Original German WWI Bavarian M1886 Artillery Officer Pickelhaube Helmet with Tall Spike and Red Plume – As Used By The 8th Royal Bavarian Field Artillery “Prince Heinrich of Prussia” 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, set up with a red plume on the spike, indicating Artillery issue. While this one is not marked with a specific regiment, the 8th Royal Bavarian Field Artillery was entitled to wear a helmet Trichter and Haarbusch (parade plume) on parade.

The M1886 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 star retaining pins on the base definitely identify this as an officer. It also has a correct M1886 modified wappen, which does not have the branches and Laurel-leaf ornamentation around the Lions, as they were often removed in 1914.

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. Regardless of the unit, officer Pickelhaube share common features such as: the undersides of visors are lined with red and green, larger and more ornate officers kokarden were attached, and “egg & dart” Perlring was utilized around the base of the top spike.

This helmet features a correct large model 1886 wappen (front plate) with the Bavarian coat of arms marked with the kingdom’s motto, In Treue Fest, German for “steadfast in loyalty.” The wappen is held in by the correct bolts used on officers models though (2) nuts were replaced. The convex brass chin scales are in great shape, with complete leather backing front clasp and intact buckle. The only difference between an Infantry officer’s helmet and a Cavalry officer’s helmet (and Artillery until the adoption of the ball spike in 1916), is that infantry chinscales are flat, while Cavalry and Artillery chinscales are curved like this one.

It is complete with multi-piece officers Bavarian (blue and white) and German National Colors (red white and black) Kokarden (cockades) around the chin strap lugs. In 1897 the new Reichs-Kokarde in Red-White-Black was introduced for all ranks to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Kaiser Wilhelm 1st. The Reichs-Kokarde was to be worn on the right side of the helmet, and the state Kokarde was moved to the left, as on this helmet.

The interior of the helmet still retains the leather sweat band as well as the silk skull cap. There is no major damage to either, just the typical and expected wear from use and age. The nicest feature of the sweatband is that it was repaired with green snake skin! We do not know if this was done period, but the level of material shrinkage does make it appear to be period done.

The black leather shell shows expected, but not egregious, crazing and wear. The lacquer finished leather is in nice condition with no serious issues though it may have been polished since the end of the war. There is also a level of leather shrinkage due to age, the reason some of the brass fittings are somewhat loose. The very top of the helmet is a bit sunken in, very common if they are unsupported on the interior.

The correct square front leather visor has brass trim in very good condition, still tight to the visor, which has some finish crazing as often seen. It still retains the correct green lining on the underside. The metal spine that descends from the spike’s baseplate to the edge of the rear visor is also in very good condition, while the rear visor does show some damage and loss of the edge trim. It also still retains the red lining underneath. The stitching holding both the front and rear visors is still mostly intact though areas do appear to have been glued discreetly back in place.

Overall an extremely nice condition Bavarian Artillery Officer pickelhaube, a great addition for any serious collector.