurttemberg OR's helme, not common but totally original.
 
Nice helmet Karel! Anyway, I found one (Prussian) in an antique store and the plate was tied on by blue /whit checkered fabric, as from an old shirt, curtains or similar (No, not Bavarian, but the same blue!). Of course, it was the post WWI owner who did it, but it's so funny I can't change or 'correct' it. However, yours looks 100% original. Also another name under the brighter blue pencil?

:D Ron
 
Thanks four your kind words gentlemen!

I love these that are correct but different! What do you make of the entire pencil marking? My first look was forty-second infantry Regiment but that cannot be. Can you read the Regiment? I know you like the blue pencil but it drives me insane especially on postcards. They should have outlawed it.
Click to expand...
Oh well, it's a frustrating thing, those pencilled names and numbers 8-) but I've learned to live with it. I really can't make out what it is Joe... maybe it looks more like 3JR3K or so?

Also another name under the brighter blue pencil?
Click to expand...
It sure looks like another name, but unfortunatly I also can't make out what that might be...
Here's another close up of the front visor...

Adler

 
Thanks for your nice words gentlemen!

In the mean time I've tried to find out more about the writing on the front visor. It seems there are two names on it. Maybe that's why Mr. Blüml wrote his name so large to overwrite the name of the former owner?
I played a bit with Photoshop and it seems that Mr. Blüml was serving in the Bavarian Infanterie Regt. Nr.3, 4 Kompagnie... I can't make out what the other name could be, maybe someone else can make something of it?
Anyway, here are the pictures...

Adler





 
Yes, a nice try it was... but does someone see exactly what it could be? I see Blüml Jos 3.J.R3K... The other name doest make sense to me ](*,) ... I still can't decifre this old German script #-o ...

Adler
 
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