Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very good condition Prussian Landwehr Reserve line Infantry enlisted man's Mannschaften (other ranks) pickelhaube. The features introduced in 1887 proved to be completely unsatisfactory; the front visors were easily damaged without the leather trim and the loop and hook system used to hold on the leather chinstrap resulted in chinstraps being lost. An AKO of 08 January 1891 introduced a new model of Pickelhaube which attempted to address these shortcomings. The brass front visor trim was reintroduced and a new and ingenious system of securing the chinstrap was introduced.

The leather chinstrap was changed to a double buckle and the end of the strap was fitted with a brass loop with a cut "V". The chinstrap loop was designed to fit onto the corresponding post, keeping it secure but allowing easy removal. M1891 helmets were often converted from the failed M1887 helmets, so they retained the domed appearance and weight from the heavy gauge of leather. The eagle Wappen was also reduced in size to 115mm and obtained a more refined shape. For the first time, the gap between the wings and the legs was now voided. Like its predecessors, the M1891 utilized threaded bolts on the reverse to secure it to the helmet shell, but not on this example. The final modification was the introduction of a new 48mm Kokarde with a large center hole to fit the M91 chinstrap posts.

This helmet features a brass alloy frontplate (wappen), with a silver landwehr Iron Cross fitted into a recess in the chest of the eagle. There is also the small adjustable vent on the spine that supports the rear skirt, only seen on the enlisted helmets. All fittings on the helmet are matching brass.

The front wappen features a Prussian state eagle clutching a scepter and crown. There is a large "Iron Cross" emblem on the breast of the eagle, which is marked in very small text with the Kingdom of Prussia's Motto:

Mit Gott
Für König und Vaterland
1813

This translates to "With God for King and Country," i.e. Prussia, over the year 1813, when King Frederick William III of Prussia established the Iron Cross award. It is held in place by the earlier threaded bolt system with is using a leather square to retain only one of the threaded posts.

The crown of this leather helmet displays a brass vented enlisted spike mount on a brass baseplate. The spike is in excellent condition, and as per the pattern, is fixed and does not rotate. It is missing both the cockades as well as the chinstrap.

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 some fittings are somewhat loose. The interior features a nice original leather liner, with the expected wear from age.

The front leather visor has brass trim in good condition, and the metal spine that descends from the spike's baseplate to the edge of the rear visor is also in good condition.

Overall a very nice condition pickelhaube, a great addition to any collection. Ready to display!