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 the “ersatz” or “replacement” model made of heavy pressed felt.

The body of the item is made of one stamped piece of heavy felt. Just like its leather counterpart it as a visor, crown and neck guard. All are in nice condition. Visor has brass trim while the front of the crown has a brass 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 brass ball with ventholes in the shaft below it as well as the brass 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 thin black leather liner with eight tabs in the crown all connected by a leather string. Leather shows only light wear from use.

The underside of the neck guard has a typed paper label that reads “ARTILLERY HELMET STATE OF PRUSSIA.”

Overall, the helmet shows light wear from age and use such as minor weak spots in the chinstrap, small indentations in the brass ball etc...    [ad] [ph:L]

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