Original Item: Only One Available. This very interesting helmet began life as an M1895 Imperial Prussian 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 Prussian spread eagle helmet plate (Wappen), and the spike on top denotes infantry issue and retains correct brass chinstrap lugs and rear vent on the strap.

However, at some point it had an 8 pointed star and the coat of arms of the Kingdom of Sachsen (Saxony) attached to the center of the wappen. It also now has officer style curved brass chin scales, so we believe that it was pressed into service during WWI, most likely in the rear echelon troops of Saxony, for an officer. At some time after that it was captured and the liner lost, though there is now a lot of writing on the inside of the helmet, including FAUCHEX and ANGERS, which are a French surname and City, possibly the name and hometown of the French Soldier who brought this helmet back from the front. There are also some markings on the back visor, including what looks to be a J.R. 79 regimental marking, but it is not clear.

This helmet features a lovely gold-colored alloy frontplate (wappen) with the Prussian state eagle clutching a scepter and crown, over the King's motto, MIT GOTT FÜR KOENIG UND VATERLAND (With God for King and Country, i.e. Prussia). The Preußen issued Wappen in 1895 were intended to be made out of Tombak (an alloy made from a combination of copper and zinc) but it seems that the copper-color was unpopular and they were soon replaced with Aluminiumbronze which has a very bright brass appearance. Attached in the center of this is an 8 pointed star and the Coat of Arms of the Kingdom of Saxony in what looks to be Nickel Silver alloy.

The crown of this leather helmet displays a brass vented enlisted spike mount on an brass baseplate. The spike is in excellent condition, and as per the pattern, is fixed and does no rotate.  It is complete with 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. There is no State kokarde, and the Reichs-Kokarde on this helmet is on the left side.

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 slides easily. 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. This example does not have the leather wedges intact, and the loops have been bent into place to keep the helmet plate attached.

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 the some fittings are somewhat loose. However, both the front and rear visor are still attached, with intact stitching, which is quite a rarity. The attached chin scales are in good condition, though the leather backing is rotted out somewhat, and wire has been used to stabilize them.