Description
This is a very solid example of the standard German Prussian Pickelhaub helmet (also called Pickelhelm) for line infantry from 1915-1918. The front plate, or wappen, is made of gray oxidized steel as proper for the Regulations of 1915. It retains the original front plate and liner. The unique thing about this example is that the top spike is clearly bullet pierced and the hole is the correct size for a .30 caliber rifle so it could have been shot by a US Springfield .30-06 or a British .303 Enfield.
The bullet went through the spike at an upwards angle–this could have been used in a charge to a fortified trench. This helmet surfaced in a large advanced helmet collection in Florida and is in overall very good to fine condition. It is missing a very small portion of the metal front trim as shown.
The front plate has the cypher of “FW” for Kaiser Friedrich Wilhelm. The helmet would make a great addition to any collection of military headgear and is priced to move quickly!
