Original German WWI Bavarian M1886/1914 Infantry Pickelhaube Spiked Helmet With Wool Überzug Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a traditional German first world war Bavarian Officer’s brass mounted leather helmet known as a Pickelhaube, for the Foot-troops (Infantry). The M1886/14 Bavarian Pickelhaube was the final evolution in a long series of spiked helmets, and is very similar to the Prussian version. The M1886 version features a cruciform spike base on ALL helmets, both enlisted and officer. The round retaining pins on the base definitely identify this as an enlisted man, though they could have been replacements. It also has the M1886/1914 modified wappen, which removed the branches and bay-leaf ornamentation around the Lions.

Like all pickelhauben, it was manufactured from boiled leather, lacquered black, and provided with fittings made of brass or German silver, dependent upon the Regt. The protection it offered was very limited and led to the eventual replacement by a steel helmet in 1916.

This helmet features a brass infantry wappen (front plate) with the Bavarian coat of arms, over the kingdom’s motto, In Treue Fest, German for “steadfast in loyalty.” It is missing both cockades.

The top of the helmet has the correct tall fluted spike, which can be unscrewed to mount a parade plume though it is stiff with age. The spike base underneath have lovely “egg and dart” perlring around it, typical of the officer design.

The interior of the helmet still retains the leather sweatband as well as the skull cap. The skull cap and leather sweatband are in fair condition with moderate tearing and wear present on both items.

The black leather shell shows expected, but not egregious, crazing and wear. There is also a level of leather shrinkage due to age, the reason some of the brass fittings are somewhat loose. This can be clearly seen on the brass trim on the visors, which are now detached ion areas.

The correct square front leather visor has brass trim in fair condition, loose the visor, which has some finish “melting” as often seen. The metal spine that descends from the spike’s baseplate to the edge of the rear visor is in good condition, though not the rear visor which is torn, misshapen and rolled. The stitching holding both the front and rear visors is still partly intact, though it is delicate, and has degraded over the years. The Überzug (cover) does appear to possibly be a later replacement and is in good condition with a few scattered holes.

Overall a very nice condition Bavarian Infantry Officer pickelhaube, a great addition for any serious collector.