Tins&Blades
Member
Although not a pickelhaube, here is one of my favourite Tins from the First World War. A British Private Purchase M16 based on the Mk 1 Steel helmet design.
Many know these helmets to be the Portuguese M16 or a derivative thereof, but before they entered Portuguese hands likely as a stop-gap measure until enough Mk 1 Steel lids could be issued, the British had them first: mainly for officer private purchase.
These helmets did not last long (1916), as they were known for their mild steel and weak ballistic protection. After an article written by Doctor C.W. Saleeby, in the Daily Chronicle (07 Aug 1916), the effectiveness it afforded it's user came into question as, "the issues included the poor anti-ballistic qualities of the weak, lightweight metal used. In addition, the ribbed feature caused shrapnel fragments to catch and penetrate the helmet rather than deflecting them. Because of these defects, the Portuguese M16 has the distinction of being the worst helmet of the First World War."
From my understanding, there were subtle differences between British private purchase and Portuguese issued helmets. Namely, the ventilation holes. Lock and Son Military Historians on Facebook put it nicely, "One small detail that seems fairly consistent is the vent holes on the British officer's used versions are smaller and has an eyelet fitted through the steel and then through the liner yet on the Portuguese issued versions it is just fitted to the steel and most importantly quite a bit bigger"
Mine too has the smaller ventilation holes with the eyelet as seen in the British examples. Most of these helmets were reworked after the war for use by the Portuguese Civil Defense and are rare to find in their original, unaltered state.
Regardless of it's efficacy, it is still a fun reminder of the struggles in equipping troops early on in the war and sits proudly in my First World War helmet display.
Cheers,
Alex
For further reading:
Sources:
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=4723112594442970&set=pcb.4723113404442889
(https://maplecreekmilitaria.com/2022/04/02/portuguese-m16/)
www.iwm.org.uk
Many know these helmets to be the Portuguese M16 or a derivative thereof, but before they entered Portuguese hands likely as a stop-gap measure until enough Mk 1 Steel lids could be issued, the British had them first: mainly for officer private purchase.
These helmets did not last long (1916), as they were known for their mild steel and weak ballistic protection. After an article written by Doctor C.W. Saleeby, in the Daily Chronicle (07 Aug 1916), the effectiveness it afforded it's user came into question as, "the issues included the poor anti-ballistic qualities of the weak, lightweight metal used. In addition, the ribbed feature caused shrapnel fragments to catch and penetrate the helmet rather than deflecting them. Because of these defects, the Portuguese M16 has the distinction of being the worst helmet of the First World War."
From my understanding, there were subtle differences between British private purchase and Portuguese issued helmets. Namely, the ventilation holes. Lock and Son Military Historians on Facebook put it nicely, "One small detail that seems fairly consistent is the vent holes on the British officer's used versions are smaller and has an eyelet fitted through the steel and then through the liner yet on the Portuguese issued versions it is just fitted to the steel and most importantly quite a bit bigger"
Mine too has the smaller ventilation holes with the eyelet as seen in the British examples. Most of these helmets were reworked after the war for use by the Portuguese Civil Defense and are rare to find in their original, unaltered state.
Regardless of it's efficacy, it is still a fun reminder of the struggles in equipping troops early on in the war and sits proudly in my First World War helmet display.
Cheers,
Alex
For further reading:
Sources:
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=4723112594442970&set=pcb.4723113404442889
(https://maplecreekmilitaria.com/2022/04/02/portuguese-m16/)
steel helmet MKI (Portuguese)
helmetbasin-shaped steel helmet with a fluted crown and leather liner.
