Meck Shako

[pickelhauben]

I have been looking for a Meck shako for years at a decent price.

Here is one on e-bay. I know the field badge is probably home made and it has an early ( pickelhaube ) type liner. I have never seen a shako with this type of liner. Usually they all have the tongue type fingers and even the WW2 type have the tongue as well but the front of the WW2 liners have the many tiny brow vent holes.

I sent this to Randy T. he said "don't touch it " So I am staying away from it .

Is the liner the damming factor ?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/152535625083?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[SkipperJohn]

I'm not sure why Randy would say that unless he sees something incorrect with the Wappen. The Feldzeichen is questionable, but I don't know if I would let that stop me. Squared tongues were used on private purchase models until 1880, see: http://www.kaisersbunker.com/pt/tschako.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. so I don't think that is a disqualifying factor. Meck started using the Tschako in 1865 and this model appears to be later than that. The band around the base seems correct also for a private purchase model. All-in-all I think it looks pretty good. I don't have anything from Meck, so I would have to investigate the Wappen, but it looks pretty clean and sharp to me. If it was going to be my first Meck purchase I might ask to see a photo of the reverse side of the Wappen. I would assume that the star was manufactured in the same fashion as a Saxon star, and I do have one of those for comparison.

I really hope someone else chimes in here, especially Randy. I'm not seeing a lot of problems so it's obvious that I could use further education.
I would hate for pickelhauben to pass on this one if it is good.

John :?

Edit note: I think that the date on this piece can be narrowed down a little. It has M91 side posts, so it's later than 1891. It also has a Reich's Kokarde so it's post 1897. Maybe the reason for questioning the Tschako is the square tongue liner, which was used on private purchase officers models until 1880 when it was replaced with the silk skull type. This is not an officers Tschako so I personally don't believe that the square tongues are an issue. They were popular on private purchase enlisted models until 1915, perhaps longer.