M1860 Pickelhaube, is this for real?

H

HillervonGaertringen

New member
Hi, I've been offered this Pickelhaube for sale from the a contact in the Czech Republic. He says it's an original M60 from the Battle of Königgrätz 1866. At first glance it looks right, if battered and missing pieces. But I'm not 100% certain. What do people think? Genuine or a later model?

Thanks for any light anyone can throw on this!
 
Hi

It looks proper to me, although a small one... as you say, it's missing a lot of pieces. Any photos of the interior, unit markings? Do you have a photo with the wappen removed to see if the mounting holes are proper? Looks like a project....but if it is unit marked it is still researchable and an honest relic in its own right if priced accordingly.

Larmo
 
Hi, thanks for that. I've attached some photos of the interior. These are all I have of it.

The info I have is that it was picked up off the battlefield and held onto by that family until the 1950s, then passed to a chap working for them.

I can't see any unit markings.

Thanks again.
 
Cool...that's what it should look like, the story is certainly plausible, now it's just a question of price vs condition, there may be a chance of unit markings however faint on the neckguard. Good Luck :thumb up:

Larmo
 
I agree, this one looks ok and its certainly full of character =D> Offcourse you can find more information about these early pickelhaubes on Tony's site: http://www.kaisersbunker.com/dunkelblau/helmets/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Best regards,

Edwin
 
Thanks guys, that's very helpful of you. Whilst I'd love one in marvellous condition the fact the story is almost certainly genuine, and we can pin it down to a certain battle compensates for this.

Cheers. :D
 
Whilst I'd love one in marvellous condition the fact the story is almost certainly genuine, and we can pin it down to a certain battle compensates for this.
Click to expand...

I agree 100%, if you have the time, please give the details of it's story if there is any more to add...it would be a good read :read2:

Thanks

Larmo
 
The helmet was picked up off the battlefield of Königgrätz, on 3 July 1866 or in the days immediately following it, and kept by the same family until 1951, when it was given by them to a man mending their electrics. He kept it until his death, when it passed to the current owner. The only link in the story that isn't perfect is that if they picked it up near their home, the village of Chlum, it should be a Guard helmet, as only the Guard Corps fought in that area. But... it was the largest battle in history to that point, with over half a million combatants, so I think it's possible they didn't actually pick it up right outside their door, Line units would have been within half a mile.
 
Hi, thanks for posting the details on your helmet, I really enjoy the history on these old things. If I can add one more comment, to find an honest 1860 pattern pickelhaube in any condition is difficult. To find one with a history is a big plus..

Larmo
 
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