Original Item: Only One Available. This is a great condition rare Imperial German Line Infantry enlisted man's Mannschaften (other ranks or EM / NCO) pickelhaube, as issued in the Königreich Sachsen (Kingdom of Saxony). The M1915 was the last model of Pickelhaube issued prior to the move to 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. As with previous versions, the body was constructed from boiled leather, which was shaped and lacquered black. This example was manufactured by Müller & Sprung of Dresden and then depot-fitted and stamped at the XII Armee-Korps Depot in Dresden.

This helmet features an oxide plated steel frontplate (wappen), and the crown of this leather helmet displays a vented enlisted removable spike mounted on a steel baseplate. There is also a small adjustable vent on the spine that supports the rear skirt, only seen on the enlisted helmets, which still moves.

The wappen (front plate) features an 8 rayed star, on top of which is the coat of arms of the Kingdom of Sachsen (Saxony), which is surrounded by laurel leaves and topped by a King's Crown. It is held in place by the standard leather wedges on the inside of the shell, both are still present.

Both the Saxon (green and white) and the German National Colors (red white and black) kokarden (cockades) are both retained around the chin strap lugs. They are the correct scarce smooth rounded style of cockades used exclusively by Saxony, incredibly rare to find period-attached to a helmet. 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 they are on this helmet. The Attached chin strap is complete, and in great shape for its age with crazing.

The interior features a very worn original leather liner, which does show moderate use, but is still solid with all tongues and the original drawstring still strung between them all. The interior crown retains several markings, including a stamped size, 55 ½, and a stamped year of manufacture, 1915. Next to this is a boxed stamped maker’s mark, reading:

Müller & Sprung
Dresden

Stamped on the underside of the rear visor is B.A.XII.16., which denotes depot fitting and issue at the XII Armee-Korps Depot in Dresden. This puts together a great story for this helmet, being made by a contractor in Dresden and ending up at the Dresden depot, issued near the end of the pickelhaube’s service life. As a result it is in outstanding condition and is one of the greatest and most untouched Saxon pickelhaubes we have offered.

The exterior body has some crazing of age but no major deformation. The front visor trim is a bit loose from leather shrinkage but is still solid.

What makes this example especially desirable is the amount of original material that survives together. The Müller & Sprung / Dresden maker stamp, 1915 manufacturing date, B.A.XII.16 depot marking, Saxon steel Wappen, removable spike, functional rear ventilation fitting, complete chinstrap, both state and Reich cockades, and full leather liner with original drawstring form an unusually complete mid-war Saxon infantry helmet. Its moderate liner wear and crazing to the chinstrap are appropriate signs of age and use, while the shell and fittings remain exceptionally strong. It would be an excellent addition to a collection focused on the Kingdom of Saxony, Imperial German infantry equipment, M1915 Pickelhauben, or the transition from leather helmets to the Stahlhelm during WWI.