I was wondering what I could show for 911car's 911th post, and this thing came in. A 1867 model, which most likely saw the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-71.
It is a 1857 or 1860 model that was reconditioned ("aptiert"). The stitching that used to be hidden under the rear spine of the older helmet is now under the eagle:
And the holes used to attach the former cruciform basis have been plugged. So were the holes through which the former emblem was affixed: the plugs are now visible at the rear of the shell:
The helmet looks absolutely intact (nothing is missing or broken), untouched and dirty. I may have been the first one to remove the eagle:
Finally, this thing is huge. Maybe the largest Pickelhaube I have ever seen. There is something barbarian in it. Thinking of the French populations when they saw these spiked soldiers progressing down to the Loire valley...
It is a 1857 or 1860 model that was reconditioned ("aptiert"). The stitching that used to be hidden under the rear spine of the older helmet is now under the eagle:
And the holes used to attach the former cruciform basis have been plugged. So were the holes through which the former emblem was affixed: the plugs are now visible at the rear of the shell:
The helmet looks absolutely intact (nothing is missing or broken), untouched and dirty. I may have been the first one to remove the eagle:
Finally, this thing is huge. Maybe the largest Pickelhaube I have ever seen. There is something barbarian in it. Thinking of the French populations when they saw these spiked soldiers progressing down to the Loire valley...
Ron
