Unusual M91 Posts

b.loree

b.loree

Administrator
Staff member
Some time ago we had a brief discussion about these "different" M91 posts. I think I claimed at the time to never having seen them before. It turns out though that while rummaging through some helmet shells that had been packed away, I found these on a piece in the box. I have included a normal post as a comparison and there is also one pic of the scrapper shell that they both came from.
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The scrapper shell shown is marked G R F 2 on the rear visor. Unfortunately, it has passed through some unskilled hands who tried some refinishing.
 
Were the posts with wide tabs on Bavarian helmets?
I've seen that style on a Bavarian helmet with a square visor and cruciform spikebase (not sure if it was artillery or mounted troops, though, as it was in very rough shape and no stamps were visible).
 
I have never seen these wide tabs on any Bavarian helmet. What I have seen which is unique to Bavarian OR's helmets is the normal style of side post BUT with only one thin prong instead of the normal 2 prongs. I have never seen the one prong side post used on any other state helmets except Bavaria. I do not have a Bavarian OR helme at the moment, perhaps one of our members could post an inside shot showing the one prong type of M91 post on a Bavarian.
 
Just had an email from Tony Schnurr. These are found on the ersatz tin OR hauben usually. I checked the Prussian one in my collection (black with brass fittings) and it does have these. Both mine and Tony's are kit helmets that we have discussed before. I also checked a feldgrau lathe spun helme in my collection. Its side posts have no prongs just the central post with tabs bent over a felt ring which runs around the inside of the shell. I will post pics after Christmas.
 
This style side lug is also found on Bavarian pre war issue helmets. The following helmet is unit marked to the 6th Field Artillery regiment and dated 1914. The helmet was made by Hans Roemer , Neu Ulm in 1910. The same style lugs are also found in private purchase shakos and 1915 style private purchase helmets.

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Excellent as always R1, that clears things up nicely! Any information on the Bavarian one prong M91 issue? Just to clarify, for anyone reading this, if we look at a normal M91 as seen in my first picture, there are 2 vertical prongs and a central post with tabs. To fasten the post, the prongs and central post are put through holes in the side of the shell and a tin disc is then put over them. Lastly, the 2 prongs and the post tabs are bent over thus securing the M91 to the shell. In many Bavarian OR's helmets that I have handled, there is only one prong not two. I am just wondering, if this was a universal characteristic of the issued Bavarian enlisted haube?
 
The side lug with single prong is not unique to Bavarian helmets. They are most frequently found on early production M91 helmets. The following Grenadier Regiment 1 helmet was originally issued in 1897. This helmet has side lugs with the single prong.

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