Item:
ONAC23SS007

Original Imperial German WWI Bavarian EM/NCO Infantry M1895 Pickelhaube Spiked Helmet

Item Description

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very good condition Imperial Bavarian line Infantry enlisted man's Mannschaften (other ranks) pickelhaube. The M1895 was the final pre-1914 evolution in a long series of spiked helmets. It displays lovely condition brass Bavarian coat of arms helmet plate and comes complete with supple original leather liner. The spike on top denotes infantry issue and retains correct brass chin strap lugs, cockades, and chin strap.

The helmet features a Bayern Wappen (front plate) with the motto IN TREUE FEST which means “Steadfast in Loyalty”. This was the motto of the Kingdom of Bavaria (1805–1918) and of its Wittelsbach rulers, after the end of World War I used by Bavarian monarchists.

The motto originates as that of the Order of Saint Hubert of the Dukes of Jülich and Berg, rendered in 15th-century Lower Franconian as in traw vast.

The crown of this leather helmet displays a brass vented enlisted spike mount on a brass baseplate. The spike is in excellent condition, and as per the pattern, is fixed and does not rotate. It is complete with the Bayern (blue and white) and German National Colors (red white and black) kokarden (cockades) around the chin strap Lugs.

In 1897 the new Reichs-Kokarde in Red-White-Black was introduced for all ranks to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Kaiser Wilhelm 1st. The Reichs-Kokarde was to be worn on the right side of the helmet, and the state Kokarde was moved to the left.

To improve ventilation, on the Model 1895 issued Pickelhaube the rear spine on helmets worn by Foot Troops was equipped with a vent near the base of the spike which was fitted with a small sliding cover. This sliding cover allowed the user to increase or decrease the flow of ventilation in the helmet according to the weather conditions. This sliding vent appears to have been only utilized on Infantry helmets. Artillery and other troops did not adopt this feature until some time in 1914. The cover on this example is intact and still slides. The spike remained the same as the Model 1887 and the Model 1891, however, the rotating neck was removed.

The soldered bolt and nut system used to secure the front Wappen onto the helmet was changed to a system for retaining Wappen on the front of helmets that had been used as far back as 1845 for Bayern (Bavarian) helmets and 1867 for Sachsen (Saxon) helmets. A soldered loop was affixed to the back of the Wappen which passed through corresponding grommetted holes on the front of the helmet. A leather wedge was then passed through the loop on the interior to keep the Wappen in place. Both Leather wedges are still present.

The lacquer finished leather is in very good condition having no serious issues, just the usual cracking and finish crazing due to age. There is also definitely some level of leather shrinkage due to age, which is why some fittings are somewhat loose. The interior features a nice original leather liner, with the expected wear from age. The chin strap is intact and retains almost all of the finish with cracking present. It has the correct brass buckles.

The front leather visor has brass trim in good condition but “wavy” in appearance, and the metal spine that descends from the spike's baseplate to the edge of the rear visor is also in good condition but does have waving and a bend present.

Overall a very nice condition Imperial Prussian pickelhaube, a great addition to any collection. Ready to display!

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