Item Description
Original Item. Only One Available. On 26 June 1856, an AKO directed that the convex brass chinscales would be changed to flat brass chinscales for all Infantry units. Cavalry and Field Artillery units, however, continued to utilize convex chinscales. For all units, the new chinscales hooked together in the center with a small ball and corresponding hole when not worn under the chin and the the long retaining bolt of 1842 was replaced by a simple threaded screw with a corresponding threaded post.
This is an extremely scarce Model 1856/1857 Pickelhaube, used for a very short period up until the introduction of the Model 1860. An AKO dated 24 December 1857 reduced the helmet height to make the helmet less unwieldy and more practical for use. Older Model 1842 helmets were cut down and re-sewn to comply with the new regulations. This policy of modifying older models to new regulations explains the rarity of early Pickelhaubes today.
This example is in fantastic condition for its age, although as always happens, the leather of this example has shrunk a bit, so the front visor trim has come off of the visor itself, but is still retained. The chinscales are only half-retained, with the right side near fully intact and the left side missing around 80% of it.
An additional change for 1857 was the introduction of a new 75mm painted Kokarde made from stamped sheet-metal to replace the painted wool Kokarde which had proved less than satisfactory. The example on this helmet is indeed 75mm and has retained its paint very well, with the normal cracking from age. The front wappen is in gorgeous condition and appears to have always been there, with two strange but likely correct screw devices holding it in place. The leather liner of this example is very well-retained with all tongues at least mostly intact.
This is an extremely scarce helmet, the first of its kind we have offered. It comes ready for further research and display. We likely won’t see another of these again for a long time!
- This product is available for international shipping.
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