A great item, albeit spikeless...

[911car]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180464087571&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

A late attempt (1918) to improve the Adrian helmet and limit face injuries... The efficacy was in fact mediocre as shrapnells and bullets hitting these eyegrids would make a real mess...
This is a great, rare (and cheap...) item! The first one I have ever seen for sale.

 

[Robert]

Now that's an item you don't see for sale every day!

There is some information about this and other more or less protective attachments to the adrian helmet on this site, allthough I do not know any real good references. There also was a similar type attached below the rim of the helmet instead of cutting it away in the front. Other variations evidently existed as well, I wonder whether a complete documentation exists somewhere?

http://www.cascoscoleccion.com/francia/fr35.htm

 

[911car]

Thank you Robert. Nice pictures. There is some information on these helmets in "Casques et Coiffures Militaires Francais" by Christian Tavard. Nothing else that I know of.
Bruno

 

[stephane_avesnes]

You'll find some more info in The french army in the first world war, part II. Verlag Militaria 2008.

 

[drakegoodman]

It'll be interesting to see if the buyer who paid US $10,284.24 actually gets his helmet, 2 out of 4 negatives thus far.