Here it is; "The Holy Grail" The Mother of all Haubes

[Tony & Kaiser]

Literally! Everyone has their own idea of what the "ultimate" Pickelhaube is, most based on rarity or aesthetics. In my opinion, however, the ultimate Pickelhaube has always been the first Pickelhaube; an issued M1842.

Once or twice a year I see Officer examples, which is logical as these were property and would have survived in families. Based upon the Preu******223;en habit of re-working helmets to conform to new regulations and modifications, theoretically no issued M1842 helmets should have survived.

Please see the link below for the full text and lots of photos that I hope you will all enjoy.

http://www.kaisersbunker.com/dunkelblau/helmets/dbh09.htm

[Daniel Murphy]

Tony,
That is one of the nicest 1842s I have seen. Truly a magnificent historical artifact. This is really one of those "if it could only talk" pieces. Congratulations.
Dan Murphy

[Robin Lumsden]

[ottomaton]

The fact that the leather is in such great shape after 150+ years is beyond amazing.

[RoyA]

Stunning

[Leibhusar]

Yes, its the motherrrrrrrrrrr !

[IMPERIAL QUEST]

I think I hear angels singing...........................Laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

[Theodor]

A great piece of history!!! And the photo on th site... very impressive, it's OLD!

[Tony & Kaiser]

The fact that the leather is in such great shape after 150+ years is beyond amazing.

The shell is probably no thinker than say, an M1871, but the shape is so high, like a watermelon, that it has completely held it's shape. All early issued helmets seem to hold their shape very well. The sunken aspect seems to be a result of the later domed helmet shell shape.

Below is a photo I took that shows the first Pickelhaube, (M42) to the last pre-war Pickelhaube (M95) to show the dramatic change in size as it evolved.

[leigh kitchen]

A Hanoverian one off these was up for sale about 20 years ago, at Wallis & Wallis auctions in Lewes, Sussex. I recognised it from the photos as one which had been in an American collection (shown in a book by the collector in the 1960's, an ex army officer - Norman Holden? Something like that?) I can't remember the "designation" off hand - 1847 pattern Hanoverian?
When I saw it in the flesh it was horrible, the skull had been crushed & patched with a great lump of new leather which had been glued and filled, the spike was probably a bodge of bits of brass tubing etc, & the big running horse in bi-metal may very well have had nothing to do with the helmet originally. Brand new liner & what presumably replacement chin scales - absolutely horrible, so I decided not to bother with it.
It went for a couple of hundred quid more than I had anyway to an elderly Australian sounding bloke who bought a whole load of helmet plates etc as well.

Your helmet's much much nicer....................