Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very interesting original Imperial German WWI Prussian officer-quality M1905 Jäger zu Pferde Metalhelm, commonly referred to by collectors as a “lobster-tail” Pickelhaube because of its articulated-looking rear neck guard. The helmet is constructed to a high private-purchase standard and retains its officer’s chinscales, both cockades, leather sweatband and silk skull cap, together with an unusual velvet-lined rear lobster tail. The interior is stamped 60 for size and the leather sweatband bears the Awes-Marke marking associated with A. Werner & Söhne of Berlin.

The Jäger zu Pferde developed from mounted messenger and reconnaissance detachments established during the late 19th century, but by the years immediately preceding WWI they had evolved into fully organized cavalry regiments rather than serving merely as dispatch riders.

The shell of this helmet is very similar to a Saxon Garde Reiter 1st Royal Saxon Guards Heavy Cavalry Officer’s Helmet we recently had, so it may be the same maker. The front visor is stepped, a very unique detail. The spike base has spade end-points with a cross-stamped shaft and a spike that appears to have broken off and was re-attached. It cannot be removed currently and we do not recommend handling the spike. The spike base has two of the original rivets, the other two being loose replacements.

The original officer’s line is marked on the leather sweatband “Awes-Marke” The silk skull cap has some minor tearing as shown. The interior crown is stamped 60 for the size, but there is no maker mark on the shell itself. As mentioned, the interior of the “lobster tail” has a custom velvet lining, a very unique detail. The underside of the front visor has a thin leather backing which is now heavily cracking.

The front silver-plated Dragoon-style wappen features Prussian state eagle clutching a sword and rod, over the King's motto, MIT GOTT FÜR KOENIG UND VATERLAND (With God for King and Country, i.e. Prussia). It is held in place by the standard washers and square nuts on threaded posts. The head of the eagle has broken off of the wappen, but was soldered back on, and looks fine for display.

It has correct officer’s German National Colors (red white and black) kokarden (cockades) on the right side, and the Prussian State Colors (Black/White) placed over the left side, with the correct three-leaf clover post chinscales still attached and connected by the clip in the middle. The majority of the leather backing is retained but the buckle in the middle is gone.

The repaired spike, two replacement spike-base rivets, soldered Wappen head, missing chin scale buckle, and torn silk liner are the principal condition considerations. Against these are the survival of the large size 60 shell, Awes-Marke officer liner, original officer cockades, trefoil-mounted chinscales, silver-colored Prussian eagle Wappen, distinctive stepped visor, and especially unusual velvet-lined lobster tail.

Taken together, these details make this a strong example of a high-grade Prussian Jäger zu Pferde officer’s Metalhelm from the WWI period, combining the distinctive M1905 cavalry form with the refined materials and construction expected of privately purchased officer headgear.