My Luger's new Prussian Friend <img BORDER="0" src='http://boards.rennlist.com/luger/pic.gif'>

Milt Keller · 12-18-2001, 10:36 PM

Thought you other Luger Lovers would like to see what I bought to keep my 1916 DWM company. Enjoy!

This Pickelhaube, or spiked helmet is an authentic piece of Prussian Military History. It was produced in 1887 or 1888 and issued to a Prussian recruit of the 1st battalion, 86th infantry in 1888, definitely worn by another soldier in the 3rd battalion of this regiment a few years later. After ten years of use these helmets went out of service, received a cleaning and rework and got stored in a depot.

Possibly in August 1914 it was issued to a soldier of the 86th infantry or of the 86th reserve regiment (most German regiments were prepared to raise an additional reserve regiment when mobilized) and saw service in France. The IX army corps to which the 86 infantry belonged joined the campaign in France General von Kluck's 1st army directly marching upon Paris. Maybe this helmet witnessed the clashes at Tirlemont in Belgium and at Mons against the British Expeditionary Force. It may have seen the battle at the river Ourcq and at the Marne, saw the retreat to the Aisne and participated in the first heavy trench warfare battle in Champagne in spring 1915? If it could only talk!

...information on Pickelhaube by Dr. Frank Buchholz, Essen

Milt Keller

http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/M_1887front.JPG

12-18-2001, 10:47 PM

These bring such big money I could never bring myself to shell out that much when it would buy another Luger! I guess that's what they mean by diversification of your portfolio. Great helmet Milt. Jerry Burney

Milt Keller · 12-18-2001, 11:03 PM

Jerry

I wanted one of these for over 40 years and FINALLY got one! I have a couple of WW1 DWM's, which is all I really need at this point. In California, gun ownership is seen as something NRA'ish...and besides,...I wanted it and at age 56, I got it! I told my wife that I'm really the only person that really knows what Milt wants!

Merry Christmas!

Milt Keller

Dan Clemons · 12-19-2001, 12:10 AM

Where did you find it?

Dan

Milt Keller · 12-19-2001, 12:32 AM

Having told a very good friend in Germany that I had wanted one of these for a number of years, and him being a REAL collector of these, said he would keep an eye out for a good one for me. I also checked E-Bay and found a number of these. You really have to know what you are looking at. They try to pass more phoney ones off, hoping you can't tell the difference...but this friend of mine could!

Milt Keller

12-20-2001, 01:01 PM

Congrats a great looking helmet. I approach collecting from a wide perspective and I see Lugers and any other single type of item as just a part of a whole picture, most people like me are fondly referred to as damned generalist. I focus on time periods and nationalities but would never make a good French WWI infantry button collector for instance...I like a lot of different kinds of arms and equipmet. Lugers have always been an area of concentration but I am careful to realize that there is a whole world of interesting and related artifacts out there. For instance: about 20-22 years ago I was approached by the owner of one of the largest Luger collections in the US at that time in regards to obtaining a represenative example of a WWI German feldgray tunic so he could display it with other militay effects to add some "color" to his Imperial section of his Luger Collection. I had none I wanted to part with but did offer him a price range and a place to inquire. He was astounded when I told him that an issue fieldgray tunic would cost in the same range as a decent WWI era Luger (actually a bit less but close). He thought he could pick one up for under $100. About 10-12 years later I saw him again and he had never broken down and bought a Tunic. He made a mistake....today that tunic would bring 2 to 3 times the price of a standard WWI Luger. Spike Helmets have and will IMO opinion really increase in value...more than most other types of things from that period.

12-18-2001, 10:36 PM	#1
Milt Keller User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 191 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	My Luger's new Prussian Friend Thought you other Luger Lovers would like to see what I bought to keep my 1916 DWM company. Enjoy! This Pickelhaube, or spiked helmet is an authentic piece of Prussian Military History. It was produced in 1887 or 1888 and issued to a Prussian recruit of the 1st battalion, 86th infantry in 1888, definitely worn by another soldier in the 3rd battalion of this regiment a few years later. After ten years of use these helmets went out of service, received a cleaning and rework and got stored in a depot. Possibly in August 1914 it was issued to a soldier of the 86th infantry or of the 86th reserve regiment (most German regiments were prepared to raise an additional reserve regiment when mobilized) and saw service in France. The IX army corps to which the 86 infantry belonged joined the campaign in France General von Kluck's 1st army directly marching upon Paris. Maybe this helmet witnessed the clashes at Tirlemont in Belgium and at Mons against the British Expeditionary Force. It may have seen the battle at the river Ourcq and at the Marne, saw the retreat to the Aisne and participated in the first heavy trench warfare battle in Champagne in spring 1915? If it could only talk! ...information on Pickelhaube by Dr. Frank Buchholz, Essen Milt Keller http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/M_1887front.JPG

12-18-2001, 10:47 PM	#2
l Guest Posts: n/a	Re: I want one! These bring such big money I could never bring myself to shell out that much when it would buy another Luger! I guess that's what they mean by diversification of your portfolio. Great helmet Milt. Jerry Burney

12-18-2001, 11:03 PM	#3
Milt Keller User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 191 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: I want one! Jerry I wanted one of these for over 40 years and FINALLY got one! I have a couple of WW1 DWM's, which is all I really need at this point. In California, gun ownership is seen as something NRA'ish...and besides,...I wanted it and at age 56, I got it! I told my wife that I'm really the only person that really knows what Milt wants! Merry Christmas! Milt Keller

12-19-2001, 12:10 AM	#4
Dan Clemons User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Grants Pass, OR Posts: 184 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: I want one! Where did you find it? Dan

12-19-2001, 12:32 AM	#5
Milt Keller User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 191 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: I want one! Having told a very good friend in Germany that I had wanted one of these for a number of years, and him being a REAL collector of these, said he would keep an eye out for a good one for me. I also checked E-Bay and found a number of these. You really have to know what you are looking at. They try to pass more phoney ones off, hoping you can't tell the difference...but this friend of mine could! Milt Keller

12-20-2001, 01:01 PM	#6
BCC Guest Posts: n/a	Great item Congrats a great looking helmet. I approach collecting from a wide perspective and I see Lugers and any other single type of item as just a part of a whole picture, most people like me are fondly referred to as damned generalist. I focus on time periods and nationalities but would never make a good French WWI infantry button collector for instance...I like a lot of different kinds of arms and equipmet. Lugers have always been an area of concentration but I am careful to realize that there is a whole world of interesting and related artifacts out there. For instance: about 20-22 years ago I was approached by the owner of one of the largest Luger collections in the US at that time in regards to obtaining a represenative example of a WWI German feldgray tunic so he could display it with other militay effects to add some "color" to his Imperial section of his Luger Collection. I had none I wanted to part with but did offer him a price range and a place to inquire. He was astounded when I told him that an issue fieldgray tunic would cost in the same range as a decent WWI era Luger (actually a bit less but close). He thought he could pick one up for under $100. About 10-12 years later I saw him again and he had never broken down and bought a Tunic. He made a mistake....today that tunic would bring 2 to 3 times the price of a standard WWI Luger. Spike Helmets have and will IMO opinion really increase in value...more than most other types of things from that period.