Hi Redlegwolf
I've looked at your photos regarding this old kugelhelm and feel that what you have is simply a model 1871, being cut-down from from an earlier model I'm not so sure.
An 1860 pattern helmet would have had a square cut front visor with a cruciform spike base and tell-tale signs of plugged holes would be visible in the crown of your helmet. They of course were produced in heavier guage of leather as an 1871 as yours appears to be. An interesting anecdote I read in a first hand account of combat during the 1870 war, mentioned the placing of a pickelhaube on the head of a wounded soldier during a fight, as protection as he waited for the medical orderlies to find him
An 1867 kugelhelm would have had a rounded front visor and round spike base with two ventilators as yours does, but of course, without a rear spine. The attaching method on an 1867 wappen is completely different from the 1860 or 1871 models, being two bayonet slides on the rear of the wappen instead of screws with attaching nuts. Those slides would fit into two looped metal staples placed on the front of the helmet. I believe that later, many of the wappen on the 67's were retrofitted with screw nuts (and rear spines), as the bayonet slides did not hold the wappen in place securely enough. Further, the leather bodies of the 1867 models that I have observed, or have in the collection, are made of a lighter guage leather than yours with a lower height. This may or may not be an absolute, as there are exceptions to everything it seems. So it may be a '67 with the modifications and additions I mentioned.
Final comment is that the spike on your helmet is installed with the air holes front to back instead of the regulation side to side. I have seen this on a number of early helmets, several in our collection are done this way. This may be explained that someone in the past took the helmet apart for some reason and re-assembled it incorrectly. However, I feel a strong possibility exists that this was done by the wearer (perhaps with unit level semi-official sanction) to increase the air flow during use. I have an 1860 kugelhelm done this way where they actually twisted the spike on its base to accomplish this. Soldiers do modify their equipment for comfort when they can get away with it.
At any rate, it looks like a nice old helm and wish for you many more to add to your collection..
Cheers :thumb up:
Larmo
Ron
