Imperial German 7th Grenadier Regiment NCO Pickelhaube

An Army-issued pickelhaube of the Prussian 7th Grenadier Regiment (the 2nd West Prussian Regiment) which carried the title of “Kaiser Wilhelm I”. The brass pickelhaube front plate is a garde unit style eagle with the date banner of “22 Marz 1797”, the date of birth of Kaiser Wilhelm I. The pickelhaube is unit marked in the interior rear visor to the 7th Grenadier Regiment and dated 1896 and 1902. It is additionally marked “1.B.”, “4.C.”, and “I”. The helmet body is leather which shows the typical light crazing from age. The helmet plate, front visor trim, rear spine, chin strap buckles, and spike are all in brass. Both the national and Prussian cockades are present. The leather chin strap is present and has a break in the strap that exhibits a repair that by all indications was done during the period of wear. The leather helmet liner is present and it is somewhat dry but is is intact and complete with the drawstring. All of the brass components of the helmet have a dark patina. It appears that the brass may have been polished at some point but this was obviously quite a long time ago. Overall the helmet is quite impressive and in very good condition.