Memorabilia

Prussian Enlisted Pickelhaube

Pre-War / early war brass mounted enlisted issue spike helmet has Prussian wappen, nonremovable spike, Reichs and Prussian cockades secured by an original black leather chinstrap with brass fittings.  Body of the helmet has finish craquelure, rear visor shows a bit of the normal deformity, visors remain solidly attached and show a minimum of age constriction away from the peakmount.  Interior has a black leather liner with some minor damage and material loss.  Rear visor is inscribed with a name and has a 10th Corps clothing office stamp dated 1915.  Interior of the crown has a Mainz maker stamp.  Front wappen is secured by leather wedges through the two original grommeted holes in the helmet.  This one came with an Oldenburg cockade, though I believe it to be a collector's repaint.  Oldenburg is plausible with X Corps, though the wappen would be different.. so that cockade is still included, but a Prussian cockade is installed for a more correct display. 

$300 - $400

Prussian Guard Ulan Tschapska

Issue black leather Lancer's helmet with matching mortar board trimmed in wartime gray metal. Has a Guard eagle front plate with applied nickel and enamel Guard star insignia. Prussian field badge is and old copy. Has replica or repainted Reichs cockade, lacks the Prussian field badge. Chinstrap is a modern replacement. Helmet body remains in good condition though slightly deformed as is often the case for these when they have not been supported on a full circumference hat form during long periods of display or storage.  Interior shows that the wappen is likely not the first to be on this helmet - it is secured through one of the original grommeted holes, and a slit annex to the other.  Black leather liner remains in good condition.

$400 - $500

Bavarian Ersatz Pressed Steel Pickelhaube

A fine example of the ersatz steel spiked helmets that were 'pressed' into service in early 1915 and were used to the end of the war by line units that had not been equipped with the M1916 trench helmet.  Example has black painted finish and brass hardware; obverse with Bavarian wappen, sides with Bavarian and Reichs cockades secured by a worn but intact brown leather chinstrap.  Interior has black leather liner in good overall condition, but with a bit of damage and material loss on one side.  Top of the crown has size "54" and date "1915" in red ink stamps.  Bavarian wappen is secured by bent prongs, and appears undisturbed - in my opinion it has always been the insignia on this specific helmet. 

$400 - $600

Württemberg Pioneer Enlisted Spiked Helmet

Enlisted M.95 spiked helmet has black leather body with silver metal fittings throughout including the non-removable spike with three of four original silver studs on the base, front visor trim with matching attachment studs, M.91 sideposts, rear spine with vent, and Wurttemberg frontplate.  Württemberg and Reichs cockades are secured by a replacement replica chinstrap.  The front visor has a bend and slight break on the interior side of the peakmount; rear visor exhibits deformity but remains solidly attached.  Interior has a good Pecard-free black leather liner in nice condition; crown interior has faint name inscription and size stamp "54".  Wappen is secured with leather wedges through the original grommeted holes. 

$400 - $600

Prussian Enlisted Helmet with Camouflage Cover

This camouflage cover was likely placed on the helmet by a collector, as we can tell through artifact phrenology that it does not currently mount cockades or a chinstrap, but it is stretched taut to the point of resisting removal, is soiled in all the right places, and just looks GREAT on display.  With that in mind, and  anticipating that removal and replacement would be not only tedious but also risks damage to the cover fabric and helmet rear visor, we decided to simply leave it in place.  It is apparent that the helmet is a decent M15 enlisted issue example with a Prussian wappen, which is attached through the original set of grommeted holes.  Rear visor retains its shape well.  Interior has a good brown leather liner with normal wear along the edges.  If there ever was an issue or maker stamp on the interior rear visor, it is no longer visible.  Spike base and all fittings appear undisturbed.  Cover is plain feldgray cotton fabric without numerals or further distinction; has soil and stains which would make it fit right in for a wartime trench display. 

$400 - $500

Officer Pickelhaube With Braunschweig Infantry Regiment 92 Wappen

A reproduction of an Imperial German Officer quality private purchase helmet featuring the wappen from Infantry Regiment 92; black leather spiked helmet has brass hardware including rear spine without ventilation opening.  Wearer's right side has Reich cockade, and the left does as well, with curved brass chinscales.  Spike has top which is removable for installation of a haarbusche.  Frontplate is retained to the helmet via screw posts.  Body of the helmet has heavily lacquered finish.  Rear visor is bent on one side.  Front visor has constricted by just a small bit, peakmount still fits securely.  Front and rear visor stitching remains solid and intact.  Has good pliable original leather chinstrap with traces of blackened finish. Interior has brown leather sweatband with some minor damage and light olive crown liner.  Interior of front visor has green leather lining; interior of the rear visor has red cloth lining. 

