GERMAN WWI PRUSSIAN IMPERIAL GUARD ENLISTED MANS 1915 FIELD GREY PICKELHAUBE

This pickelhaube has a highly interesting history. It was souvenired by a Scottish serviceman, came out of a Scottish house clearance and eventually found its way into the collection of the well-known collector, Michael Baldwin. The initial appearance of the helmet to collectors maybe viewed with some displeasure, but the mantra of Michael Baldwin’s collection was that if he obtained any item of militaria that at first glances needed any sort of alteration or work that would not happen with his collection, everything that he obtained he left as he obtained it and although this maybe viewed as a rather distressed helmet it is in fact one of the very few remaining untouched souvenirs of WWI. Standard all leather skull, which has the remains of the circular Berlin maker stamp on the upper inner skull. The front and rear peaks are firmly attached to the main body, and the stitching has not rotted. The rear peak is slightly distorted, and the front peak trim is adrift from the peak itself. The chinstrap has had the buckles adjusted so that the strap hangs down below the helmet, and it was probably used as a chinstrap. This is why the helmet was found. Complete with its original State and national cockades. The large Guard plate still has its original twin loops, but one of the loops has detached itself through the leather onto the plate; the loop is still intact, with its strip of leather holding the loop to the interior of the helmet. The helmet is nicely marked on the rear peak ‘K.B.A.G.1915’, which indicates the Guard Clothing Depot. The name of ‘SCHMIDT’ is hand-applied to the opposite side of the inner rear peak. The liner is all intact, including its original leather drawstring. The remains of an old label attached by a string to the strap buckle are still intact. 

Ref; 95808 XTH