M15 Kürassier Metalhelme & M15 Jäger zu Pferde Metalhel

[corporalgungee]

I just got this M15 Kürassier Metalhelme made in 1916 by HELBING u. SACKEWITZ size 57 that is painted black . A friend had told me that in 1916 the Calavary was thrown into the trenches and ordered to paint heir helmets black ; does anyone know if this is true ? It is missing the chin strap and Kokarde's , and has a few good size dents ; but has a decent linner that needs a cleaning . inside bill is painted apple green and inside neck trail is painted black

btw I also have a M15 Jäger zu Pferde Metalhel made in 1918 by HELBING u. SACKEWITZ size 56 that I've had ten years now that needs some repairs . It too is painted black and has some dents and THREE of the spike mounting screws are missing . And it has a BULLET HOLE in & out through the sheet metal skull , also no linner at all

Any and All Advice is much appreciated as I am new to collecting helmets / pickelhaubes .

 

[poniatowski]

Hi, Welcome to the forum and thanks for posting the photos.

Considering these helmets came with an Ueberzug (camouflage cover), I'd take the painting black with a grain of salt (maybe Joe or somebody knows differently). I would suspect that if they were painted at all it would have been in a green hue. To me, it sounds more like something somebody with a Harley or an Indian would have done. IF the paint theory proven to be a false claim, at least paint is easily removed from steel!

Ron