Model 1856 Dragoner Reserve / Landwehr Mannschaften (Other Ranks) issued Pickelhaube
 
Model 1856 Dragoner Reserve / Landwehr Mannschaften (Other Ranks) issued Pickelhaube for Magdeburgisches Dragoner-Regt. Nr.6 (Mainz) XVII Armee Korps.

This helmet with Neusilber (nickel-silver) fittings was worn by the following Dragoner Regiments:

  • Dragoner-Regt. von Bredow (1. Schlesisches) Nr.4 (Lüben)
  • Dragoner-Regt. Freiherr von Manteuffel (Rheinisches) Nr.5 (Hofgeismar)
  • Magdeburgisches Dragoner-Regt. Nr.6 (Mainz)
  • Dragoner-Regt. König Albert von Sachsen (Ostpreußisches ) Nr.10 (Allenstein)
  • Dragoner-Regt. von Arnim (2. Brandenburgisches) Nr.12 (Gnesen)
  • 3. Schlesisches Dragoner-Regt. Nr.15 (Hagenau)
  • 2. Hannoversches Dragoner-Regt. Nr.16 (Lüneburg)
The thick, massive, black leather body has survived wonderfully as have the massive visors.

On the front visor trim are two holes which are from a repair with two rivets to hold the front visor rim on. On the exterior they have broken off leaving holes, but that one little remaining rivet head inside removes any doubt.

It stands an amazing 11" tall, only my M1842 Infanterie Pickelhaube is taller and older.
A view of the very early issued Dragoner Model for Reserve / Landwehr worn 1824 to 1860. The shape and style is unique to this early Preußen Dragoner Adler (eagle) Wappen, which was originally worn on the Napoleonic style Dragoner Tschakos, then added unchanged to the Dragoner M1842 Pickelhauben, then finally replaced in 1860. The Landwehr Cross is massive at 37 mm and beautifully detailed; gilt of course to contrast with the Neusilber Adler. What is interesting, is that even on the M1842, on the eagle's chest there was an indent for the Landwehr cross if it had been manufactured to be that. On this Wappen, it was a initially a Line Regiment, then the Landwehr cross was added to the chest by drilling of four holes on the chest and soldering it on.
A rear view showing the twin studs on the rear spine worn by all Dragoner Regiments right up until 1915.

Note the remarkable condition of this M1856 example.
To accommodate a black parade plume, the spike top is removable.
The biggest change in 1856 was the chinscales, which from 1842 were held on with a the 3cm threaded brass bolt on the M1842. The M1856 was the 1st use of the threaded steel screw post. The next year in 1857, a new 75mm painted Kokarde made from stamped sheet-metal was introduced to replace the painted wool Kokarde which had proved less than satisfactory. Note that the washer between the chinscales and the threaded steel post is also Neusilber, correct for Dragoner.
The liner on this helmet has a very interesting repair; a two-finger section on the right side (as worn) has been replaced and sewn-in by hand.

This was done while the helmet was being used, as the threads are flattened and soiled with sweat and hair oil. Inside the dome is a tag from some French collector or museum stating (inaccurately) what it is. I never remove old museum or collector's tags as it is part of the helmet's history. So it stays.
Inside the dome it is impressed with 6D for Magdeburgisches Dragoner-Regt. Nr.6 (Mainz) XVII Armee Korps with 64 being the year it was taken into inventory of DR6, even though the helmet had been made in the 1850s. Note all the internal nuts are the domed pattern, used until 1867.