GERMAN WWI BATTLEFIELD PICK-UP UNTOUCHED SAXON ENLISTED RANKS PICKELHAUBE

A super item, untouched since the end of WWI. All leather skull, rear peak slightly distorted, but both peaks firmly attached with good, strong stitching to the main body. We always mention this with pickelhaubes because the stitching does tend to rot over the intervening years. Slight surface rust to the removable spike, with matching rust to the front peak trim. All of the fittings match in colour with their chemically patinated field grey finish. Complete with its non-serrated national and Saxon field cockades, which were mainly found on Saxon helmets, Hesse and Baden are sometimes found with non-serrated cockades. The chinstrap is still in the position where the helmet was being worn and is hanging down. To the interior, the leather liner is all complete and in nice condition with its original drawstring. A nice, clear manufacturer's ink stamp to the inner crown with a good, clear date of ‘1916’. Very clearly ink-stamped to the inner rear peak ‘B.A.XII.10’, this is the correct army corps stamping for Saxon Regiments 100, 101, 102, 103, and Schutzen Regiment 108. We are not quite clear what the extra number 10 at the end of the army corps designation stands for. Collectors maybe familiar with the name Michael Baldwin, the greatest field grey collector that we have known in 60 years of dealing, this helmet would have been ideal if Michael had still been alive, if he found a helmet like this with the strap still in place hanging down, that’s way it would remain in his collection and anybody wishing to build a collection of the quality and finesse of Michael Baldwin should have no hesitation in purchasing this item.

Ref; 96395