Preußen Landwehr Officer's Dragoner Regt Pickelhaube
 
Preußen Landwehr Officer's Dragoner Regt. Pickelhaube. Although Line foot units such as Infantry adopted the round spike base and visor in 1867, Dragoner (Dragoons) continued to use cruciform spike bases and squared front visors. As mounted troops, they wore rounded gilt chinscales.

This helmet was worn by the following Dragoner Regiments:

  • Westfälisches Dragoner-Regt. Nr.7 (Saarbrücken) XXI Armee Korps
  • Dragoner-Regt. König Friedrich III (2.Schlesisches) Nr.8 (Kreuzburg/Bernstadt/Namslau) VI Armee Korps
  • Dragoner-Regt. von Wedel (Pommersches) Nr.11 (Lyck) XX Armee Korps
  • Schleswig-Holsteinisches Dragoner-Regt. Nr.13 (Metz) XVI Armee Korps
  • Kurmärkisches Dragoner-Regt. Nr.14 (Kolmar i.E.) XV Armee Korps


This helmet was also worn for a time by:
  • 1. Brandenburgisches Dragoner-Regt. Nr.2 (Schwedt a.O.) III Armee Korps (until 1913)
  • Dragoner-Regt. König Karl I von Rumänien (1.Hannoversches ) Nr.9 (Metz) XVI Armee Korps (until 1899)
A view of the Preußen Landwehr officer's Dragoner eagle Wappen (front plate) with the distinctive upswept wings of the Dragoner. Another unique feature of Dragoner eagle Wappen is the hilt of the sword curves upward on both sides and there is no gap bewteen the legs and the tail feathers. The Landwehr cross on the chest and lack of Fatherland Bandeau denotes this Wappen as Landwehr; Reserve would carry the Landwehr cross on the tail feathers. This Wappen retains all the original mercury-gilding and as is typical for a high-quality Wappen, low areas on alternating feathers as well as some high areas such as the "FR" have been polished to add contrast to the gilding.
A view of the Preußen Landwehr Officer's Dragoner Regt Pickelhaube profile. All Dragoner Regiments were allowed to wear a Haarbusch (parade plume). To accommodate a Haarbusch, the tall spike top is removable.
A view of the cruciform spike base and private purchase pattern Perlring.
As all Dragoner Regiments were entitled to wear a helmet Trichter and Haarbusch (parade plume) on parade, the spike top is removable to enable a Trichter to be mounted.
The helmet liner is the post-1880 officer pattern with a high quality calf-skin sweatband coupled by a silk skull cap. The original owner wrote his initials on the liner. Having searched for my own beret many times in a pile of berets in the Coat-Room at the Mess, I assure you this makes perfect sense.
The matching Pickelhaube and Überrock for a Hauptmann (Captain) in Dragoner Regt. König Friedrich III (2.Schlesisches) Nr. 8. To see the Überrock click Here.