Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very good condition Imperial Prussian Artillery enlisted man's Mannschaften (other ranks) pickelhaube, which has a very interesting history! On this version of the Pickelhaube, a ball representing a cannon ball replaced the usual spike, leading this to be referred to as an Artillerie Kugelhelm (Artillery Ball-Top Helm). The M1895 was the final pre-1914 evolution in a long series of pickelhaube helmets. It displays a lovely condition brass Prussian spread eagle helmet plate and retains the original leather liner, but it is missing the chinstrap, long with both the Prussian and National Cockades. A good restoration project. The helmet retains the correct all brass alloy fittings, which still show some of the original gilding.

This example is unit-marked to Feld-Artillerie-Regiment Nr. 44, which saw action on both the Western and Eastern Fronts of the First World War, a rarity!

This helmet features a lovely alloy frontplate (wappen) with the Prussian state eagle clutching a scepter and crown, over the King's motto, MIT GOTT FÜR KOENIG UND VATERLAND (With God for King and Country, i.e. Prussia). The Preußen issued Wappen in 1895 were intended to be made out of Tombak (an alloy made from a combination of copper and zinc) but it seems that the copper-color was unpopular and they were soon replaced with Aluminiumbronze which has a very bright brass appearance. It still retains both leather wedges on the interior.

The helmet is missing both the national and state cockades, and the chinstrap as well. The helmet has very heavy wear with heavy cracking and crazing to the leather finish. The shape of the helmet has worn heavily with some sinking and cracking present.

The leather lining retains all of its original tongues which are in fair condition with crazing. The rear visor is stamped:

F.A.R. 44
1916

This denotes Feld-Artillerie-Regiment Nr. 44 use from 1916, a great research project.

Ready for further research and display.

Feld-Artillerie-Regiment Nr. 44 was raised in 1899 garrisoned in the city of Trier. In 1914, it was part of the IX Army Corps, which was composed primarily of troops from the provinces of Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg. The 44th Field Artillery was part of the 18th Division's artillery. In 1914, the 44th took part in the opening campaigns on the Western Front. It was transferred to the Eastern Front and participated in the Gorlice-Tarnów Offensive and the invasion of Serbia. The regiment was sent back to the Western Front and fought at the Battle of Verdun and the Battle of the Somme. The regiment saw action during the Battle of Passchendaele. The 44th Field Artillery fought in various sectors on the Western Front for the remainder of the war, ending the conflict in the Antwerp/Meuse area.