Salty M15 Prussian Guard Artillery Enlisted Helmet

ww1czechlegion

ww1czechlegion

Well-known member
Hello,

Here's an uncleaned helmet straight from a family. Unfortunately it wasn't taken care of very well over the years since it came to the USA after WW1.

I'm amazed that it still has the original chinstrap and kokardes, which are almost always missing on these helmets when found.

I can see some faint markings under the curled area of the back visor. Hopefully it's marked "K.B.A.G. 1916". Soldier's name is penciled inside the lining. Remains of an old newspaper are stuck to the back visor. As mentioned, this poor old thing wasn't given the best of care over the years, unfortunately.

I look forward to your comments.

Best Regards,

Alan

P.S. "Salty" does come into play with this helmet, as it was exposed to a salt air and humid environment for decades. I've never seen an enlisted helmet where the inside support disk for the spike base is corroded as badly as on this helmet. I was surprised that the leather chinstrap and helmet body is in as good of shape as it is.









 
Hi Alan,
Is it me or isn't the Reich cockade a copy?.. (and the Prussian one too)
Besides, a nice find!
 
Thanks for your nice comments gentlemen!

Is it me or isn't the Reich cockade a copy?.. (and the Prussian one too)
Click to expand...

They're both original. I shot the photos with direct flash of the camera. We've had so many cloudy and rainy days here lately (with rain coming again the next 2-days unfortunately). They're both rusted a bit, the Prussian more than the Reich.

It's sunny today, so I'll re-shoot the kokardes.

Best Regards,

Alan



 
Great find Alan!
I would get a better support disk for it after carefully removing the ball top.
I would also briefly soak the wappen in Evaporust to get rid of the rust while not harming the grey coating (see Evaporust posts).
 
Thanks Ron, I appreciate it! Yes, I've been thinking of using my evaporust, since I had good results with an M15 Saxon belt buckle earlier this spring.

I understand that I can't leave it in the product for very long like I did with my belt buckle, as it will damage or remove the gray finish on the metal parts.

Best Regards,

Alan
 
Yes we have covered the dangers of this product. However, gun bluing can be used to restore proper patina to M15 parts that have been Evapoed. For example, when I did a wappen, I only put the product on the rusted areas using pieces of paper towel soaked in EPR. Once the product has done its job or things are as good as they can be you can use bluing to darken down these areas to pretty much match the old patina on the areas which were not rusted.
 
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