Prussian 7th Grenadier Reserve Officers Pickelhaube

Prussian 7th Grenadier ( 2nd West Prussian – King Wilhelm I regiment) - Reserve Officer - Model 1897. Black leather helmet body has fine form and firm stitching. The exterior lacquer is in excellent condition with a bright finish and no lacquer loss. The helmet body has widened holes that was dome when the plate changed from active to reserve (see photo). The helmet interior has standard sweat leather and silk headliner. The liner is in good condition but shows use and some discoloration (see photo). Inside the helmet bell is a paper tag with the owner’s name, a printed date of “April 25, 1916, and a partial printing of “Gren. Regt.7” (see photo). The paper tag has been purposely disfigured to remove the name of the owner.

The visor interior is colored red and green as is proper for an officer helmet. Round spike base with stars at base that has screw back retainers. The tall gilt spike top that is removable. The frontplate in the Prussian wide winged Grenadier Eagle without the “Mit Koenig fur Gott und Vaterland “ banner. On the breast of the eagle is a large silver Prussian Landwehr cross. Added to the frontplate is the special banner “22 Marz 1797”. This honor bandeau was awarded to the regiment on March 22, 1897, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Kaiser Wilhelm I. The frontplate is held to the body with screw attachments. Flat gilt chinscales on special rosette with the exterior having the entwined monogram WRI that was bestowed on the regiment on March 1, 1875. Original Reichs and Prussian Officer cockades. Nice and 100% original helmet that has not been cleaned or polished. This is a rare and elite regiment that is hard to find in the Reserve Officer configuration.