Original French WWI Model 1915 Adrian Helmet in Horizon Blue with Replica Badge Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a nice example of a genuine World War I M1915 French Army “Adrian” steel helmet. The helmet retains the original “dark horizon blue” paint on both the interior and exterior, with the expected denting from user in service. There is definitely wear to the paint job, and the steel can be seen in places, but it does not look to have been repainted at any point. On the front of the helmet is a replacement badge, which we are not able to identify, which has a double headed eagle with many smaller coats of arms on its wings.

The interior is in good shape, with about 2/3 of the corrugated aluminum liner surround still intact. The leather liner is also present, though it has fallen off of the securing tabs, some of which are missing. It also definitely shows wear and age. The helmet does still have an intact chin strap, resting over the front brim of the helmet. It is partly torn through where it goes over the brim, and is overall in delicate condition.

Overall condition of the helmet is very good, and it has a great patina. Ready to display!

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.