Pickelhaube repair

P

Prussian Garde

Member
View attachment 4Hello, I recently bought a 1915 Prussian Garde Pickelhaube and I am looking into restoring it. This guy I bought it from said he bought it from a man in Berlin who said it is a 1915 Prussian Garde Pickelhaube, so I am wondering if any of you would be able to confirm this as I am still not sure since the markings are too faint for me to see. I also need to know this because I need to know what I need to restore it correctly. Thank you and have a good day.8D3358AD-54B3-4682-8E65-C59D54218B44.jpeg0E22E523-93B6-4C74-8093-E8E0414D9726.jpeg415A8B32-1AFA-4E59-A920-BC84778FB797.jpegView attachment 4E610030C-346E-4607-9205-41961C06311A.jpeg
 
Hmmmm…

I looks like you may have a parts helmet .

It looks to have a uhlan eagle missing the garde star ( brass )

Brass spike .

Steele 91 posts with front visor and a brass spine.

They could have mixed and matched the parts in wartime but that is the wrong eagle for this picklehaube.
It belongs a mortar board type helmet.
 
Also, do you think that I should buy a cover and a case (I see the case being used for officer helmets but I’m not sure if enlisted helmets had them too)
 
The plate also looks like a repro to me as it lacks the definition (crisp details) of an original one. A frontal pic of the plate would really help. It also looks like the holes for the missing garde star are crudely punched from the inside out....not normal. A pic of the inside liner will also help. It does look like a Model 1915 with grey fittings....side posts and front visor trim which has had a brass spike and spine thrown on it. Regarding restoration, go into the restoration section here and take a look at my "M15 From Illinois" post.... a helmet which I just finished today.
Ok, I just read your additional comments. Eagle is definitely a repro...brass spike and rear spine look original. This is an Enlisted man's helmet and not officer so no case. Original covers are rather expensive especially if they have regimental numbers stitched on them. You could buy an EM version for this This is probably a model 1915 helmet so you would need a grey metal eagle plate for it, you are also missing a chin strap and cockades to complete this.
 
ABF8BB64-BD92-48CD-933B-14EF8DC086D9.jpeg12DB4DA2-4696-4A65-94BA-C7BE687FE471.jpegThank you and the liner is the thin brown leather like in a regular 1915. And what do you mean by grey metal eagle plate, if u can please show me an example9965AC9E-6148-4B36-AD48-DCA526EBB3DA.jpegView attachment 1C9CD8329-1D62-4AFB-95B5-0A0AD22366EE.jpeg
 

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Ok this is an M15 helmet which originally had all grey steel fittings, probably Prussian as they are the most common M15's here in North America. You have the typical M15 undyed leather liner, model 1895's are dyed black. Looks like you have an extra hole in the front of the shell to fit that repro helmet plate. Originally, all helmets only have 2 holes in the front for the plate.They also have grommets in these holes so leather does not tear. M15's have steel grommets, M95's have brass. If your helmet has steel then it is a true M15. The 57 written in blue grease pencil is the size...57 cm. The ink stamp is the name of the manufacturer who made the helme. If you want to see pics of M15's and M95's go to the Pickelhaube Discussion section and scroll down to the post: Pickelhauben For Enlisted Men M15/95. Posted by Spiker in Sept 2018. The first pic posted shows the M15 and M95 Prussians, these are the most common pickelhaubes because the Prussians had the most Regiments in the German Army.
 
Ok, where are the grommets? And is this Prussian Garde or regular because the holes look too spread a part for a regular Prussian helmet and lastly, where can I find the regimental markings
 
Take the helmet plate off, the grommets are steel or brass circles around the holes in the shell. Take a pic of the front of the helmet with plate removed. There should only be 2 holes on an original helmet that has not been messed with. I think I see 3 in yours because some one put in an extra for that fake helmet plate. Regimental markings are found on the inside of the rear visor but most M15’s don’t have them as if found by the enemy this would give info to them about what Regt.was facing them. Go back to my restoration post and look at the front of the helmet and you will see the grommets in the holes.
 
In my opinion, the larger holes are the originals and the distance between them would probably indicate this was originally a Garde M15.
 
Just to add to what has already been said, I have to agree that the front plate is a reproduction, spike and rear spine although original, they aren't original to this helmet. Front visor guard and spike pins are grey metal, which is what all the fittings should be. I believe this was a M'15 helmet once.
 
That is the correct plate but not the correct metal. You need a grey M15 Garde plate. You also need to replace the rear spine and the brass spike with M15 versions. Can some member please post pics of a correct M15 Garde here so we can show PG what is needed?
 
F01D44ED-DD6C-4072-9DBF-4B7773C41468.png7C81F029-DCBB-49A5-92C2-BDD9DFB16031.png I found a chinstrap for this, it’s an m1914 but I’m not sure if it would work, is there any difference between m1915 and m1914 chinstraps
 
M 95-14 chin straps have brass fittings. M15's have steel fittings which is what you need. The fittings are both the same just different metal. The strap you have shown has steel fittings so it will work. These M15 grey steel plates sometimes come up for sale on Ebay. There are also militaria dealers online.
 
That is a perfect Garde M15 example. Thanks for solving my problem by posting the link. A picture is worth a thousand words!
 
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