Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original Imperial German Prussian M1915 Artillery Kugelhelm, the enlisted artillery version of the Pickelhaube distinguished by its removable ball top in place of the conventional spike. The helmet is dated 1916 and retains its Prussian Wappen, removable Kugel, steel trim, cockades, and much of its original liner, but the leather shell has suffered severe deterioration. The crown is actively collapsing from dry rot, the rear visor is heavily weakened, and the entire helmet should be regarded as an extremely fragile display artifact.

The M1915 was the last model of Pickelhaube issued prior to the move to all steel helmets. In accordance with the 1915 regulations these helmets would no longer use brass, silver, or Tombak as the M1895 did. All issued Pickelhaube would now use grey oxidized steel fittings for all Regiments.

This Helmet features a oxidized steel 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 wappen is secured via the original leather thongs on the reverse, just as issued, but due to the leather deterioration, they are now pulling through and the wappen is a bit loose as a result. The crown of this leather helmet displays a vented enlisted removable ball (kugel) mounted on an oxidized steel baseplate. The ball is in good condition, and is removable using the "bayonet-style" attaching system, but the spike base underneath is oxidized so it requires some force to remove. The front leather visor has oxidized steel trim in very good condition. The metal spine that descends from the spike's baseplate to the edge of the rear visor is a bit dented from the heavy leather degradation.

It is complete with the Prussian (black and white) and German National Colors (red white and black) kokarden (cockades) around the chin strap lugs. The attached chinstrap is a reproduction example and looks fine on the helmet.

The interior features a now-weak leather liner which is cracking and very stiff. The interior crown shows heavy dry rot with the crown sinking as a result. The interior crown has an S.W. in a circle maker mark, but no size mark could be found. The weak rear visor has a very faint depot stamp over the date, 1916, but the depot stamp is too faded to read properly.

The black leather shell now shows deterioration at the crown, with crazing in other spots. The rear of the helmet has very heavy dry rot damage and is now very stiff. Please exercise extreme caution when handling this helmet in any way.

Condition overall is poor and heavily degraded, with severe dry rot, crown collapse, a weakened rear visor, stiff and cracked liner, looseness to the Wappen, and a reproduction chinstrap.

The helmet nevertheless retains important original M1915 artillery components, including its oxidized steel Prussian Wappen, removable Kugel, steel visor trim, rear spine, cockades, liner, 1916 marking, and circular S.W. stamp.

As a surviving 1916-dated Prussian M1915 artillery Kugelhelm, it remains historically worthwhile, but its significance now lies as much in preservation as display. Any conservation should be undertaken conservatively by someone experienced with severely degraded historic leather rather than through aggressive reshaping or ordinary restoration.