Original Item: Only One Available. Excellent genuine World War I M1915 French Army "Adrian" helmet. The helmet exhibits a wartime dark blue, almost black paint over the original “Horizon Blue” paint. This is not uncommon for helmets worn late into the final days of WWI. There is a possibility that this could very well be a helmet worn by a member of the American Field Service, as Chasseur helmets are often seen being worn by members of the A.F.S. in France. 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). It is evident that this badge has always been on the helmet, as the age, condition, and paint matches perfectly.

The helmet features a complete original 2nd Pattern two-piece leather liner in excellent condition with original cotton drawstring still intact. Size is approximately US 7 ¼-7 ½ (58-59cm). All four original corrugated aluminum spacers are still present, as well as the original chinstrap. Overall condition of the helmet is excellent for its age, showing signs of honest age and handling wear.

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).
This is an excellent example of a WWI French Chassuers M-1915 Adrian Pattern Helmet. One of the harder examples of the Adrian to find with this branch of service plate.            

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.