Pickelhaube value?

[Steve in Florida]

I need this like a hole in the head, but just like I finally gave in to the Japanese sword sirens, I found a pickelhaube locally that is calling to me. Steeeeve, buy meeeeee.

It is black leather with dull silver features. It looks to be enlisted. Eagle on front with some sort of slogan about the Vaterland. Liner is beautiful 9 fingers with no cord. Size 53 and maker/date stamp inside. Forget the maker's name, but it is made in Berlin dated 1916 in a circle. Appears to be complete except missing chinstrap and side cockades (if it had cockades ever). It looks original. Some crinkling and crazing on spots of the leather, but overall in very good to excellent condition.

Were these reproed in decent detail? and is $225 too much to pay for a nice representative piece? Thanks!

[Frentebro]

Price seems in the right range. I would have someone who knows them to look at it. Der Truppensattler makes marked fakes, & they & other firms also copy parts. You may be able to locate an original strap & cockades, or replace them with copies. The standard Prssian motto means "With God for King & Fatherland".

[Steve in Florida]

Thanks. What do you mean by "marked fakes"? Do you have a website for any of these?

[Mike H.]

www.dertruppensattler.de

http://pickelhaubes.com

www.kaisersbunker.com

[Steve in Florida]

Thanks!

Right after I posted my response, I did a search and found oodles of sites including the last two you listed. I've got a lot of looking/ reading/ absorbing to do. I feel good about this helmet's originality. It's a Prussian EM. Just need to find some original cockades and a chin strap (although it looks pretty cool as is) Ooh, an artillery Luger would look neat with it
Thanks again!

I see that Helmut Weitze has a bunch of them on his site. He has one identical to the one I'm looking at (except his has chinstrap, both cockades and the original tag!!!!). He's got 1025 Euros ($896 US) on his, so I reckon the one I'm looking at is worth $225.

[Frentebro]

By "marked fakes", i mean they brag about them having authentic period markings - not exactly crucial for reenacting, altho the hardcores will always say that repos have to be as original as can be in order to get the authentic "period" experience...i don't know if collectors & reenactors can ever find common ground on this. If there could be some kind of normally invisible "marker" to distinguish the copy from the original without special chemical or metallurgical tests, this might be a solution. But dealers stand to profit more from repos that are as difficult as possible to tell from the originals. After all, who is buying all these copies? There are not that many reenactors in the world. If reenactors were the main market, relatively few copies would be made or sold. Certainly some collectors & casual buyers will purchase a copy in preference to a scarce & costly original, but i don't know that these people are so numerous
as to explain the large numbers of copies out there.

[Bill M]

--This same thing has been discussed in both Imperial and Wehrmacht forums dealing with a couple of places that produce "museum quality with maker mark" pieces, yes supposedly for reenactors - but what reenactor is psychotic enough to need a maker mark to complete the "experience"?
There may be some as I fear that many have some marbles missing, but the intent of the manufacturer is clear.
--It is not some anal machinist who needs to conquer every last detail, including the mark. A "must...prove..how....good I...am" personal crusade? I've seen a site even "age" their pieces (or tell how to do it, does anyone recall this?).
--The consensus of those here on the forums regarding this has generally been that these guys are reptiles and the only maker mark that should be on any of these is "REPRODUCTION" - voluntarily stamped by those who know that their creations are being sold as period pieces.
{HAHAHAHAHAHA! I just re-read the end of that sentance}
:o moremad

[Steve in Florida]

Thanks Gents!

I ran out first thing this morning and bought it. It's drop dead original. I'll try to post some photos later this week.

[Steve in Florida]

Here's the pickel

Sorry for the photo quality. Now I need original chin strap and cockades, a 1914 EK, an Imperial battle flag, a 1917 Luger and a regimental stein. I guess those can wait a bit

[Daniel Cole]

Hello Steve in Florida,
Try this site (Great War ) for the missing items. I've ordered from them in the past and have been happy with the results. Shipping and prices may be a bit high, but he clearly defines between authentic and reproduction.

http://www.greatwar.com/greatwar/Gwgrdx.htm

I had a helmet just like yours and sold it on ebay sometiome back. Wish I hadn't done that! C'est la vie!

Cheers,
Dan in Boise

[Steve in Florida]

Thanks Daniel in Boise!

Ouch, yer right! I'm not in a big hurry to complete the helmet. Could go with repro strap and cockades for $35, but I'll probably just look at the shows for originals. I've seen them around, but never paid attention as "they weren't my bag man" Thanks again.

[Doug See]

That looks like a really nice pickel. I agree--hold off for original straps and cockardes. This one is nice enough to justify it.