Original Item: One-of-a-kind. Excellent genuine World War I Model 1915 French Army Hand Painted Camouflage Adrian helmet. The helmet retains most of its original vibrant camouflage paint. Overall condition of the helmet is very good. the shell shows some minor dings, scratches and paint chips which are all consistent with age and use.
The liner and chinstrap are missing but original split pins are present. Interior of shell still retains the deep blue original paint with a name scratched into the brim. Front plate was removed before being painted which was a common practice.
All in all, a very nice hard to find French Great War Camouflage Helmet. Genuine examples, such as this, seldom come to market. Don’t miss this opportunity to add it to your World War One collection!
The M15 Adrian helmet (French: Casque Adrian) was a combat helmet issued to the French Army during World War I. It was the first standard helmet of the French Army and was designed when millions of French troops were engaged in trench warfare, and head wounds from the falling shrapnel generated by the new technique of indirect fire became a frequent cause of battlefield casualties. Introduced in 1915, it was the first modern steel helmet and it served as the basic helmet of many armies well into the 1930s. Initially issued to infantry soldiers, in modified form they were also issued to cavalry and tank crews. A subsequent version, the M26, was used during World War II.