Chris: The questions raised by the "very respected collector" are very valid concerns. In my opinion the answers to the questions are as follows:
Question 1, 2, & 3 - No
Question 4 - if it is private purchase it should not have an issue liner.
Question 5 - the busby should not have officer chinscales. I would also point out that officer chinscales for HR17 are unique to that regiment and are quite different from standard officer chinscales.
Question 6 - The issue mark for HR17 would not normally be on the back side of the liner. The mark should be "HR17" and a date. The marking is normally found on the top of the busby either on the outside, under the kolpak, or on the inner surface of the top. The marking is usually in white.
In addition to the above points, the busby does not have any bandeau. An HR17 busby, issue or private purchase, should have a large brass bandeau with the wording "Peninsula-Sicilien-Waterloo-Mars la Tour." If the helmet dated from the 1867 - 1873 period the bandeau would read "Peninsula-Sicilien-Waterloo."
You may wish to consult the following references, all of which have good information on and illustrations of proper HR17 busbys:
Formations und Uniformierungsgeschichte des Prussischen Heeres 1808 bis 1914 by Paul Pietsch, Volume II, pages 127 - 131.
The German Cavalry from 1871 to 1914 by Ulrich Herr and Jens Nguyen, pages 393 - 415.
Militarische Kopfbedeckungen der Kaiserzeit by Reiner Herrmann, page 87
Das Deutsche Heer Volume 1, pages 150 - 153, Volume 2, plates 93 and 98.
Casques A pointe et coiffures prestigieuses de l'armee allemande 1842 - 1918 by Jean-Louis Larcade, Volume II, pages 106 - 108.
I hope the above is helpful.
Reservist1