JR92 helmets are vanishingly rare, very desirable, and thus also heavily faked on the market.  My initial conclusion and description for this was that it was a mix of original and reproduction parts, but one of our very good friends who has forgotten more about pickelhauben than I will ever know kindly advised us that it is a reproduction.  At the very least, it looks very impressive on display as a stand-in for a helmet that is quite difficult to find. 

$300 - $500

Austro-Hungarian & Imperial German Schirmütze Boxes & Helmet Case Lot

Includes two hat boxes for schirmützen, one with a soldier's property label on the lid and the other with a nice large maker label on the side.  Also includes a transit case for a spike helmet, marked with a soldier's name and unit on one side, lined in steel gray cushioned fabric and complete with leather straps intact.  Lot also includes a very nice reinforrced black leather carrying case for an Austrian Dragoon officer's dress helmet with cushioned chamois interior lining.  Nice items to add context to a headgear display. 

$200-$300

Prussian M1915 Jäger Shako

Enlisted issue shako has black lacquered leather body which remains in very nice overall condition.  Obverse has wartime gray Prussian shako size frontplate, which is retained through the original set of grommeted holes by leather wedges.  Shako has an original black leather chinstrap with gray hardware which secures National cockade.  Chinstrap is original and intact but has been heavily oiled.  Crown has a small size Prussian field badge.  Interior of the crown has "1916" date and maker's stamp.  Brown leather combination sweatband and liner is pliable and remains in good condition, shows wear and has some fragile spots but has escaped being oiled and is complete with the original draw cord.  Shako remains in excellent overall condition without visor deformity or any or the other problems that normally are found with these. 

$500 - $700

Prussian Garde Jäger Bataillon Enlisted Shako

M1915 enlisted issue shako has black lacquered leather body in very nice shape; obverse has gray metal Prussian Garde Jäger frontplate retained by leather wedges through the original and only set of grommeted holes, worn but pliable original black leather chinstrap, Reichs cockade and Prussian field badge.  Interior has 1916 dated Gardekorps issue stamp, and (incongruously) a unit stamp for the 1st Train Battalion. Has worn but pliable and black leather adjustable sweatband and liner with several fingers torn through or otherwise damaged.  Visors and shako body have finish craquelure but remain in very good condition without deformity. 

$500 - $700

Model 1894 Cuirassier Enlisted Spiked Helmet

The M1894 is distinguished from the earlier M1889 by M91 sideposts for chinstrap and cockade attachment.  This example has a nice mellow steel patina with some minor discoloration and oxidation, primarily on the front visor.  Removable spike is the shorter version with beaded lower edge which is correct for a pickelhaube.  Interior of the crown has 1916 dated maker stamp, though the spike and fittings are plain steel matching the helmet which suggests that this example was made before feldgrau fittings were formalized for Cuirassier helmets in October of that year.  Obverse has a feldgrau Prussian wappen.  Sides have Prussian and Reichs cockades secured by a heavily worn and oiled black leather chinstrap with gray fittings.  Interior has a good condition brown leather liner; helmet body is painted black on the interior and the front visor interior is painted green.  $600 - $800

The M1894 is distinguished from the earlier M1889 by M91 sideposts for chinstrap and cockade attachment.  This example has a nice mellow steel patina with very light patina.  Interior of the crown has "HELBING u. SACKEWITZ 1916" maker stamp, though the spike and fittings are plain steel matching the helmet which suggests that this example was made before feldgrau fittings were formalized for Cuirassier helmets in October of that year.  Obverse has a feldgrau Prussian wappen.  Sides have Prussian and Reichs cockades secured by a broken but original black leather chinstrap with brass fittings.  Interior has a good condition black leather liner; helmet body is painted black on the interior and the front visor interior is painted green.  $800 - $1200

Imperial German WWI Camouflaged M16 Helmet

Model 1916 stalhelm retains ~75% original camouflage painted finish worked in an interesting wave pattern around the helmet of dark green segments with black bordered ocher tan segments within, and dark brown crown extending down in the gaps between the green 'waves'.  This seems like one of those patterns that is memorable enough that someone will eventually luck out and find an original period photo of a frontschwein wearing one painted in this fashion.

