Mystery Bavarian helmet

[J.LeBrasseur]

So I also just got this great helmet in, older type with really thick leather, I can see no misuse or modifications....

So nice flat scales and fluted spike with cruciform base, but the weird thing is curved front visor? Never seen this before other then Bavarian helmets with regular spike. Has super nice M1886 kokarden on it.

No markings.

So anyone got an idea on what it is? I am not sure possible gendarme of some type? Or where they just being frugal and using what they had?

Would appreciate any thoughts?

James

 

[KAGGR#1]

So I also just got this great helmet in, older type with really thick leather, I can see no misuse or modifications....

So nice flat scales and fluted spike with cruciform base, but the weird thing is curved front visor? Never seen this before other then Bavarian helmets with regular spike. Has super nice M1886 kokarden on it.

No markings.

So anyone got an idea on what it is? I am not sure possible gendarme of some type? Or where they just being frugal and using what they had?

Would appreciate any thoughts?

James

I don't much about Bavarian helmets
but I have never seen a kokard like that.
Is the kokard military?
Steve

 

[J.LeBrasseur]

I don't much about Bavarian helmets
but I have never seen a kokard like that.
Is the kokard military?
Steve

Yes, Steve it is military I have a few helmets with this type. According to Die helme der Koniglich Bayerischen Armee it was used from 1886 to 1897

James

 

[tony v]

tricky...rounded visor suggests Police but the spike is wrong for that, also maybe a real early schwere reiter helm that has been converted or the shell used ? post 1891 chinstrap posts suggests maybe a use up of parts to try and make do ? I would ask why do that but then why not ?

That said I have a 1871 shell, stamped first issued in 1887 with 1891 chinstrap posts so clearly it has been re-used at least twice. Great to have an unusual one.

Tony

 

[Sandmann]

I‘m sorry but I think it is an old parts helmet. The parts doesn’t make sense and the visor trim is not original. Have a look to the pins, the trim is much longer as it should be. Could you post a photo of the seam?

 

[J.LeBrasseur]

I‘m sorry but I think it is an old parts helmet. The parts doesn’t make sense and the visor trim is not original. Have a look to the pins, the trim is much longer as it should be. Could you post a photo of the seam?

Great eye, I totally missed that, you could be right, new front visor added? I will add more pictures soon.

James

 

[J.LeBrasseur]

so here are some more pictures, weird, stitching looks quite old, but visor trim is to long....

James

 

[Louis]

Cut down m71 with cut down cisor and trim added later making an imperfect fit?

 

[USMC-EOD]

I agree with sandman. The first thing I noticed was the visor trim. It looks too long to my eye.

I have one of these in both brass and silver fittings. My brass one is a mounted artillery and the silver is a chevalier helmet.

If the visor was not replaced and had a new old stock visor stitched back on, it looks to my eye like it may have been cut back and a rounded trim fitted sometime in the past. Perhaps even in the last 50 years.

I would look this one over carefully, James. I think Louis has a point.

Bryan.