Antique & Militaria

**ORIGINAL**AS ISSUED**UN-TOUCHED**WW1 Imperial Prussian 1916 Ersatz Pattern Pressed Felt Pickelhaube Helmet. Sn 23174:21 - 23174:21

With mobilization for a modern war, the German Armies found themselves unable to quickly equip millions of soldiers. A shortage of cow hide from Argentina combined with the excessive draw upon German industry to outfit the massive army being mobilized, resulted in a severe shortage of leather for manufacturing Pickelhauben. To meet with this immediate shortage, the Germans began in 1914 manufacturing helmets from Ersatz (substitute) materials. As the felt hat manufacturing industry was well established in Germany for hundreds of years, the hat industry stepped in to fill the void by producing Pickelhaube out of pressed and blocked felt manufactured from rabbit fur or shredded wool. This is an excellent, original, as issued condition 1916 Pattern Pickelhaube Ersatz made from emergency war measures pressed felt. The pickelhaube has the correct large Imperial Prussian brass helmet plate. The helmet also has original metal state cockade bosses, and is complete with a leather chin strap and brass buckle adjusters. It has a front and rear visor, the front visor has a rolled brass edge and vented brass top spike. The inside of the pickelhaube has its original leather liner. All material is clean. The helmet is - Click to reveal - size 7. The price includes UK delivery. Sn 23174:21

£795.00