A new area for discussion and photo examples.
- Thread starter b.loree
- Start date
SkipperJohn
Well-known member
Great! Many times I have searched the forum looking for Kokarde examples. They are everywhere. This will be very helpful. Thanks.
Do you think we can get the existing Kokarde threads to transfer here?
John
Do you think we can get the existing Kokarde threads to transfer here?
John
I don't know John but I will try, it will take someone with more tech expertise than I. In the meantime, here is a pair to start things off:
A rare pair of Baden NCO kokarden from the same helmet. The helmet was trashed, but I bought the kokarden. Note, that the Reichs Kokade is in the Prussian NCO style as well. There are only two ridges on the NCO white metal ring whereas the officer kokade has three.
Reverse side showing the typical cardboard backing and bent tabs holding the NCO rings on.
Reichs kokarden on the left and Baden on the right. The two larger pair of kokarden are from a Baden Dragoon helmet. The red paint on the upper right kokarde is complete although in this photo it appears to be missing due to “lighting”.
A rare pair of Baden NCO kokarden from the same helmet. The helmet was trashed, but I bought the kokarden. Note, that the Reichs Kokade is in the Prussian NCO style as well. There are only two ridges on the NCO white metal ring whereas the officer kokade has three.
Reverse side showing the typical cardboard backing and bent tabs holding the NCO rings on.
Reichs kokarden on the left and Baden on the right. The two larger pair of kokarden are from a Baden Dragoon helmet. The red paint on the upper right kokarde is complete although in this photo it appears to be missing due to “lighting”.
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Two Prussian kokarden (black and white), the left piece with small hole is the pre 1891 model cockade designed to fit the bolt on chin scales found on pickelhauben 1842-1891.
Two examples of the pre 1891 chin scale bolts. In my experience, these always have slotted rounded heads.
A matched pair of pre 1891 OR's kokarden:
Two examples of the pre 1891 chin scale bolts. In my experience, these always have slotted rounded heads.
A matched pair of pre 1891 OR's kokarden:
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Wurttemberg and Reichs Officer kokarden:
The Wurttemberg officer kokade like the Baden is often made of Brass. On many examples, it looks to be hand painted but this may be because of the fan shape of the kokarde. Note the extra middle ridge on the Reichs officer kokarde which differentiates it from the NCO. Helmets made prior to 1897 do not carry the Reichs kokarde, only the State kokarde was worn over the right ear. Post 1897 the Reichs kokarde is worn over the right ear and the State kokarde on the opposite side.
Notched Wurttemberg M91 kokarde. These notched kokaden are usually found only on ersatz tin OR's helmets but in this case it was used on an M95 leather helmet.
Reverse.
The Wurttemberg officer kokade like the Baden is often made of Brass. On many examples, it looks to be hand painted but this may be because of the fan shape of the kokarde. Note the extra middle ridge on the Reichs officer kokarde which differentiates it from the NCO. Helmets made prior to 1897 do not carry the Reichs kokarde, only the State kokarde was worn over the right ear. Post 1897 the Reichs kokarde is worn over the right ear and the State kokarde on the opposite side.
Notched Wurttemberg M91 kokarde. These notched kokaden are usually found only on ersatz tin OR's helmets but in this case it was used on an M95 leather helmet.
Reverse.
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A set of pre 1891 chin scale bolts and fittings, the kokarden are M91 large hole where they should have small holes. The Garde helmet these belong to is dated 1879 but many things happen to fittings over 140+ years. Obviously, the matched pair of M91 kokarden are original.
The order of fittings here is....bolt, brass disc, chin scale, kokarde.
The order of fittings here is....bolt, brass disc, chin scale, kokarde.
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It is not uncommon for an officer kokade to be stuck to the side of the shell as we see here with this Dragoner helmet. The helmet is subjected to hot conditions, the lacquer softens and the cardboard backing of the Reichs kokade sticks to the shell. Better to just leave the kokade in place as most times the cardboard will tear if you try to remove it. In my experience, cavalry kokarden are often larger than infantry.
Below, we see a matched pair of officer kokarden from a Bavarian officer helmet, these are in rough shape but do give us a good comparison of Bavarian vs Prussian styles. Unfortunately, most of the blue paint is missing on the Bavarian but you can see the white metal ring only has two ridges while the Reichs has the Prussian three ridges.
Sometimes there will be no cardboard backing on the officer kokade.
Below, we see a matched pair of officer kokarden from a Bavarian officer helmet, these are in rough shape but do give us a good comparison of Bavarian vs Prussian styles. Unfortunately, most of the blue paint is missing on the Bavarian but you can see the white metal ring only has two ridges while the Reichs has the Prussian three ridges.
Sometimes there will be no cardboard backing on the officer kokade.
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For the most part, three piece officer kokarden can be carefully taken apart:
In this case, the cardboard backing has torn, probably because I did not follow my own advice and just leave it stuck to the shell! However, you can trace out a replacement using suitable cardboard, spray it with black paint and replace the torn piece.
In this case, the cardboard backing has torn, probably because I did not follow my own advice and just leave it stuck to the shell! However, you can trace out a replacement using suitable cardboard, spray it with black paint and replace the torn piece.
seagull
Active member
Brian, I cannot thank you enough for bringing the kokarden category back into existence. And thanks to all our members for contributing so eagerly to it!
I have learned so much from these threads that I wake up every morning wondering what fascinating new facts I will see when I log on!
Gratefully yours,
Steve
I have learned so much from these threads that I wake up every morning wondering what fascinating new facts I will see when I log on!
Gratefully yours,
Steve