Prussian Silver Enlisted Garde VAV Helmet (Verkehrstruppen)

Prussian Versuchs Abteilung den Verkehrstruppen Battalion, Enlisted Man helmet to parade Model 1895 after 1911. Rare helmet in near MINT condition.  Fine black lacquered leather helmet body with beautiful German Silver metal trim. Helmet body has perfect form and firm stitching. Exterior lacquer is in near perfect condition with only minor age "spidering" to finish. No extra holes in helmet body.  Standard Enlisted style leather black dyed leather liner with original leather drawstring that all is in excellent shape. Inner visors are natural color.  The helmet is beautifully marked inside back visor “BAG 1911” on left side and “VAV  1911  1C  I” on the right side.  Also marked “54” for size.

Front plate is the Prussian Guard Eagle with a star in the center. Front plate held to helmet body with the original leather wedges inside helmet.  The trim including base/spike are of exceptional quality. Silver brads at base of helmet. Spike top has been replaced with a tall silver trichter on which is mounted a Black Horsehair parade plume. Original flat brass chinscales on M91 silver side lugs. Standard Reichs and Prussian EM style cockades. 

This is one the RAREST unit marked helmets in the Imperial German Army.  As this helmet is from the 1st Company with corresponds to the “1 C’ marking inside the helmet.  The number of soldiers from this unit is very small.  In addition subsequent helmets were marked to the Kraftfahr Bat. and not VAV. This helmet is 100% original and untouched. Extremely rare and in MINT condition.

*VAV stands for Versuchs Abteilung den Verkehrstruppen which became the Kraftfahr Battalions within a year. This Battalion, established in 1911, was divided into 3 Companies.  Number 1 from Prussia, 2 from Saxony and 3 from Wurttemberg. Helmets marked VAV were part of the Battalion. Later helmets were marked to the Kraftfahr Battalion