Pioneer Pickelhaube M1895.
A new and absolutely fantastic item in my collection is a Pionier Pickelhaube model 1895, which belonged to a soldier from Pommersches Pionier Bataillon Nr. 2. The helmet is in fabulous condition with good preserved chinstrap and land cockades: Reich and Prussian.
The pioneer pickelhaubes unlike the infantry helmets had all the characteristic metal fittings ( front plate, spike, rear spin and front trim) made of alpaca (new silver). However that rule does not concerned pickelhaubes model 1915, which have all metal fittings made of zinc steel.
There are several stamps visible on the helmet skull: “56”- size of the helmet, 1912 – production year and the manufacturer stamp “A. Wunderlich N, Berlin”
On the rear visor there is visible unit mark “P.B.2″ and poorly visible date 1913. The mark P.B.2 indicate Pionier Batallion Nr. 2, which means the Pommersches Pionier Bataillon.Nr.2, located in Stettin.
The helmet does not have anywhere stamp B.A.II (Bekleidungsamt). Perhaps thehelmet was never stamped by that stamp.
Such helmet wore Bronislaus during his military service in 1910-1912 as well as in the first years of the Great War.