Original French WWI Model 1915 Adrian Helmet in Horizon Blue with RF 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 chipping and oxidation from age and use. It does look to have been repainted once during the war. The front of the helmet still has its original French “Flaming Bomb” badge. The badge has the standard R F on the “bomb”, for Republique Francaise. This is the badge used on standard Infantry issue helmets.

The leather liner is in good shape, with an intact top tie and the leather still supple, with the expected wear. The liner is made from brown leather, with wool padding underneath, some of which is visible, as that side has pulled off of the securing springs. The helmet does still have a chin strap, but it is broken at one end, and in delicate condition.

Overall condition of the helmet is nice, though it does show its age. The shell shows some minor dings, scratches and paint wear consistent with age and long service. If you were looking for a nicely priced Adrian Helmet to fill out your WWI collection, this is a great chance!

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.