Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice Imperial German WWI Grand Duchy of Baden M1915 Infantry Mannschaften Pickelhaube, retaining its correct Baden Wappen, Baden and Reich cockades, original enlisted leather liner, oxidized steel fittings, and B.A.XIV clothing depot marking. The helmet is a size 55 and remains in very good overall condition for a service helmet more than a century old. Particularly attractive is the strong shadow preserved behind the front plate, showing how the surrounding shell finish aged while protected beneath the Wappen. The removable spike is a later replacement and the chinstrap is a reproduction, both of which are fully disclosed.

The M1915 was the final principal wartime development of the traditional leather Pickelhaube before the German Army's transition to steel helmets. In place of the bright brass, nickel silver, and Tombak fittings encountered on earlier patterns, enlisted M1915 helmets generally employed subdued gray oxidized steel fittings. The removable spike was another important wartime feature, allowing it to be detached when required in field service.

This helmet features a oxidized steel frontplate (wappen) with the Crowned Heraldic Griffin clutching a sword and resting on the Baden state shield. Below this is the Grand Duchy's motto: MIT GOTT F. FUERST U. VATERLAND (With God for Prince, or Grand Duke, and Fatherland). The crown of this leather helmet displays a vented enlisted removable spike mount on an oxidized steel baseplate. The spike is a later replacement and is now nearly seized to the baseplate, and we could not remove it. The color is also a bit different. It should be noted that the pieces of leather that attach the wappen to the helmet are still used, and intact. There is a great well-defined shadow of age behind it.

It also has the correct "vent" on the rear support spine of the helmet, though it is now seized and will not move.

The helmet is complete with the Baden (Yellow and Red) and German National Colors (red white and black) 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, as on this helmet.

The leather chinstrap on the helmet is a later-added reproduction but is a good representative example and fits the helmet well.

The interior features the original leather liner, which is in great but stiff condition, with all fingers intact along with the tie string. The helmet is stamped on the interior crown with 55, the size, and a depot stamp:

B.A.X.I.V.

This stamp denotes fitting and issue at the XIV Armee-Korps (Baden-Baden), correct for a Baden helmet.

The black leather shell shows minor age crazing and wear. The lacquer finished leather is in very good condition having no serious issues, except on the rear visor. All metal pieces are in good shape with some stiffness. The front leather visor has oxidized steel trim in very good condition but it is loose due to leather shrinkage. The metal spine that descends from the spike's baseplate to the edge of the rear visor is also in very good condition though it is oxidized at the end. There is also some scattered oxidation across the interior.

Despite the later replacement spike and reproduction chinstrap, the helmet retains the components that establish its historical character, particularly the original shell, Baden Wappen with age shadow beneath it, both cockades, original liner, oxidized steel trim and spine, and XIV Army Corps depot marking. The honest age crazing, stiff liner, seized ventilation fitting, loose visor trim, and scattered oxidation are all important condition considerations, but the helmet remains a strong example for a collection focused on the Grand Duchy of Baden, Imperial German infantry equipment, or the transition from the Pickelhaube to the Stahlhelm during WWI.