M1891 Prussian Pickelhaube

[flasheart]

Gents,

This helmet is very interesting. It has the characteristics of a M1891, but is marked JR 13 1889, and RJR 13 IIB. The rear visor is longer than a standard 1891 and the helmet body has a stitched seam under the rear spine. M1891 mounts, and no sign that I can find of any plugged holes to mark a conversion. I don't think it is a modified M1887, maybe a cut down M1871? It also has the reinforcing plate on the outside, in the manner that has been discussed at length in the forum. The helmet is constructed of thick leather, and the the brass chinstrap furniture is around 2mm thick . Again, it does not appear to have been messed with or modified in the past 90 years.

Mike

 

[Gustaf]

Hey Mike,
You are sure adding some nice items to your collection, I would like to be able to get my hands on one of these before you do just once. he he. Is this the same collection that had the Aussie stuff?
Bes twihses
Gus

 

[Jerry Rehr]

Mike; Great helmet and great markings. Why would the helmet be marked JR13 and also again RJR? Would the owner after fufilling his active obligation to the unit then be transfered to the units reserve? Maybe I've answered my own question. I have one thats marked JR 31 and LIR 31. Again super pickel. Jerry

 

[joerookery]

Would the owner after fufilling his active obligation to the unit then be transfered to the units reserve?

I think this is the right idea but the wrong execution. The owner did not "carry " the helmet into reserve duty. When the owner was done with his active duty time he returned the helmet to the Kammer. The Kammer Unteroffiziere maintained his stock, repaired and rotated out older or obsolescent equipment. What I don't know is where he put them.

When reserve units were formed, they were "sponsored" by an active unit.

Therefore as in this case, the helmet could be in the units Kammer of infantry Regiment 13 -- and thus the mark. Rotated out of service, it was handed down by the sponsoring unit to its aligned reserve infantry Regiment -- therefore another mark. RJR 13. It would be reissued out to another soldier -- the original owner had no part in this.

The same concept holds true for the Landwehr Bezirkskommando. Another thing I do not know is which active units sponsored which reserve units. I know some of them but they did not always follow numbers... so much to do... :munky2:

 

[911car]

Nice helmet indeed, and a typical 1891 model (no aerator), but why no reserve plate? Many helmets bear both active and reserve markings, the reserve being always the latest one. And what is the other (Landwehr?) marking?
Bruno

 

[joerookery]

It seems that most reserves and Landwehr did not use a Landwehr cross. My observation is that only a small minority did. I cannot really see what the other mark says.

 

[flasheart]

Joe,

I am out of town for a couple of days now so I cannot confirm the other stamps.

The helmets only arrived yesterday and I took the photos and posted on the forum. There is the JR 13 1889 stamp on the left side of the rear visor, and the small RJR 13 stamp on the right side. There is another large stamping in between that I thought was another JR 13, but now looking at the flash photo I see it is something else. I will check it on Friday and post another photo.

The helmet body also has a stitched rear seam under the spine, so I figure an earlier pattern upgraded to Mod 1891 standard. Other than the long rear visor the dimensions are similar to a standard M91. Again, I will check this when I get home.

Mike

 

[zipperheads9]

I have only done a couple of unit check's in regards to reserve unit histories. The main line unit was not alway's the sponsoring unit. It would be interesting to find the history for that unit. Wit a number that low i think it would be a turn of the century unit.
Nice Helmet. You are adding alot of nice kit to the collection.
The Reserve unit I have a history on is the 11th RJR Cantz Silisea , it was fromed by 4 seperate Battalion's the 10th grenadier's 11th grenadier's and 63rd Infantry Regiment , I can not find who the third sponsoring unit was . I was told that some unit's were formed by Officer's that became surplus to more popular unit's in an area , I do not remember who told me this or were i read it. Reserve unit's are hit and miss with histories. I Find
Zippey

 

[Rendsburg]

Hey Mike,
You are sure adding some nice items to your collection, I would like to be able to get my hands on one of these before you do just once. he he. Is this the same collection that had the Aussie stuff?
Bes twihses
Gus

Gus, where is the truck?

 

[flasheart]

Gents,

Some additional photos of the centre stampings and the stitched korpus. Also, the mark where the interior reinforcement plate used to be. Did the veteran dismantle this for the trip home and then put it together again?

Frustratingly, while the outside markings are very clear, the centre marking is difficult to read. I believe that it reads:

25 R.I.R.
IIB
1889

Mike