I want my first pickelhaube

[AntiqueWeapons.org]

Hi everyone.

I started posting here as someone suggested I do so to gather information on a prussian regiment. I've read several posts & then began browsing various sites about pickelhauben & now I must have one.

I collect bayonets & firearms and several other sorts of things, but I don't have a pickelhaube & I find them interesting & wonderful pieces of history & think I should get some to add to my imperial bayonets & rifles collection.

Thing is though, I'm not too crazy about spending thousands on a helmet as I just don't have it, but I wanted to post & see what kind of suggestions come up for a newbie in collecting pickelhauben.


What kinds/types are commonly available at lower costs?

Are picklehauben faked alot? I want an authentic one, not some repro like found on IMA.

What kind of $$ should I expect to be spending on my first pickelhauben?

Any other suggestions/tips for a newbie?

Are there budget picklehauben? Like in bayonet collecting, I would consider cetme, ak, M7 & sks bayonets as budget bayonets since they're everywhere & are cheap, so am curious if certain picklehauben are cheapies readily available.. Just so I have one to display.

 

[Gustaf]

Welcome,
Yoyu do the right thing to ask questions first, Pickelhauben are faked a lot, there are also reproductions that are sold as real (these are made for reenactors, and not intended to be sold as real, but the quality is so good that they can fool an unsuspecting buyer).
My favorite Pickelhuabe is the most common, the M1915 with gray painted steel fittings, it is still possible to picke up a decent example for a few hundred dollars. One sold recently on an internet site for less than $300, but it lacked the Kockarden and chin strap. Chin straps now cost as much as helmets did a few years ago, so it is usually better to find an example that is complete rather than to try to buy a cheaper fixer-uper.
Best wishes
Gus