KAGGR#1
Well-known member
Sometimes I think that it is O K
most of the time you can tell if the helmet is correct
and if you are talking about the Garde helmet from Tony
if it came from him you can bet that it is O K
Steve
Prussian Garde Ersatz M15
- Thread starter Mild_Turkey
- Start date
most of the time you can tell if the helmet is correct
and if you are talking about the Garde helmet from Tony
if it came from him you can bet that it is O K
Steve
Hi Khoi,
Enlarged or extra holes indicate that the helmet has been fitted with a different Wappen than what it was originally produced with. The factories produced complete helmets, with the correct distance and location of the holes for the Wappen.
When and why a different Wappen has been fitted is a difficult question to answer. I have an old helmet that has been changed into an M15 Pickelhaube by making the skull lower, adding Vulkanfiber peaks, and plugging the old holes and making new holes for the M15 Wappen, marked by the Bekleidungs-Instandsetzungs-Amt XVIII, the clothing repair shop of the XVIIIth army corps, so it's clear when and why there are extra holes. Maybe your helmet was transferred to a different unit during the war, or maybe a collector "upgraded" the helmet? If Tony bought it I can only assume it had good provenance.
Regards,
Lars
Send me a message here on the Forum, or email me and I will change your user name. No problem. Takes me only a few minutes. That is an open offer to anyone. Happy to do that.
Khoi I have no recall regarding your Ersatz. All I can say, is that when I sold it off in the cull, it was in the same condition as when I bought it. I don’t alter or repair helmets, other than occasionally replace a missing chinstrap or Kokarde as so many helmets are missing those parts.
My understanding of helmet repair is different than many other members here, in that I believe helmets were maintained at unit level at the Kammer. I would except that the Regimental or Battalion Kammer would have boxes of blank shells, Wappen, chinstraps etc. Only gathered helmets in need of major rebuild were sent to Bekleidungs-Instandsetzungs (Repair Depot). But that is only my opinion. So as with any helmet, you have to decide yourself. Most importantly, it’s difficult to find an Ersatz Garde in any condition, usually missing liner, spike, strap etc.. Congratulations for finding a nice complete example.
CLOVIS 57
Well-known member
Hello,
No, it is not possible. The helmets were delivered by the suppliers either with their front plate with the corresponding holes and eyelets, or without plate and without drilling (in particular for the Prussian line eagle). In the latter case, the Beckleidungsamt of the army-corps was responsible for affixing the specific plate and drilling the appropriate holes.
On the other hand, when the old leather bombs were recycled, with a change of plate, leather caps were installed with a thin basane stain on the inside.
A double piercing made in an anarchic way can be a makeshift solution, made in the emergency, on the battlefield.
Below is a photo of English soldier celebrating after the victory on the Somme (France). It shows a helmet with 2 holes added to fit a new plate. Wartime circumstances, not regulation. (Extract from the film "Battle of the Somme" by Clarke and Costelle)
Nice helmet ! Congrats.
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