Another Pickel question

[Tom Y]

I've had this Pickelhaube for a few years now and have never been completely satisfied that it's all original. The only thing I've replaced are the spike studs, which were missing.
The spike is a screw on and appears to be fire gilded. The base is bare metal except for the gilded pearling and one small spot on the front. The visor edges are also gilded. It's unmarked. The cover, which came with it, has the DRGM mark. Brandy the Luftbeagle has told me to ask Kaiser his opinion.

[Dave Mosher]

Tom

I didn't check with Kaiser, but this appears to be a correct private purchase prussian senior nco or einjahrfreiwilliger helmet (the latter more likely). This helmet was manufactured during the war, and brass was to be used for more important items like bullet casings. The spike base and other "gray" fittings are actually made of zinc and had been gilded at one time. The helmet shell, trim and even the cockades are officer pattern. The unvoided crown on eagle plate and the round spike base brads
indicate an non-officer. An einjahrfreiwilliger purchased his own uniform and under certain conditions could become a reserve officer after his manditory service. Hence a frugal young lad thinking he might be a reserve officer some day, would purchase a helmet easily upgraded by a voided crown plate and a set of stars.

Dave

[Tony & Kaiser]

Hey Tom,

Dave is bang-on with the overall description of the base materials on this zinc-mix Eigentums-helm, but I would like to respectively add to his description. A Senior NCO or Einjahrfreiwilliger would not wear officer Kokarden. Fähnrich (Officer-Candidate) were the only non-commissioned soldiers authorized to wear officer Kokarden, but only after passing the officer's examination. Contrary to popular belief, Mannschaft could wear (off the Kaserne) an Eigentums-helm with all officer fittings including pierced crowns on the eagle and even officer pattern Perlring and stars. I have photographs of Privates (not Einjahrfreiwilliger) wearing Eigentums-helm with all these features. But <u>always</u>, with Mannschaft Kokarden. The only actual rank indicators on an Eigentums-Pickelhaube are the Kokarden on the sides of the helmet under the chinstraps or chinscales.

And Tom, I picked up Kaiser and showed him your questions on the screen, he just gave a me a weird look. (?) It may be because he is just a little wiener-dog and can't read? Dunno.......... Tony http://www.kaisersbunker.com

[Dave Mosher]

Tony

I concede that the helmet was most likely a Fahnrich. I have a question though. What would the fittings on the helmet for a feldwebelleutnant ? Also, I have never seen a private purchace EM helmet with stars on them. I may be wrong, but I believe the stars are also "officer only" items.

Dave

[Tony & Kaiser]

I have never seen a private purchace EM helmet with stars on them. I may be wrong, but I believe the stars are also "officer only" items.
Dave

Feldwebelleutnant and Offizierstellvertreter were authorized to wear officer helmets, in all respects.

I also thought at one time that stars were officer items only, yet I have some photos, and have seen scores on ebay, of privates and you can make juuuuust out the stars being used on Eigentums-helm.

As this is such a confusing area, I made a full page on identifying Pickelhaube rank, there is a chart on it, which goes rank-by-rank what they were entitled to wear on the helmet. Here is the link, you might find it interesting. Tony

http://www.kaisersbunker.com/hp/index.htm