Pickelhaubes - Gifts

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derekb

Member
Good Evening,

Would you mind helping with identifying /adding information on these Pickelhaube swhich have been gifted to me?

The Pickelhaube in appears 2 to have a smaller wappen than the other or is this just an illusion - any comments please?View attachment 1View attachment 2

Thanks and regards.

Derek.
 
The first two are M95 Prussian OR's helmets, the second of which might be slightly older due to its shape. The last one is trying to be a Prussian infantry officer helmet but....the front visor trim is too thick, the chin scales are not correct and the wappen looks like a copy to my eyes.
 
Hi Brian,

Thanks for your help, is it worth putting the third one "to rights", if so what would you recommend.


Is the spike OK?

Thanks again and regards,

Derek.
 
Hi Derek, no problem. The spike looks fine, an officers with domed split brads instead of the proper stars. What I see, is an OR's helmet which has been converted to officer by putting that spike on and some chin scales. I could tell more if you post an interior picture, rear and side view to look at the kokarden. You can see along with the too wide visor trim that the stitches are farther apart than an officer's would be. Basically, to put this right, you would have to find the proper OR parts and put them back on. I would also check on the inside for holes for M91 side posts which may have been taken off. The liner is probably an Ordinary Ranks as well and not correct for these officer fittings.
 
Derek thanks for the fotos and quick reply. Well as I expected, this is an OR helmet trying to be a Prussian officer helme. So here is what I see now: holes for the M91 side posts (removed), an OR's liner and rear spine, a wappen which has a re soldered loop on the back, and grommets in the wappen holes. The front and rear visors have been restitched, because if you look at the stitches they are too long and pass over original empty holes. The thread used is also wrong. The wappen is original but the loops have been moved so they fit this shell. You can see the original mark in the solder on the right loop. The brass loops are original, just "moved". Officers helmets do not have grommets in the wappen holes. If the grommets are steel, (I can not tell) then all of these brass fittings do not belong. This could be an M15 helme converted to brass fittings.
 
Thanks Brian,
All the fittings including the grommets are brass
Do you think that the helme is worth persevering with, if so is the wappen acceptable or do you think that it should have had a wappen from another state rather than Prussia..
Or is the helme best just kept for parts for other pickelhaubes restoration projects.
My brothers, brother in law who gave me the helme tells me that he obtained it either in 1970 or earlier which tells me that people were messing about a lot earlier than I imagined.
Once again thanks for your help.
Derek.
 
You have 2 other Prussian ones, this one is probably Prussian as well, you need M91 posts, OR spike. I would put those on and sell it, or keep the officer spike and split brads, sell the shell with wappen and rear spine. The most valuable piece on this is the spike which is worth $200+. Bottom line, I would sell this and use the money to help buy something better.
 
You are most welcome Derek. It is fun analyzing these pieces and working out what has been done to them.
 
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