Info needed for super salty pickelhaube

[Rommel1942]

Hey all,

This pickelhaube came as an odd-ball in a large group I recently acquired. It's the first one I have ever owned, and it is in very rough shape. Missing spine and neck flap, with a poor glue attempt of the front visor (although the visor is firmly attached). Also missing chinstrap and cockades. The inside is intact from what I can tell, but pretty crusty. Of note, the spike and front plate have been painted gray by the look of it.

Can anyone here enlighten me on what type it is, or any information at all?

Thanks and best regards,
Finn

[Rommel1942]

Inside and close up.

[kaiserwilhelm2]

Looks like a M15 with golden spike and plate painted grey which is uncommon. First time I have seen the spike attached on the inside of the helmet this way.

[Rommel1942]

Looks like a M15 with golden spike and plate painted grey which is uncommon. First time I have seen the spike attached on the inside of the helmet this way.

Thanks for the comment, how curious - so plates and spikes usually were not brass/ golden in colour and then painted over?

Best,
Finn

[Grausig13]

This looks like someone monkeyed with it a bit--look at the way the Spitzenbasis is attached! I have issues with the Wappen as well--looks too poorly die-struck for a brass stamping.

[ROBB]

Basically the whole helmet is crap . Find another helmet . Rob

[Rommel1942]

This looks like someone monkeyed with it a bit--look at the way the Spitzenbasis is attached! I have issues with the Wappen as well--looks too poorly die-struck for a brass stamping.

Thanks for the comment. What specific parts of the helmet do you think are monkeyed with?

[Rommel1942]

Basically the whole helmet is crap . Find another helmet . Rob

Rob, could you be more specific? Your comment is vague and really doesn't contribute anything- I appreciate that the helmet is in really bad shape, but that doesn't further my understanding at all.

I'm just trying to figure out what's up with the helmet - what don't you like about it, without you just saying that it's all crap?

[kaiserwilhelm2]

The details on the wappen are poor. If it is painted over it might explain why the details look so poor, if the wappen is not painted over the wappen is probably a replica. A painted over spike is unusual as non-brass ones were made to go go with non-brass plates. However as the Austrians painted their brass grey at the beginning of WWI, it may have also been done by the Germans - but this is the first time I have seen this done on a German spike helmet. The attachment of the spike is very unusual, so unusual one might question it being authentic. All in all, not a standard spike helmet and not in great condition so not very attractive to own/sell/buy.

[Rommel1942]

The details on the wappen are poor. If it is painted over it might explain why the details look so poor, if the wappen is not painted over the wappen is probably a replica. A painted over spike is unusual as non-brass ones were made to go go with non-brass plates. However as the Austrians painted their brass grey at the beginning of WWI, it may have also been done by the Germans - but this is the first time I have seen this done on a German spike helmet. The attachment of the spike is very unusual, so unusual one might question it being authentic. All in all, not a standard spike helmet and not in great condition so not very attractive to own/sell/buy.

Thanks very much for the constructive comments, kaiserwilhelm2 I agree, I'm going to say that the hardware on this pickelhaube are all reproduction; I don't like the fact that there are multiple unusual issues with the spike and it's attachment, as well as the wappen.

Interesting that someone would go so far out of their way to alter a piece that was already in really bad shape!

Anywho, thanks for saying a little bit more than just 'it's a piece of crap'! You have a lot more knowledge than myself on pickelhauben and I appreciate you enlightening me with that knowledge

Best,
Finn

[kaiserwilhelm2]

Thanks very much for the constructive comments, kaiserwilhelm2 I agree, I'm going to say that the hardware on this pickelhaube are all reproduction; I don't like the fact that there are multiple unusual issues with the spike and it's attachment, as well as the wappen.

Interesting that someone would go so far out of their way to alter a piece that was already in really bad shape!

Anywho, thanks for saying a little bit more than just 'it's a piece of crap'! You have a lot more knowledge than myself on pickelhauben and I appreciate you enlightening me with that knowledge

Best,
Finn

You are welcome. Have a great day

[Grausig13]

Thanks for the comment. What specific parts of the helmet do you think are monkeyed with?

Look at other Pickelhauben and you will see different means of attaching the spike. Better strikes of the Wappen--repros tend to be soft in detail. The brass painted over in Feldgrau. You will see that this one differs from most out there if you look at any model 1915, or the earlier brass fitted models. When you spot anomalies, you need to get some good opinions, or walk away from the helmet.

[Grausig13]

This looks like it was painted inside! This is more what you want to see.:

Inside and close up.

[Rommel1942]

Look at other Pickelhauben and you will see different means of attaching the spike. Better strikes of the Wappen--repros tend to be soft in detail. The brass painted over in Feldgrau. You will see that this one differs from most out there if you look at any model 1915, or the earlier brass fitted models. When you spot anomalies, you need to get some good opinions, or walk away from the helmet.

Thanks for the info the helmet was thrown in with a large group of Canadian medals and badges. I've been collecting steel helmets for over 10 years and I never buy helmets that have unusual parts to them - but this thing was an odd-ball that I paid nothing for anywho, I had nothing to lose.

Now it won't be assumed to be an original piece ever again! Thanks for the help.

Finn