Wurt Arty With History

pickelhauben

pickelhauben

Well-known member
Hey Guys ,

I won this on ebay and would like to know what you think .

I can fix it up because I have the parts .

In back there seems to be a bullet hole right next to were the spine should be ( shutterless ) and I am thinking that just could be blood in the back.

Should I repair this bullet hole or keep as is ?

Is this a little to morbid of a helmet to keep in the collection ?

I am fine with it but will not tell the wife . She would not allow it in
" her " house.

What say you all ?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-WW1-EM-German-Wurttemberg-Artillery-Pickelhaube-Helmet-/122266056338?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&nma=true&si=y0k4VsSpaW73gU4qCis7g15CRT4%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I am pretty sure I have other pieces that have the same kind of history in my collection.

If only they could talk , or maybe it is better that they do not.
 
I'd keep the hole. Just as a conversation piece if nothing else. I was owned a German M'16 steel helmet that had the back ripped open from shrapnel, it had a US signal corp tag identifying where and when the helmet was found and that the wearer was killed.
 
If it is a bullet hole, it looks as if it hit the outside of the helmet at an extreme angle (as above or below), then perhaps took off the spine of the helmet. Otherwise, if the angle were lower and it penetrated the helmet, there would be an hole somewhere where it either entered or exited. The spotting on the helmet liner doesn't carry onto the top of the dome, so I doubt that anybody was 'in this thing' when it was shot.
Remember too, that Uncle Udell might have taken a pot shot at the helmet in the 1920's or something, so it might not be combat inflicted. On the other hand, it could be that somebody just cut the hole as well.
I've had two battle damaged M16 steel helmets. In one, the bullet holes showed evidence of entering, turning, then exiting at an angle, leaving an oblong hole. The liner was also deep brown except for a few spots of natural leather. The other was struck by shrapnel after it was laying on the ground (picked up by a local soldier after the 2nd Battle of the Marne). ... so the poor guy was probably killed, the helmet came off and was then damaged by an air burst.
Just a few things to consider. :)

:D Ron
 
Well I got in the Wurt arty and it seems that the rear hole is the hole that was caused by the rear spine's internal washer being pulled out .

It looks to be a private purchase helmet because the main skull is thin leather with a stiched split up the back just like an Officer's.

This will be a fun rebuild when I have the time.

I presently have the dome shell in traction trying to pull the shrunken dome back into shape.
 
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