Wurtembhesse
- Thread starter 911car
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joerookery
Well-known member
Good catch Bruno :bravo: Maybe you can ask this guy if I can have a copy of his maker's Mark for our list? The 1918 date and the regimental Mark are interesting together. You have to wonder how many holes are in the top of this one. This is exactly the kind of error that many collectors make before they learn. Thank you for posting this.
poniatowski
Well-known member
I wonder, perhaps, if the maker mark and date might even be a 'rework' mark? The holes plugged under the plate look to be original and perhaps this helmet was legitimately marked for Wurt. then reworked with Hessen hardware (?).
Ron
Ron
The repairs are period as I have seen this before...round leather plugs are glued in the holes then thin leather backing patches are glued in behind. Usually these are cut round, in this case there is only one left, you can see though that a piece of liner has been used. On the outside finish is applied over the plug. In another case that I have seen, they used black steel split brads with flat heads to fill the old holes.
joerookery
Well-known member
it even has a BJA Mark.
But no matter what you do you will always have to explain repairs and why it switched Army Corp. Could you come up with an explanation? How convinced would everyone be?
poniatowski
Well-known member
Joe, I wonder if it was possible for Corps to 'swap' equipment that was policed from battlefields or turned in as unserviceable? For example, Corps A picks up a thousand helmets from the field, while Corps B picks up five hundred. Each needs around seven hundred reconditioned for re-issue. Would Corps A give some to B?
Sounds like a math problem doesn't it? "If Corps A has 1,000 helmets.... "
Seriously though, would they do such a thing? Another thought is that once the Pickelhaube was replaced by the Stahlhelm, might the turn-in and reconditioning be even more widespread? I know from my experience that items are swapped from unit to unit. When we were in Iraq, we were a guard unit with the special forces and their supply overlapped ours.
Just some questions that probably don't have any answers any more.
Ron
Sounds like a math problem doesn't it? "If Corps A has 1,000 helmets.... "
Seriously though, would they do such a thing? Another thought is that once the Pickelhaube was replaced by the Stahlhelm, might the turn-in and reconditioning be even more widespread? I know from my experience that items are swapped from unit to unit. When we were in Iraq, we were a guard unit with the special forces and their supply overlapped ours.
Just some questions that probably don't have any answers any more.
Ron
joerookery
Well-known member
Yes it certainly was possible. I don't know that they would swap as much as they would sell but all of that is possible. So at best you have to explain a helmet which is okay only if certain possibilities lineup. Not for me.
poniatowski
Well-known member
joerookery said:
Not bidding either, but just wondering. Still waiting for my rich uncle to get out of the poor house. :-k If the Hessen spike was on it, then that might be different for a lot of people. Similar to the Hessen M15 that's been on ebay for a long time with a standard Prussian et al spike.
Ron
If you are going to spend money, it is always better to buy something which is totally legit and requires no explanations. We are all going to have to look at resale of these items down life's road so save yourself some grief and avoid buying things that are not quite right. Years ago when I first started collecting dealers would explain problems away by saying well the guy switched regiments so this explains why the markings do not match the wappen. All kinds of "stories and fairy tales".
poniatowski
Well-known member
b.loree said:
I agree 100%. Unless one doesn't care about resale value, it's worth waiting, watching and even spending a little extra to get a good, honest piece. One will be much happier with the investment in the long run. However, you have to admit, those stories are fun to listen to... especially when there's no supporting paperwork or evidence. :wink:
Now that there are so many good resources 'out there' to reference and confirm markings, wappen and such, there's really no reason for anybody other than a novice (we've all been there too!) to invest in questionable pieces.
Ron