How do you remove M15 spike?

A

audubon

New member
Hello all,

I have a Model 1915 Prussian pickelhaube. I am trying to remove the spike. I have twisted the spike counter-clockwise (looking down on it) until it stops, and then tried to pull it up and off. It seems that the one side wants to come up, but the other side does not. I do not want to force it and bend something. Can anyone out there give me some pointers about this?

THANKS IN ADVANCE.
 
Welcome to the Forum! (I feel I'm part of the furniture now 8-) )

I'd try using some WD-40 while avoiding to spray the leather (or felt) otherwise if still stuck would leave it as is like Ron said...
 
Yes try some light lubricant but if you have no luck, leave it. FYI my M15 Wurttemberg helmet has a non removable M15 spike. I was wondering if any other collectors out there have experienced this style of M15 grey metal spike ie the M95 spike but in grey metal?
 
I would not try any oil, you could damage the leather, it is possible that the inner lip of the spike is broken, I have a spike that has this problem, when it it turned, the lip does not always move with the spike, making it impossible to get one side to release. I have been able to get it off by turning it back and forth several times, until the parts line up, but I do not bother to remove the spike anymore, as I have no reason to do so.
Best
Gus
 
Thanks to all for the M15 spike removal tips! I am now inclined to leave it alone, as I have no real reason to remove it. I originally thought it would be neat to see what it was like to remove it. I guess the best rule is: "If it's not broken, don't fix it."
 
Yes, I have a fixed-point gray steel spike. It was on a Prussian gray-trimmed helmet. The helmet came out of southern Florida. The climate must not have agreed with it, as it was afflicted with red rot; only the gray metal parts survive.

b.loree said:
Yes try some light lubricant but if you have no luck, leave it. FYI my M15 Wurttemberg helmet has a non removable M15 spike. I was wondering if any other collectors out there have experienced this style of M15 grey metal spike ie the M95 spike but in grey metal?
Click to expand...
 
b.loree said:
//I was wondering if any other collectors out there have experienced this style of M15 grey metal spike ie the M95 spike but in grey metal?
Click to expand...
Ah, my favorite M15: the spike is the static M91/95 pattern, only ferrous. See how the magnet sticks. :D

ferrous.jpg
 
Thanks guys, good to know that there are other grey steel M95 spikes out there. I will post some pics of my helme as this months piece from the collection.
 
Since fixed M15 spikes exist, is there a fixed artillery ball, too? :-k

I just realized there is a gray-trimmed Wurttemberg helmet here with a non-removable spike, too.
 
I have never seen a fixed kugel ball but who knows?? The existance of these fixed spikes makes me think that in some cases, they were interested in camoflage and saving brass rather than reducing the height of the soldat in the trench. Do these pre date the typical removable M15 spitze?
 
That's a good question. If they painted some of the brass spikes gray early on, maybe the nondetachable point style appeared just before the typical M15 spikes.
 
I have never seen a grey painted brass spike. There was talk of chemically darkened fittings ie darkened brass and silver in the old reference books but its hard to tell this from simple oxidization due to age.
 
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