Original Item: Only One Available. This is a highly evocative original Imperial German WWI M1915 Prussian enlisted man’s Pickelhaube with the untouched, service-worn appearance many collectors prefer. It retains its original black-lacquered leather shell, gray steel Prussian eagle Wappen, removable enlisted spike, rear spine, and original leather liner. Although incomplete and showing considerable age, it remains an appealing and affordable example of the final wartime Pickelhaube pattern and offers excellent display and restoration potential.

The M1915 represented the last major version of the traditional German spiked helmet before the widespread introduction of the steel Stahlhelm. Wartime material shortages and the need to reduce visibility led to the replacement of the bright brass, Tombak, and silver-colored fittings used on earlier helmets with subdued gray oxidized steel. This distinctive combination of a black leather body and gray metal fittings gives the M1915 its unmistakable late-war appearance.

The helmet retains its original gray steel Prussian front plate, or Wappen, depicting the crowned Prussian eagle clutching a scepter and orb. Across the eagle is the traditional royal motto:

MIT GOTT FÜR KOENIG UND VATERLAND

Meaning “With God for King and Fatherland.”

The Wappen is secured through the original holes with leather retaining wedges and appears to have remained with this helmet throughout its service life. This is an important feature, as loose and replaced front plates are frequently encountered on surviving Pickelhauben.

The crown retains a vented enlisted spike mounted on a gray steel baseplate. The spike remains removable, although it is tight and should not be repeatedly forced. The finish of the spike differs somewhat from the baseplate, suggesting that the components may have been matched together during the helmet’s long service life.

Of particular interest, the metal reinforcement plate normally mounted inside the crown is positioned externally beneath the spike base. This unusual arrangement may represent a period field, depot, or unit-level repair. While the exact date of the alteration cannot be determined, it adds considerable character and reflects the practical reuse and maintenance of military equipment during wartime.

The rear spine and enlisted ventilation fitting remain present. The vent is heavily oxidized and currently seized, but the complete spine assembly gives the helmet a substantially intact profile when displayed.

The black-lacquered boiled-leather shell has retained its overall form very well. There is expected age crazing to the crown, with heavier cracking and wear to the rear visor. The lower edge of the rear visor is somewhat raw, but the helmet has not collapsed and still presents the classic Pickelhaube silhouette.

The original leather liner remains inside, an increasingly important feature on helmets in this price range. It is heavily dry and worn, with cracking, tearing, and separation along the folds, but enough survives to preserve the helmet’s authentic and untouched interior appearance. Careful handling is recommended.

A faint maker’s stamp is visible inside the crown between the Wappen mounting holes. The manufacturer’s name is no longer clearly legible, and the location appears to read something similar to: HEINZ

This reading is uncertain and deserves further examination under angled lighting. A faint handwritten name also appears beneath the front visor, providing another intriguing avenue for research.

The helmet is missing both cockades and its chinstrap. These are commonly available restoration components, making this a strong candidate for a sympathetic display restoration. Many collectors will also appreciate it exactly as it survives, with its honest wear and wartime character intact.

Condition is fair but highly presentable. The helmet retains the major components that give an M1915 Pickelhaube its visual and historical identity, including the original leather body, Prussian Wappen, removable spike assembly, rear spine, and surviving liner. The missing cockades and chinstrap, oxidation, liner wear, and unusual spike-base arrangement are all clearly shown in the photographs.

This is a genuine and visually compelling survivor of the Imperial German Army’s final Pickelhaube pattern. Its original Prussian eagle, surviving liner, wartime gray fittings, unusual repair, faint maker’s stamp, and possible owner’s name make it far more interesting than a newly assembled display helmet. It would be an excellent choice for a collector seeking an authentic WWI Prussian helmet with strong character, restoration possibilities, and an approachable entry point into original Imperial German headgear.