Item Description
Original Item: Only One Available. This is a nice example of a genuine World War I M1915 French Army "Adrian" steel helmet shell. The helmet retains the original "dark horizon blue" paint on both the interior and exterior, with the expected chipping and oxidation from age and use. The front of the helmet still has its original French "Hunting Horn" badge, with the standard R F on the center, for Republique Francaise. This horn is the insignia of Mountain Infantry called the Chasseurs alpine (alpine hunters). This extremely scarce helmet has the liner reinforced by a period French newspaper, often done by the soldiers themselves.
Chasseur is the French term for "hunter", and was originally used to designate light infantry and cavalry units that were trained for rapid action in combat, beginning in 1743. They were considered elite units, and had more specialized tasks than the standard infantry. They could deploy quickly as advance scouts in times of need. By WWI, they were divided into the chasseurs à pied (hunters on foot) and chasseurs alpine (alpine hunters).
Overall condition of the helmet is very good, with the expected patina of age. The shell shows some minor dings, scratches and paint wear consistent with age and long service. The paint is roughly 70% retained. The leather chin strap shows signs of wear and age, but is still intact, although it is not sat upon the brim of the helmet as if often seen.
A very nice example, ready for further research and display!
The M15 Adrian helmet (French: Casque Adrian) was a combat helmet issued to the French Army during World War I. It was the first standard helmet of the French Army and was designed when millions of French troops were engaged in trench warfare, and head wounds from the falling shrapnel generated by the new technique of indirect fire became a frequent cause of battlefield casualties. Introduced in 1915, it was the first modern steel helmet and it served as the basic helmet of many armies well into the 1930s. Initially issued to infantry soldiers, in modified form they were also issued to cavalry and tank crews. A subsequent version, the M26, was used during World War II.
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