Original German WWI Bavarian M1896 High Ranking Police Officer Fiber Shell Pickelhaube Helmet Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This a great example of a Bavarian Model 1896 High Ranks Police Officer Private Purchase Pickelhaube Helmet, with a fiber shell, as opposed to the usual boiled leather. This is not something that we have had before, and they appear to be relatively rare.

The helmet’s fiber shell and visors are in very fine condition the expected finish checking of age, but without any major dents, or imperfections. The metal fittings (cruciform spike base, chin scales, wappen, spike) are all brass exhibiting minor wear without any major issues and a wonderful patina. The helmet features a large spike with nice perlring at the base, which is secured onto the helmet with a cruciform spike base. While most other areas in the German Empire moved to a round spike base, Bavaria kept them for most types of regiments. The spike is not fluted, as it was on earlier versions of the helmet.

The Bayern Pickelhaube M1896 Wappen (front plate) features two crowned lions supporting the Baverian state emblem. This version of the wappen is much smaller than the previous M1886, which was almost twice the size, and had laurel leaves entwined with the legs of the lions. This example is excellent and has correct Bavarian coat of arms, over the kingdom’s motto, In Treue Fest, German for “steadfast in loyalty.” The gilding on the brass alloy is completely intact, with just a bit of fading.

This pickelhaube also seems to be quite upmarket, as instead of having the usual round chin strap lugs, it has two lion head fittings on the sides, which hold rings for the chinstrap in their mouths. The chin strap itself is a high end brass scale version with leather bcking. It has clips on the end which attach to the securing rings. There is also a  Reichs-Kokarde (German National Colors cockade) above the left lion, with the Black, Red, and White paint intact. This was definitely a high end private purchase item.

The interior of the Pickelhaube is in excellent condition. It has a correct brown leather sweatband that is entirely intact as well as a fantastic cream colored silk liner. All the metal hardware securing metal fittings are present and period. 

Overall an excellent example of a WWI Bavarian High Ranking Police Officer Pickelhaube in great condition, ready to display!