Prussian Model 1891 Garde Infantry Pickelhaube

Prussian Guard Infantry and Grenadier Regiments Enlisted Man - Model 1891*. Heavy black leather helmet body with brass metal trim. The leather helmet body in fine condition with firm stitching. The exterior lacquer in excellent condition with a dulled age related finish and no lacquer loss. The helmet body has the pre-1895 "punched" holes (In 1895 the looped retainer and grommeted holes was introduced) for the screw back helmet front plate. There is a small extra hole beside one of the retaining holes that appears never to have been use (see photo).

The helmet interior has standard tongued leather headliner that shows use and wear but is in very good condition. Inner visors are plain leather with not visible markings. Round spike base with round screw back retainers. The screw studs also are indicative of the early M1891 pattern. The spike is removable for placement of a plume for parade. The back spine has no slide vent as was used after 1895. The frontplate is the larger standard Guard Eagle with the silver Guard star in the center. Flat gilt chinscales on M1891 side lugs. Original Prussian EM and Reichs (added in 1897) cockades. This helmet is the Classic M1891 helmet pattern that was used through the World War.

* The M1891 helmet style replaced the preceding M1887 helmet. The 1887 pattern introduced a new chinstrap retainer system and a non-metal edged front visor. The 1887 was not well accepted and never fully implemented. In 1891, the Prussian Army returned the form of the M1870 helmet but introduced the unique lug type chinstrap/chinscale retainer that followed all subsequent helmet models through WWI. With the expansion of the Army in the mid 1890's, the Model 1895 EM helmet was introduced that slightly smaller and lighter that the M1891.