Original Item: Only One Available. This is a good original Imperial German WWI Prussian M1915 Jäger zu Pferde enlisted Metalhelm, commonly called a “lobster tail” Pickelhaube for its extended rear neck guard. Manufactured by the well-known firm C.E. Juncker and dated 1916, the helmet is a size 55 and retains its blackened steel shell, Prussian eagle Wappen, removable spike, characteristic cloverleaf style spike base, and original leather liner. The chinstrap and both cockades are reproductions, while the spike and front plate were painted silver at some point in the past.

The Jäger zu Pferde, literally “Hunters on Horseback,” were a branch of Prussian cavalry established beginning in 1901. They were intended primarily for light cavalry duties such as reconnaissance, screening, security, and mounted combat, although the changing nature of WWI increasingly forced cavalry units to operate dismounted. They should not be translated simply as “mounted dispatch riders,” although messenger and orderly duties could certainly fall within the broader range of cavalry service.

The distinctive metal helmet worn by the Jäger zu Pferde was related to the metal helmets of the Kürassier heavy cavalry but differed in several important details. The Jäger zu Pferde helmet used a blackened steel shell with its extended rear neck guard and characteristic spike base, giving it an immediately recognizable appearance among Imperial German cavalry headgear.

The M1915 was the last model of Pickelhaube issued. In accordance with the 1915 regulations these helmets would no longer use brass, silver, or Tombak as previous models did. All issued Pickelhaube would now use gray oxidized steel fittings for all Regiments, where previously the dispatch rider fittings had varied based on the regiment. Also, this last revision of the Dispatch Rider helmet replaced the usual chin scale chin strap with the standard M91 leather chin strap, and it would now have the standard removable spike, held on with a "bayonet" style attachment.

This pickelhaube has a basic three-piece construction: helmet, visor and extended rear protective neck guard. It is fabricated from blackened stamped manganese steel, which is the distinctive black mounted dispatch rider finish. The helmet is topped by a removable spike with four ventilation holes and a spike mounting base in the distinctive "cloverleaf" shape used by the dispatch riders, which is held in place by four large capped rivets, all of which remain though two are loose. The front comes with a visor designed with a turned-up lip, held in place by large capped rivets on either end.

This helmet features a steel pattern steel frontplate (wappen). The rear neck guard protrudes outwards, away from the body in the traditional "lobster tail" design, held in place with large capped rivets just inside the outer edge and one smaller central rivet at the rear neck line. The entire outer edge is trimmed in a rolled-around steel band, including the visor and neck guard, protecting the wearer from the raw steel edges of the helmet itself. It is size stamped 55 on the steel rim on the underside of the neck guard, along with being maker stamped and dated C.E. JUNCKER / 1916 on the inside of the dome, around the vent hole.

The front Dragoon-style wappen features the Prussian state eagle clutching a sword and rod, over the King's motto, MIT GOTT FÜR KOENIG UND VATERLAND (With God for King and Country, i.e. Prussia). The plate and spike appear to have been painted with silver paint a very long time ago.

The interior leather liner is present but in a rather delicate state. There is a reproduction chinstrap fitted, and reproduction Prussian (Black and White) and German National (Red, White, and Black) cockades on the lugs, giving the helmet a complete look.

Condition overall is good and clearly service used. The original steel shell remains substantially intact, with its extended rear guard, rolled edge, visor, capped rivets, original liner, Prussian front plate, removable spike assembly, C.E. JUNCKER / 1916 marking, and size 55 stamp all retained. The principal condition and originality issues are the delicate liner, looseness to two spike-base rivets, old silver paint on the spike and Wappen, and the reproduction chinstrap and cockades.

The M1915 Jäger zu Pferde Metalhelm represents one of the most distinctive final developments of Imperial German cavalry headgear before the Stahlhelm increasingly displaced traditional Pickelhauben in front-line service. This example would make a strong addition to a collection focused on Imperial German cavalry, Jäger zu Pferde regiments, C.E. Juncker, or the transition from traditional cavalry helmets to steel combat headgear during WWI.