Prussian PickelHaube 1895 questions

[BasedCaptainSteve]

Hello Im trying to get into the hobby and saw this helmet for auction. I did some prelimenary research but am very new to the hobby. My concerns over this helmet are the Cockades are very lage, The Eagle on the front doesn't match many examples I have found online (Auction site didnt post a clear foward shot) and I cant visbily see an ink stamp in the photos. Is this a authentic helmet or did someone take a shell and a bunch of different pieces and put somthing together? Here are all the photos available I appreciate the help and look foward to being a member of this hobby.

 

[coert65]

Well, to me it looks like an M15, but with several parts on it that are not original to the helmet. Spike looks original, but it has been gold-painted, Officer rear spine, and the large Kokarden on it, which are not suitable on an M15, and also repro's.. I'd pass on it if I were you.
It has to many red flags..

 

[BasedCaptainSteve]

Well, to me it looks like an M15, but with several parts on it that are not original to the helmet. Spike looks original, but it has been gold-painted, Officer rear spine, and the large Kokarden on it, which are not suitable on an M15, and also repro's.. I'd pass on it if I were you.
It has to many red flags..

Thanks for the info if I can get it cheap enough could it still be worth it to repair I imagine stripping the paint and removig the spine wouldnt be that difficult. Here is another one form the same site I think it looks slightly less sketchy but if theres one fake I imagine theres probably more.

 

[b.loree]

The first M15 helmet has been cobbled together with incorrect add ons as has been mentioned but it does appear to have a Garde helmet plate on it and the spike has some value. The liner on this piece also has red rot which will cause it to disintegrate further every year. The second helmet, a Bavarian officer has repro satin liner stitched into it and is missing the proper Bavarian officer kokarde. The brass chin scales are also missing one end fitting. Of note too is the different patina on the spike top compared to the spike base. Both of these pieces have been messed with and are not correct. If you buy either one of them you are buying these problems. It’s better to spend your hard earned money on complete and correct helmets not pieces like this.

 

[CLOVIS 57]

Hello,
The first one is a wreck, completely cobbled together and reassembled with various mismatched and unsuitable fittings. Absolutely no interest. €300 for a broke beginner. (nape guard poorly glued back on, M15 officer's rear spine in zinc, M15 trooper's iron tip, modern washers, no Teller, roundels not to scale, Adler guard to be examined carefully...) or for parts to be resold individually.

The M86 is a little better, but it's also a cobbled-together helmet.In fact, the photos obscure the disguise. Below, you can see an unused hole next to the front rivet. This is the old hole for the round base of a Prussian officer's spike.
Similarly, if you look closely to the right of the Bavarian emblem, you can still see the trace of the tips of the Linien-Adler's flight feathers.

Similarly, for the unwary beginner.