Posted 11 years ago
bluemax1914
(71 items)
Enlisted Prussian spiked helmet dated 1915. Overal very nice condition, with a few crows feet visible and some very, very little warping. The black cockade on the left side is loose and it seems that a minute repair to the point on the straps lug attached to the helmet on the left side may have been repaired -there is a minute amount of solder at the bottom of the triangular aspect of the fitting. There is a maker mark stamped inside the body, but it is illegible. The liner is a leather band with a canvas upper that shows honest wear but no abuse. Over all excellent condition for the age of the helmet.
So, was the spike a functional weapon on these old helmets or was it just a head finial so to speak....
These spikes were purely ornamental. They may have been derived from an earlier use where they served a purpose.
scott
As I was growing up in the 50's as a beginning collector, I wondered why these were not found often on the market or friend's collections & still don't understand.
I used to see WW1 spiked helmets fairly often when I first started collecting (late 70s)-- over the years, the numbers out there have dropped.
They seem to be the piece that everyone associates with the War-- maybe Hogan's Heroes had something to do with it and are therefore very desirable.
During and immediately after WW1 (Occupation), they are well documented as being the most sought after souvenir of Allied forces. Thousands were shipped and carried back to the US by the AEF.
scott
Well Scott, I sure didn't see many at gun shows etc.. Yeah, a few, but certainly not in the numbers I would have thought. They are more common on ebay than they were back then.
Beautiful :)
We have different experiences with them-- I saw them with regularity at antique stores and flea markets. I didn't go to gun shows in my early days.
If you are going to be in the US over next weekend, you should try and make the Richmond (VA) Civil War/ Militaria show.
I have heard good things about it and will attend this year.
scott
Maybe they were used for football helmets in the South & a lot perished that way. Think of that spike!
If you are going to be in the US over next weekend, you should try and make the Richmond (VA) Civil War/ Militaria show.
scott
Last time i was in Richmond, it was burning. I just might try to make it. Is this like the old time gun shows? Might could bring that 1840 A.Waters pistol & see if anybody wants to buy it.
I didn't go to the old time gun shows.
The show has a good reputation. It is BOTH a Civil War show and WW1/ WW2 Show with about 600 tables:
http://www.nstcivilwar.com/Images/other/ShowFlyer2013.pdf
The show promoter is Steve Sylvia, the publisher of North South Trader-- the magazine for Civil War collectors:
http://www.nstcivilwar.com/cgi-bin/show.asp
Depending on YOUR price, you may be able to find a buyer.
scott
I'm going if possible. 390 mi. so I guess I can drive. I like antiques & the few shows I've made in the past 20 yrs seem to be all survivalist stuff.
That's a pretty good drive. Keep me posted if you end up going.
I head out on THU to go to the show-- it is almost 650 miles for me!
scott
Back in the mid- to late 1970's, and even into the early 1980's I would see dozens of spiked helmets at the Houston and Dallas gun shows--I bought many during that period, assembling over 100 before the oil business cratered and I sold out to keep the lights on. Wish I had all of them now, prices have gone through the roof. These two recently posted I obtained almost by default because they were relatively cheap and are a good "go-with" my collection of reservist's beer steins.
Maybe it was the area I grew up in Blue. I only knew one friend as a kid who had one in his family & don't remember seeing all that many at gun shows. (Birmingham, Atlanta, Chattanooga etc.). But then again, I was saving my lawn work money for C.W. guns & swords
I think most of the pikelhaube have deteriorated over the years from improper care and storage, so we see less and less of them. I recall seeing them more frequently in the 70s than I do now, and they seem to almost always be warped or damaged in some way.
That makes sense chris-- attic/ garage (not climate controlled) storage probably has done in a good number of these over the years.
scott