Original Item: Only One Available. Here we have a well-worn Imperial German Saxon Hussar's Busby or Pelzmütze (Fur Cap), intended for EM/NCO's or Mannschaften "Other Ranks" soldiers of Königl. Sachs Husaren-Regiment Nr 19 or the 2nd Royal Saxon Hussar Regiment No. 19 "Queen Carola". Busby is of course the English name for the Hungarian prémes csákó ("fur shako") or kucsma, a military head-dress made of fur, originally worn by Hungarian hussars. In its original Hungarian form the busby was a cylindrical fur cap, having a bag of colored cloth hanging from the top. The end of this bag was attached to the right shoulder as a defense against sabre cuts.

The exterior is covered in dark fur over a rigid body. The fur shows its considerable age, with heavy tearing, areas of separation, and substantial fur loss, but enough remains to preserve the characteristic appearance of a German hussar Pelzmütze. At the top is the regiment’s crimson-red cloth Kolpak, or bag, which falls down the side of the cap and shows staining, age, and wear.

After this time the size and design were scaled down, and they became much more for looks than for actual protection. This example is very similar to the British Busby used by Hussars, but is definitely German. The exterior bearskin wrap shows it's 100+ year age with some heavy tearing of the exterior material and loss of fur, and the helmet comes with its red slouch bag hanging over the left ear and a Saxon green & white cockade to the front.

A fully-intact knotted white & brown wool cord descends from the back right side of the crown and similarly hangs over the side walls. Pinned onto the peak is an insignia consisting of a gilded bronze eight-pointed radiant star, overlaid by a silvered Saxon coat of arms, itself set within an oval laurel leaf wreath, and topped by a royal crown.

The busby is flanked on each side by a gilded bronze stud which retains a two-piece chinstrap consisting of a black leather base topped by gilded bronze scales which taper in width from the rivets to the centre, where the straps fasten together with a functional clip, though the leather backing strap is what is keeping the two halves in their current position. Behind the right mount is a red, white, and black national colors cockade. The other side has no cockade as the white and green Saxon cockade is to the front of this busby.

The interior has a heavily worn leather liner with a silk/satin interior lining that is now heavily torn away from the sweatband. Behind this is the hard pasteboard body. As mentioned the body’s exterior has some heavy tearing as shown with heavy loss of fur.

This is an especially interesting surviving example of Royal Saxon Hussar Regiment No. 19 headgear from the Queen Carola period, combining the regiment’s crimson Kolpak and distinctive Saxon star-and-arms device with surviving chinscales, state and national insignia, and internal fittings. The combination of higher-quality metalwork with other-ranks-style elements also raises the possibility of a privately purchased example, potentially associated with an NCO or one-year volunteer.