The pickelhaube was introduced for wear by most of the Prussian line Infantry regiments on October 23, 1842. It became a visual symbol of Prussia's military might and underwent numerous modifications starting in 1860 and continuing right up until 1915. It began to be phased out during the trench warfare of World War One as a result of increased head wounds suffered by the German troops. With the development of the first "modern" steel helmets by the French army in early 1915 and by the British army later that year, the German army began tests for their own steel helmet. An acceptable pattern was developed and approved and production of the new steel helmets began in the spring of 1916. After the introduction of the steel helmet the pickelhaube was relegated for wear only on ceremonial occasions.

This example is a late war issue bearing a 1917 date inside along with a stamped size of “55.”

The body of the item is made of three pieces of black leather, visor, crown and neck guard. All are in nice condition with some scattered minor surface crazing and are firmly sewn together. Visor has white metal trim while the front of the crown has the Prussian plate of a crowned spread-winged eagle with scepter and orb in his talons with the initials “FR” on his chest. The top of the crown is complete with spike with ventholes as well as the metal spine running down the back of the neck guard. The left side post bears the black & white cockade for the state of Prussia while the right side has the black, white and red cockade for the German nation. Attached between the side posts is the original leather chinstrap with two adjustment buckles.

Interior has a nice brown leather liner with nine tabs in the crown all connected by a leather string. Leather shows only light wear from use. [ad] [ph:L]

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