Original German WWI Prussian M1895 Pickelhaube Spiked Helmet Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very good condition Imperial Prussian line Infantry enlisted man’s Mannschaften (other ranks) pickelhaube. The M1895 was the final pre-1914 evolution in a long series of spiked helmets. It displays lovely condition brass Prussian spread eagle helmet plate and comes complete with supple original leather liner. The spike on top denotes infantry issue and retains correct brass chinstrap lugs.

The helmet is ink stamped  size 58 inside the crown. The rear skirt is marked as well with H.B.A.18 in the rear skirt. Overall condition is good. The liner is complete. The Wappen is a bit loose and could be a vintage original replacement. The leather finish has some checking, typical for a helmet of this age. A very impressive display piece.

To improve ventilation, on the Model 1895 issued Pickelhaube the rear spine on helmets worn by Foot Troops was equipped with a vent near the base of the spike which was fitted with a small sliding cover. This sliding cover allowed the user to increase or decrease the flow of ventilation in the helmet according to the weather conditions. This sliding vent appears to have been only utilized on Infantry helmets. Artillery and other troops did not adopt this feature until some time in 1914.

The spike remained the same as the Model 1887 and the Model 1891, however, the rotating neck was removed.

The soldered bolt and nut system used to secure the front Wappen onto the helmet was changed to a system for retaining Wappen on the front of helmets that had been used as far back as 1845 for Bayern (Bavarian) helmets and 1867 for Sachsen (Saxon) helmets. A soldered loop was affixed to the back of the Wappen which passed through corresponding grommetted holes on the front of the helmet. A leather wedge was then passed through the loop on the interior to keep the Wappen in place.

The Preußen issued Wappen in 1895 were intended to be made out of Tombak (an alloy made from a combination of copper and zinc) but it seems that the copper-color was unpopular and they were soon replaced with Aluminiumbronze which has a very bright brass appearance.