Pickelhaube Garde Infanterie Offizier

J

jägermeister

New member
Hello all,

first i wish you a happy new year :)

I want to sell this Pickelhaube and Collector told me that the Gardestern might be a copy? Whats you opinion about this one?

Thanks in advance

br Martin

 
I am sure that there are other forum members that are more knowledgeable about this than I am. However, I doubt that this is an authentic officers helmet for several reasons. Firstly, there is no silk liner, which is typically present in officers helmets, whereas the liner of this helmet seems to be of the EM type. Furthermore, I am not convinced of the authenticity of the spike, wappen and chin scales. Based on the pictures provided it is difficult for me to comment on the originality of the kokarden. All in all, it seems to methat this may be a parts helmet (e.g. a upgraded EM helmet), or a bad copy. Please note that this is just my opinion and I may be completely wrong here.

See also: http://www.kaisersbunker.com/dunkelblau/helmets/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Best regards,

Edwin
 
It IS a typical officer's helmet, albeit an early one. Prior to about 1880, this multi-tongued square ended all leather liner was the norm. The star is a copy, however. They are currently available out of Poland and can be recognized by the missing set of laurel leaves (should be three pairs and a single on each side, not two). It would be more correct to have a single Prussian cockade on the right side as I doubt this helmet was still in service in 1897 when the Reichscockade was introduced.
 
Hello, ty for your opinions. I have buyed this one 2 years ago from a german Auctioneer for a lot of money :twisted:

I have wrote him an email about this doubts...

Ok the Gardestar is a copy but the rest is OK? I would sell this one and i woudnt sell a copy, whats a fair price for this one without the Gardestar?

br Martin
 
Arran is absolutely right: this is an earlier type officer helmet (see also the dome-shaped skull from the front; later models were more cylindrical). In addition to the mentioned flaws, you will notice that the letters (SUUM CUIQUE) lack fine details. Also, on an original, these letters bear fine perpendicular stripes. Finally, the metal rim that lines the front visor is somehow too broad for an officer helmet, and may have been changed (although one sees occasionally EM-type visor rims on genuine officer helmets).
As of the value in this condition... I am afraid there are no good news here. If you take a look at Kube's auction catalogs you will find (in the black-and-white picture section) such doctored helmets in a not so great condition. You can get an idea on prices these items fetch.
I hope you can negotiate with the seller; hopefully you did not buy this helmet too long ago. At any rate, do not feel too bad: virtually all collectors have at least one such disappointing story to tell... and have a nice 2013.

Bruno
 
Amen.Amen. Thanks to all the fine friends and collectors on this website I have found my true love-The Pickelhaube. A long time 3rd Reich collector like myself has all but given up with all the reproduction garbage out there-nonetheless the Spikies draw some serious attention-everybody likes them! Happy Hunting in 2013-Alan :bravo:
 
Amen again to you weasels ... I too dropped collecting Reich material more than a decade ago because the skyrocketing prices built a cottage fake industry mostly in eastern Europe. And now, no surprize, we've got another fake industry growing for our Pickels (no doubt more troublesome to fake well than a more simple decoration or patch). My big point here is that we have the added issues related to variations based on private purchases (that don't always adhere to a 'standard'), changes in military status (e.g., promotions, re-assignments) which might result in the soldier having to make alterations in their own helmet configurations, on top of the fact that we are often talking about 100+ year old items ... The age itself opens the door to things falling off or getting lost, replaced, or otherwise messed with by persons who may have no relation to, or knowledge regarding the helmets. I think we just have to be smarter collectors, help the newer collectors out, and remember the fact that (another e.g.) a replaced chinstrap or reproduced kokarden does not equal a 'faked' helmet.
 
I think we just have to be smarter collectors, help the newer collectors out, and remember the fact that (another e.g.) a replaced chinstrap or reproduced kokarden does not equal a 'faked' helmet.
Click to expand...

I agree – and to pound on my drum – hands-on experience is invaluable. Annually many people gather at SOS were some of the more knowledgeable guys can show you some tricks of the trade. It is always best to become a known face. You'd be surprised at how prices drop for "friends". Went to lunch yesterday with five collectors from Texas. One helmet came up and was vetted by all the attendees. Amazingly low price. This year's SOS is going to be the biggest ever. It is for me a social gathering but it is so much of an educational experience. As a friend of mine once said "you have to hunt where the ducks are."
 
Good to see our forum fulfilling one of its primary directives...the sharing of information and support for fellow collectors! I have had 2 repro surprises in the last 12 months, both involving fake "galvano" wappen. I have had these pieces more than 20 yrs. I never knew they were doing copies as far back as that. In all I am looking at a loss (until I find originals that fit) of over $2K. These were sold to me by a dealer who has since died so no chance of "money back"..........a typical collector story.
 
A man was making copper electroforms circa 1990, if not much earlier.
http://lagrandeguerre.cultureforum.net/t35866p210-post-sur-le-mecklembourg-schwerin-et-strelitz" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.euroarms.net/showtime/KASSEL/2009/WBK_CAT_09.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (He may be listed on page 8.)
 
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