A KR6 M89/94/14-15

[CLOVIS 57]

Hello,
I have the GdC and the GKR Prussian cuirassier helmets, both with tombac shells. I’d never had the chance to acquire a KR6 before; now I have.
This is a helmet from the mobilization at the outbreak of war. A large, gilded Landwehrkreuz adorns the front line eagle.
The shell is still made of tombac, but the rim reinforcement is already steel rather than nickel silver. Similarly, the spire is also made of tombac instead of nickel silver. The eagle is attached with a ring and a leather wedge through 8mm-diameter holes. I’ll take more photos later.


The rim is made of steel, and the eagle on the Vaterland-Bandeau is surmounted by a Landwehrkreuz for the Wachsturmütze. An old helmet that was put back into service for a Reserve Ersatz-Eskadron during mobilization.

 

[cptbob]

Congratulations!

 

[kuerassier]

I think it's a copy. The rear edge only existed up to the Model 1867. The cross is in the wrong place, and so on.
I don't like the shape, either.

 

[CLOVIS 57]

I think it's a copy. The rear edge only existed up to the Model 1867. The cross is in the wrong place, and so on.
I don't like the shape, either.

Thank you for your feedback. Indeed, the rear vertical reinforcement no longer existed in 1914, except for the Saxon Garde-Reiter. I was thinking of an old helmet that was refurbished in 1914 and modified to the M89/94 standard. The attachment of the visor and neck guard is consistent with the authentic designs, and the patina and corrosion are definitely original. I’ll take some close-up photos, including of the chin strap. All the riveting is accurate. I’ve seen reproductions before, but never one with such a high-quality finish.
The front eagle is indeed an active-duty line eagle (Vaterland-Bandeau), and the Landwehrkreuz was added using brass wire. This is an LWK intended to be sewn onto a Wachsturmütze. We quite commonly see this kind of assembly on Reserve-Landwehr helmets from the mobilization.

 

[poniatowski]

My favorites! Nice find.

 

[kuerassier]

That isn't a Cuirassier eagle, either.

 

[Khukri]

That isn't a Cuirassier eagle, either.

they must have been emptying the warehouses to the last drawer. The LW Kreuz for the Wachstuchmütze on a Linien Wappen....
But I have my doubts as well on this one...The Spitze??

 

[CLOVIS 57]

they must have been emptying the warehouses to the last drawer. The LW Kreuz for the Wachstuchmütze on a Linien Wappen....
But I have my doubts as well on this one...The Spitze??

You're right about the eagle and the tip, which is made of light brass instead of nickel silver. But this helmet shouldn't be viewed as an M94 that conforms to the Probe standard.
It is clearly a mobilization “Ersatz” helmet, which was covered with a field helmet cover.
When you hold it in your hand, you can clearly see that everything is old and hasn’t been artificially aged.
As for the eagle, the Lachmann M15s featured the simple infantry eagle. Here's one from the Kaiserbunker website by our friend “Tony.” It's magnificent... with its simple infantry eagle... For the same reasons, I'm not worried about it, since it's an “Ersatz” made in a hurry due to shortages during mobilization.


As for the Ersatz helmets, I’ve seen much worse. The one above has been described as a children’s toy helmet. That is not the case. It is an Ersatz helmet, stamped from a single piece, with a fake lobster tail, fake rivets, etc...
Here is the one from our friend Zebedee,

Another one from our friend Steve on the forum, attributed to 8 JzPf...

Here are some others found in Lorraine or elsewhere in France.


But it’s great that you’re pointing these things out—it gives me a chance to discuss them. I found this helmet in an attic in the Arlon area; it’s not a “Probe M94,” but it can’t be a reproduction either.


In 1914, Ersatz helmets weren't just new helmets produced quickly and cheaply, without adhering to peacetime standards.They also included reassembled composite helmets, using decommissioned and obsolete components from older models that had been left in the back of units' stores, headquarters, etc.They even included helmets from other units, issued in haste:
---Here is a cuirassier's helmet for the JzuPf8.

---Here is a dragoon's helmet for the JzuPf 12 (Saint-Avold) Lothringen.


Indeed, the ersatz of mobilization do not allow us to analyze a spiked helmet as strictly as in peacetime when helmets were subject to approval of conformity.