Retains two of the three correct original liner pins, lacks the liner.  Interior has "BF 6(?)" size stamp from the maker F.C. Bellinger.  

$500 - $600

Imperial German Camouflaged M16 Helmet With Replacement Reproduction Liner

An interesting variant original camo M16; retains ~80% camouflage finish worked freeform flowing segments of ocher tan, brick red, dark green, and mustard brown, without separating lines.  Liner pins are reproductions painted to match the camo, and the liner is a decent quality reproduction that someone has tried (unsuccessfully) to age to match the helmet.  A reproduction chinstrap has been added as well.  Helmet interior has depot rework size stamp "64" in the rear skirt, and the side is marked "BF 6(?)" with partially legible F.C. Bellinger maker's size stamp. 

$500 - $600

Imperial German WWI Camouflaged M16 Helmet

Model 1916 stalhelm retains ~80% original camouflage painted finish worked medium and large size irregular flowing lozenges of dark green, dark feldgrau, and light brown, with thin black separating lines.  Interior has nice soldier's painted marking on the rear skirt "WITTMANN 10/111"  Tattered remains of a chinstrap cling to one of two heavily modified chinstrap attachment ends.  

Retains all three correct original liner pins, lacks the liner.  Interior has "W 66" size stamp from the maker Hermann Weissenburger & Co., who was tooled up to make only size 66 shells.

$500 - $600

Imperial German Camouflaged M16 Helmet With Replacement Reproduction Liner

A rather nice original camo M16; retains ~75% camouflage finish worked in wedges from a central point in the crown, using tank, dark green, and brick red with thick black separating lines.  Retains all three liner pins, but the liner is (in my opinion) a rather nice quality reproduction.  A reproduction chinstrap has been added as well.  Helmet interior has faint name inscription in the rear skirt, and the side is marked "W" with partially legible size.  "W" corresponds to maker Hermann Weissenburger & Co., Stuttgart-Cannstatt, who made only size 66 shells. 

$600 - $800

Model 16 steel helmet has ~75-85% camouflage finish, blending with dark patina on the worn areas.  The camouflage is applied in geometric segments of dark green, brown, and ocher brown, with 1cm width black separation lines.  The interior has "BF64" stamped maker and size marking of F.C. Bellinger, with ink stamp "64" in the skirt.  Interior has ~60% feldgrau finish with patina and light oxidation on the remainder.  1917 pattern leather liner band has a very nice intact original liner, with brown leather pads worn and stained a bit from wear, no pull-throughs on the tabs, and all three have the removable cushions installed.  Left front liner pin is a collector's replacement, the right and rear are original and appear to also be original to the helmet.  Other than the one replaced pin, a particularly nice camo German helmet.  800-1200

Model 1916 stahlhelm retains 80% dark oxidized field gray finish, with black and white painted Hohenzollern crest on the left side and a red painted unit numeral "7" on the reverse crown, indicating that the helmet was used by a member of one of the Guard Artillery regiments.  Interior has 1917 pattern metal liner band with all three correct original attachment pins, lacks the leather liner pads and chinstrap.  Left interior side has maker's code and size "ET 64" from Eisenhüttenwerke Thale A.G.  $800 - $1000

Imperial German Camouflaged M.16 Helmet

A very nice example; retains 80%+ original camouflage painted finish worked in large flowing segments of military brown, dark green, and brick red with thick black separating lines.  Interior has "Si.66" Eisenhüttenwerk Schlesien maker's size stamp, 1917 pattern metal liner band with all three white leather liner cushions.  One of these has two of the fingers torn through, all of them are heavily soiled from service use but remain in good pliable condition.  Side posts have the broken remains of an original brass mounted chinstrap.  

$1200 - $1500

Imperial German WWI Shellfire Damaged M16 Helmet & Bonus Lot

Of primary interest is a battlefield relic German M16 helmet shell with traces of feldgrau finish amid dark oxidized patina; front of the crown has been pierced by a shell fragment creating a large irregular hole which enters through the front, with a small hole in the back and a large crack extending from the brim to the top of the crown.  Interior has maker and size mark that is somewhat visible but not at all legible.  Includes a battle-damaged M16 leather liner with all three pads, damage in the front appears to line up correctly with the damage on the helmet, but stains and paint wear on the interior of the shell tend to indicate that it had a 1917 pattern metal liner band rather than the 1916 leather band, but all the same - nice to have an original liner in the lot!  Lacks liner pins and chinstrap.

Lot also includes a M16 helmet shell that has an overall dark oxidized patina; large disc washers affixed to replacement liner pins would tend to indicate that the helmet was repurposed at some point.

