Lost Skeleton
Well-known member
My "latest find" is a leather Württemberg Landwehr/Reserve officer helmet conforming to the design specified by the neuen Uniformen AKO in 1915. For infantry officers, this would be a helmet worn in the field, sans spike, with a cover and leather chinstrap.
However, because the 1915 helmet was also conceived to be worn in peacetime, it was designed to be convertible. Henceforward, the spike, or artillery Kugel, would utilize the same attachment system developed for M15 Mannschaften helmets, and the Knopf 91 would be employed as the universal mounting for chinstraps and chinscales.
Additional reading on the M15 helmet is available through the references by Herrmann (Militärische Kopfbedeckungen der Kaiserzeit; page 40), Kraus (The German Army; page 37), and Larcade (Casques à Pointe, Tome I; pages 116 - 118).
While examining the Württemberg, some unusual distinctions emerged. For example, the "textbook" M15 officer 55 mm Kokarde would feature a 19 mm hole:
However, these specific 55 mm Kokarden are permanently attached by the Knopf 91 (the Knopf base measures the "standard" 18 mm).
This configuration implies a Kokarde with three holes; something I've not encountered previously.
Though fitted with a quality liner, the fore and aft visors are plain leather, a Diensthelm characteristic. By discarding the paper green and red under visor panels, nonessential labor and material could be reduced. Nevertheless, the base of the neck visor was given a dyed edge simulating the customary private purchase trim. Unfortunately, there is no obvious way to ascertain the manufacturer.
Perhaps the biggest surprise is the base diameter of the removable one-piece spike. The ventilated M15 Rast des Bajonettringes measures a massive 30.5 mm, whereas other M15 specimens in my collection measure a uniform 24 mm.
Finally, the chinscales feature a unique design in which the faux/integrated Rosette appears to be soldered to the scale:
For comparison, this left scale from a Prussian infantry M15 features a lower profile single-piece Rosette stamping:
It may be too much to suggest the Württemberg is a prototype or Probe helmet (why Landwehr?), but it does present another wrinkle in the chronicle of Pickelhauben.
Questions or comments are welcome.
Chas.
However, because the 1915 helmet was also conceived to be worn in peacetime, it was designed to be convertible. Henceforward, the spike, or artillery Kugel, would utilize the same attachment system developed for M15 Mannschaften helmets, and the Knopf 91 would be employed as the universal mounting for chinstraps and chinscales.
Additional reading on the M15 helmet is available through the references by Herrmann (Militärische Kopfbedeckungen der Kaiserzeit; page 40), Kraus (The German Army; page 37), and Larcade (Casques à Pointe, Tome I; pages 116 - 118).
While examining the Württemberg, some unusual distinctions emerged. For example, the "textbook" M15 officer 55 mm Kokarde would feature a 19 mm hole:
However, these specific 55 mm Kokarden are permanently attached by the Knopf 91 (the Knopf base measures the "standard" 18 mm).
This configuration implies a Kokarde with three holes; something I've not encountered previously.
Though fitted with a quality liner, the fore and aft visors are plain leather, a Diensthelm characteristic. By discarding the paper green and red under visor panels, nonessential labor and material could be reduced. Nevertheless, the base of the neck visor was given a dyed edge simulating the customary private purchase trim. Unfortunately, there is no obvious way to ascertain the manufacturer.
Perhaps the biggest surprise is the base diameter of the removable one-piece spike. The ventilated M15 Rast des Bajonettringes measures a massive 30.5 mm, whereas other M15 specimens in my collection measure a uniform 24 mm.
Finally, the chinscales feature a unique design in which the faux/integrated Rosette appears to be soldered to the scale:
For comparison, this left scale from a Prussian infantry M15 features a lower profile single-piece Rosette stamping:
It may be too much to suggest the Württemberg is a prototype or Probe helmet (why Landwehr?), but it does present another wrinkle in the chronicle of Pickelhauben.
Questions or comments are welcome.
Chas.
