Prussian 6th Kürassier "Einjahr Freiwilliger" Pickelhaube

Prussian 6th Kurassier "One Year Volunteer or Officer Aspirant" helmet circa 1900. Untouched and All original helmet. Light weight ustom made Officer Quality Tombac helmet body with silver trim. Exterior metal finish in excellent condition. There are only some small "dings" on the helmet exterior (see photo). No extra holes in the helmet body. The exterior metal finish in excellent condition with 100 years of soft patina. No pitting on the helmet exterior. No extra holes in the helmet body. Standard Enlisted type round visor helmet body as was done on many such helmets. The frontplate is a standard Officer Prussian frosted silver Line Eagle. Football shaped silver spike base with smooth Tombac spike. The studs holding the base are in a tight square pattern to make for easy exchange to a cloverleaf officers' base when the trooper earns his commission. The interior of the helmet is all officer quality. Leather sweat liner with silk headliner. The leather is complete but is dry and slightly soiled with age (see photo). The inside of the back visor is lined with black velvet and the front visor with green colored leather. Rounded Tombac chinscales on simple rosettes held to body with screw retainers. Large Kurassier sized Reich and Prussian cockades.
The One Year Volunteer and Officer Aspirant soldiers had to purchase their own uniforms and equipment. Those expecting to continue their military careers purchased helmets that were easily modified into Full Officer pieces. The helmet offered here is one of such helmets. This is described in the Col. Joe Robinson reprint of the M. Neumann Militar Effecten Catalogue . On page 21 (180 in Robinson's reprint) it defines the "Umanderung eines Kurassier Fahnrichs Helmes in einen Offiziers Helm". This 6th Kurassier Officer helmet upgrade to a full officer i.e. Squared front visor, Officer Cross base and fluted spike , kleeblatter, and Offizier Kokarden would cost between 27 RM to 34 RM.
The 6th Kurassier is a very rare helmet to find. This regiment was stationed in Koenigsburg in far East Prussia that was totally destroyed in WWII. Very few of these helmets made their way into the west. This is an amazing helmet and a rare untouched find. This helmet is all original and has not been cleaned in any way.