$100 - $200

German M16 Helmet Lot: Three Restorations

First is an M16 helmet which has exterior camouflage painted finish that in my opinion is not one applied by anyone wearing feldgrau or even olive drab, but more likely this was done within recent memory.  Camo is worked in mid-size geometric lozenges of dirty egg white, mustard tan, light green, earth brown, church bus blue, olive drab, dandelion yellow, and midnight blue with thick black separating lines.  Interior has M17 metal liner band with pins that have clearly been removed and replaced, suggesting that the feldgrau interior paint was redone at some time as well, likely when two liner cushions which have separated from the band were carefully and skillfully reinforced with backing material and reattached to the band.  A good quality replica chinstrap is looped over the brim.

Second example is an M16 with what appears to be a good original feldgrau finish on the exterior; interior has been repainted and the heavily damaged liner cushions reinforced and reattached to the M17 band; also has a (broken) chinstrap looped over the brim.

Third example has all original finish; two of the three liner cushions had broken or torn ears which have been backed with leather where material was missing.  In this case the liner does not appear to have been removed for the work, only one of the liner pins appears to have been tinkered with - the other two are solidly attached and appear to be undisturbed. 

$300 - $500

Austro-Hungarian Artillery Shako for Senior Officers

M1878 shako has lion bosses on either side supporting a gilt finished brass chain, which with the horsehair plume distinguishes it from the nearly identical shako worn by other branches.  Body of the kepi has three wide rows of gold bullion braid denoting a senior (field grade) officer.  Plume has bullion cockade with Franz Joseph cypher.  Interior has brown grained leather sweatband and salmon colored silk crown lining with gilt embossed maker label.  Lacks only the internal strap.  Shako retains nice shape and shows only light wear. 

$200 - $300

Austrian WWI M17 Helmet

Germanic pattern helmet retains 80% military brown finish.  Interior has metal liner band with two of the three original liner pins and brown leather three pad liner system which show stains and wear as well as some minor material loss with loose grommets, one ear broken off and another pulled through.  Leather is Pecard-free.  Helmet is complete with the khaki heavy canvas Austrian style chinstrap with intact metal grommets; lacks the roller buckle.

 $400 - $600

Austrian WWI Berndorfer Helmet

Distinctive shaped Austrian designed helmet body retains ~40% earth brown finish blended with a mellow patina on the worn areas, with top ventilation disc and correct rear projecting liner band screw.  Interior has metal liner band with three brown leather liner pads, several of which exhibit old (quite possibly period) repairs of two fingers of one pad that had at one time torn through.  All have steel grommets in the 'fingers' which have oxidized but remain intact.  Helmet is complete with the thick linen adjustable Austrian style chinstrap with metal cam buckle and leather reinforcements.  Chinstrap is stained and worn, but intact.  Reverse interior skirt has the Berndorf bear logo stamp and size "66".  Original Austrian pattern helmets by Berndorf Steelworks have always been scarce, but have become quite rare over the past few decades.

$4000 - $6000

Triangular steel armor plate for the unique Austrian pattern Berndorfer helmet, with better than 80% original earth brown painted finish. Plate has hinged strap upper attachment intended to anchor to the ventilation cover on the top of the Berndorfer helmet, with compound pivoting attachments on the lower left and right for attachment via hooks to the visor, and via a strap which was to be held to the helmet via a clip mounted on the protruding screw on the center of the back helmet crown.  The brow plate retains its complete original leather reinforced fabric chinstrap with grommet holes that are oxidized but intact. 

These were not universal issue items, but rather were unit property, in a prescribed ratio to helmets.  According to the Emperor's Coat, brow plates were produced for only 3% of the helmets in use.  So of the roughly 140,000 Berndorfer helmets made between May 1917 until the end of their production in November 1917, we can estimate that approximately 4,200 brow plates were made.  A very, very rare piece of WWI trench armor. $3000 - $4000

Austro-Hungarian WWI Haversack & Canteen

Austro-Hungarian haversack of lightweight feldgrau linen haversack has two belt hook straps, one of which is missing the hook portion.  Interior is divided into several pockets, with the innermost featuring a pocket for the enameled iron water bottle (included.)  Interior front portion has partially legible stamp with 1918 date.  Edges of the material is frayed in spots but it remains solid, and the metal grommets for the adjustment buckles are intact.  Reverse is marked with a name.  Very scarce piece of WWI Austrian gear! 

$300 - $400