Those of us who have been collecting for a long time and have handled hundreds of helmets know that many M15 helmets were in fact converted/repurposed M95's. The brass fittings were stripped off, including the grommets and replaced by feldgrau/grey painted steel fittings. Recently, I purchased such a helmet and discovered that it could be used here as a great example of how helmets were recycled by the Imperial Army. The Prussians were very serious about saving money whenever possible. The following pictures of my new M15 Prussian helmet prove this:
The helmet came with an original spike, chinstrap and cockades but these have been taken off. From the front, it looks like the typical M15.
Then we take off the wappen......looks like some extra work has been done to the shell.
Obviously, some work has been done on the shell...holes have been filled in. These tells us that there was a different set of grommets/holes in this shell. These are original "fixes", they were done during WW1, they are not modern. They testify to the brass shortage and the conversion of M95 helmets, either damaged or otherwise, being converted and repaired to M15's. To be continued....
The helmet came with an original spike, chinstrap and cockades but these have been taken off. From the front, it looks like the typical M15.
Then we take off the wappen......looks like some extra work has been done to the shell.
Obviously, some work has been done on the shell...holes have been filled in. These tells us that there was a different set of grommets/holes in this shell. These are original "fixes", they were done during WW1, they are not modern. They testify to the brass shortage and the conversion of M95 helmets, either damaged or otherwise, being converted and repaired to M15's. To be continued....
