A relic, battlefield pick-up, German Model 1916 steel helmet. These helmets have an instantly recognizable profile that made them unmistakable relics of “The Great War.” Spiked helmets may have gotten more attention from civilians back home from their somewhat exotic appearance, but to combat veterans it was likely these helmets that had a lot more meaning--- and strong associations, mostly unpleasant we would wager.

This clearly lay outside for some time. The paint is gone, as is the liner of course, and the whole shows a crusty brown surface, but only very few small rust holes. Holes from the missing liner rivets show larger and more regular. The side lugs are in place. There are losses to the brim, likely from resting on damp ground. This was likely brought back by a veteran later touring the battlefields or imported by one of the militaria dealers whose representatives were scouring those fields for relics to sell to veterans, veterans’ posts, and others back here in the U.S. who could not afford to travel or did not want to revisit the actual scenes of carnage.

A very plain, but very telling relic.    [sr] [ph:L]

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