Pickelhaube Characteristics & Rank Guide
 
Spitze (Spike) and Spike Base
All ranks utilized a cruciform base for the spike up to 1867. After this date only certain units retained the cruciform base while the vast majority of foot-units converted to a round spike base. Up to 1887, issued spikes tended to be quite tall but by 1887 issue spikes had been reduced considerably in height. Due to a gradual increase in spike height for reasons of appearance, an AKO of May 15 1899 set the height at 9.5 cm for officer's spikes and 8.5 cm for all other ranks. To aid in ventilation, in 1887 the twin vent holes on issued spike necks were increased to five for Foot-Troops. In some contingents in the Imperial German Army, officers wore a fluted spike and Mannschaften wore a smooth spike. In other contingents, all wore smooth or all ranks wore a fluted spike. Generally, on privately purchased helmets, spikes tend to be taller and of better quality. The chart below indicates which units had which type of spike, spike base, and front visor after 1867. I have not included a separate column for Artillery, as it is assumed that all Artillery units utilized a ball top rather than a spike. The only exception to this, is Bayern (Bavaria) who utilized a spike for Artillery until 1916.
Spike Spike Base Front Visor
Anhalt Mannschaften and Officer Smooth Round Round
Baden Mannschaften (All Except Dragoon) Smooth Round Round
Baden Officer (All except Dragoon and Landjägerkorps) Smooth Round Round
Baden Dragoon Mannschaften Smooth Cruciform Squared
Baden Dragoon Officer and Landjägerkorps Smooth Cruciform Squared
Bayern Mannschaften Infantry, Train, Pioneer Smooth Round Round
Bayern Mannschaften Artillery, Chevaulager, Schwere-Reiter Fluted Cruciform Squared
All Bayern Officers Fluted Cruciform Squared
Braunschweig Mannschaften & Officer Smooth Round Round
Hessen Mannschaften & Officer (Including Dragoons) Fluted Cruciform Round
Mecklenburg-Schwerin Mannschaften & Officer (Except Dragoons) Fluted Round Round
Mecklenburg-Schwerin Mannschaften & Officer Dragoons Fluted Cruciform Squared
Oldenburg Mannschaften & Officer (Except Dragoons) Smooth Round Round
Oldenburg Mannschaften & Officer Dragoons Smooth Cruciform Squared
Preußen Mannschaften & Officer (Except Dragoons) Smooth Round Round
Preußen Mannschaften & Officer Dragoons Smooth Cruciform Squared
Sachsen Mannschaften & Officer Smooth Round Round
Sachsen -Coburg Mannschaften & Officer Smooth Round Round
Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt Mannschaften & Officer Smooth Round Round
Württemberg Mannschaften Infantry, Train, Pioneer Smooth Round Round
Württemberg Mannschaften Dragoon Smooth Cruciform Squared
Württemberg Landjägerkorps All Ranks Smooth Round Squared
Württemberg Border Guards Smooth Round Squared
All Württemberg Officers Smooth Cruciform Squared
Click on the thumbnail picture for a larger picture and a full explanation.
1842 to 1867
Issue Spike
1867 to 1887
Issue Spike
1887 to 1915
Issue spike
Fluted
Spikes
Private Purchase
Officer Spike
Removable Spike Tops
A removable spike top is not an indicator of a privately purchased helmet. It simply means that the regiment in question was entitled to wear a helmet Trichter and Haarbusch (parade plume) on parade. The spike top is removable to enable a Trichter to be mounted. Removable spike tops are found in all patterns of Pickelhaube.