GERMAN WWI GUARD INFANTRY FIELD GREY PICKELHAUBE.

A magnificent condition souvenir helmet for a Prussian Guard infantryman. The leather skull is enormous, although the skull is stamped size ‘57’ we estimate it to be at least a size 60, which is highly unusual for leather pickelhaube. The skull itself is in excellent order with both the front and back peaks securely stitched to the main body. All of the fittings, which include the back strap, removable spike, circular spike base, large Guard front plate and front peak trim also the strap fittings all in matching chemically patinated field grey finish. Some congealing to the leather on the back peak and some minor age creases to the front peak. Complete with both its national and State cockades. The helmet retains a beautiful colour to the interior skull, which is ‘Berlin’ maker marked, size stamped, hand applied in pencil to the interior is the following ‘WON BY FRANCIS ADOLF IN LIBERTY LOAN CONTEST MAY 21ST 1919’. To the interior back peak it is clearly Guard stamped ‘K.B.A.G.1916’ within a rectangle. The liner is excellent, slight evidence of wear, all 9 tongues to the liner complete with two tips split with original drawstring. It would be hard to better this helmet in terms of an enlisted ranks field grey, in the USA after WW1 many thousands of helmets were brought back from both stores and the battlefields of Europe and were sold off in War Bond Drives, this exemplifies the importance of military headdress as such a evocative field of collecting

Code: 79129