Prussian Guard Inf. M1915 Kugelhelm?

RON

RON

Well-known member
How about this one?
Looks like it has a brass twist-off kugel and an M1895 spine that were darkened/painted grey at some point... Maybe the wappen and the rest of the fixations as well? The seller isn't showing the grommets; I bet they're brass too...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/WW1-PRUSSIAN-ENLISTED-MANS-PICKELHAUBE-GARDE-ARTILLERY-DATED-1915-1916-/330726140761?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d00d06b59" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
 
It seems that you are right about the darkned or painted kugel and spine. Possibly, this could have been a wartime field modification but I have no idea how common it was to paint the various brass parts of a helmet to meet the new field gray regulations.

Regards,

Edwin
 
Hey Edwin, the kugel top is twist-off and seems definitely made of painted brass. Weren't the M1895 spikes & ball tops non-removable to start with? Could this be some sort of M95-M15 transitional model? :-k

Hey Ron, according to the seller, it says: BAG 1916 (BEKLEIDUNGS AMT GARDE 1916) with a 1915 manufacturing date...
 
I can`t speak for kugels, but I can say that a brass m15 spike was definately made. I have one which I found in a dugout a few years ago. It is identical in all respects to an m15 spike, except it is made out of brass. Sadly I didn`t find the related spike base, so I cant say if it fixed to a brass or painted steel base.
I have not been able to find any info out about the spike and this kugel is the only other example I have ever seen. I would love some info if any forum members have any. I havnt time right now to upload a pic, but I will try get some on later if people are intersted.
I would say that the kugel looks just the same as the m15 kugel in my collection except of course it is made from brass and not steel.
Im not sure about the markings on the helmet or if the kugel is original to the helmet, but if its original it must be pretty rare? They did chemically darken or paint brass helmets to comply and the seller also states that the base metal of the helmet is painted brass.

p.s. He also has a reserve arty helmet stamped to j.r.158 (7.Lothringisches Inf-regt. no.158 according to Lainé the german army) There seems not to have been 158 arty anything [-X Im prepared to bet the kugel from the guard helm didn`t get put there during the war also

Andy
 
RON said:
Hey Edwin, the kugel top is twist-off and seems definitely made of painted brass. Weren't the M1895 spikes & ball tops non-removable to start with? Could this be some sort of M95-M15 transitional model? :-k

Hey Ron, according to the seller, it says: BAG 1916 (BEKLEIDUNGS AMT GARDE 1916) with a 1915 manufacturing date...
Click to expand...


As far as I know you are right about the non-removable M1895 spike and ball. However, I have no idea about M15-type models but from what I've seen in my reference books the same holds for this type as well.

Regards,

Edwin
 
Here's another, clearly marked to Infantry Regiment 158... with a Kugel.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PRUSSIAN-ARTILLERY-ENLISTED-MANS-PICKELHAUBE-RESERVE-IR158-1909-/330728040833?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d00ed6981" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Ron
 
poniatowski said:
Here's another, clearly marked to Infantry Regiment 158... with a Kugel.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/PRUSSIAN-ARTILLERY-ENLISTED-MANS-PICKELHAUBE-RESERVE-IR158-1909-/330728040833?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d00ed6981" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Click to expand...

His second kugel seems to be the correct non-removable M1895 top but the wappen is screwed to the shell (instead of the leather tabs) which makes this wrong for an issued helmet, doesn't it? :-k
 
Sorry Ron I misread your post. The wappen is possibly a private purchase one and Im pretty sure not from this helmet. Your quite right issue wappens of this period would normally have loops and wedges. At any rate with the helmet marked up to Lothringisches Inf-regt. no.158 it should have a spike and not a kugel. Im betting the whole thing is a put together and neither the wappen or the kugel are original to the helmet.

Seems we may be about to see yet another rash of put together helmets appearing. Still would like to find out more about the 95/15 brass kugel on the other helmet though.

Andy
 
That's okay, no problem :) I do the same when I read posts / ebay descriptions. Hard to say about the wappen, I'd have bought a better one for my helmet had I been around back then (even if it was issued... an easy matter to put the original back on for turn-in)... so who knows. However, I suspect you're right.

:D Ron
 
I would say this is a very nice M15 Guard helmet. The spine doesn't look like brass to me. The kugel is clearly not original to this helmet. I also believe the kugel is not made of brass, but is made of steel and painted gold. Over the years, I have seen any number of M15s with gold painted fittings so they look like M95s. Just my opinion.
Steve
 
Check-out the shill (spelling?) bidding on the 2nd "Kugelhelm" posted by Ron!!

4 bidders... 100 bids! Yeah, right! [-X
 
I also believe the kugel is not made of brass, but is made of steel and painted gold.
Click to expand...

Im sure the kugel is made of brass, the seller even says
BASE MATERIAL PAINTED BRASS
Click to expand...

I must get a pic up of my brass m15 spike.

I still think this helmet and the others he has on offer are put together items. The kugel (brass or not) plainly does not belong and if one part is wrong, there is a good chance that more will be wrong.

I had spotted the schill bidding aswel..I`m not liking this seller much.

Andy
 
My suggestion: leave this seller alone because his helmets are obiviously tampered with and the bidding history of the IR158 helmet (with kugel?) is a point of concern.

Regards,

Edwin
 
I triple second that!
Let's add him to the no-buy list along with 'seeallmyauctions' and the rest...
 
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