The metal Pickelhaube of the Jäger zu Pferd (hunters on horseback) from 1895 to 1918
1895
On 11.5.1895 the „Meldereiter-Detachements“ were founded experimentally, which were renamed on 25.3.1897 to „Detachements der Jäger zu Pferd“ (Detachments of Hunters on Horseback). With an AKO of 24.8.1897 they received new uniforms with metal helmets, which were based on those of the "Meldereiter".
When the detachments of the Jäger zu Pferd became budgetary on 25.3.1899, they were renamed „Eskadrons“. Until the existing Eskadrons were organized into one of the new regiments, the following helmets were prescribed for the Jäger zu Pferd of the various army corps:
Enlisted men of the Garde-Jäger zu Pferd
- Helmet shell made of blackened sheet steel, the painting on the inside of the visors was similar to that of the cuirassier helmets.
- Squared front and rear visor, the latter pointed towards the center at the bottom and consisted of a smooth plate. The metal trims were 0.5 cm wide and were made of tombac, just like the 15 large bolts.
- The smooth spike was 9.0 cm high overall and the spikebase was 4-times shaped like a leaf with 5 ventilation holes in the neck, both were made of tombac.
- As decoration a nickel silver guard star of the Garde du Corps was worn on the forehead.
- The curved chinscales were 3.2/1.4 cm wide and were made of tombac, just like the M91 rosettes. Cockades were 6.5 cm in diameter.
- For parades the „Garde-Jäger zu Pferd“ wore a white hairbush.
Officers of the Garde-Jäger zu Pferd
The officer's helmets of the Garde-Jäger zu Pferde assigned to the guard corps were similar in construction and dimensions to the officer's helmets of the cuirassiers with the following color schemes:
- Helmet shells made of blackened and polished steel plate, the inner surfaces were similar to the officers' helmets of the Cuirassiers.
- Gilded spike, 6-times fluted and 13.0 - 14.0 cm high in total. The gilded spikebase was 4-times shaped like a leaf and had 4 cross shaped vents in the oxidized neck. The 0,5 cm wide trims and the 17 large bolts were gilded as well.
- As ornament the guards wore a silver guard star of the Garde du Corps.
- The curved chinscales with cloverleaf rosettes were gilded and measured 2.7/1.4 cm in width. The cockades were 6.5 cm in diameter.
- For parades, the officers of the „Garde-Jäger zu Pferd“ wore a white hair bush.
Enlisted men of Jäger zu Pferd assigned to the various army corps
- Helmet shell made of blackened sheet steel, the painting on the inside of the visors was similar to that of the cuirassier helmets.
- Squared front and rear visor, the latter pointed towards the center at the bottom and consisted of a smooth plate. The metal trims were 0.5 cm wide and were made of tombac, just like the 15 large bolts.
- A smooth spike and 4-times leaf-shaped spikebase with 5 ventilation holes in the neck, both were made of tombac.
- A tombac line eagle with the banner "Mit Gott für König und Vaterland" and "FR" on the breast was worn as decoration.
- The curved chinscales were 3.2/1.4 cm wide and were made of tombac, just like the M91 rosettes. Cockades were 6.5 cm in diameter.
Officers of Jäger zu Pferd assigned to the various army corps
- The officer's helmets of the Jäger zu Pferde assigned to the various army corps were similar in design and dimensions to the officer's helmets of the cuirassiers with the following colors:
- Helmet shell made of blackened and polished steel sheet, the inner surfaces like the officers of the cuirassiers.
- Gilded spike, 6-times fluted and 13.0 - 14.0 cm high in total. The gilded spikebase was 4-times shaped like a leaf and had 4 cross shaped vents in the oxidized neck. The 0,5 cm wide trims and the 17 large bolts were gilded as well.
- A gilded line eagle with the banner "Mit Gott für König und Vaterland" and "FR" on the breast was worn as decoration.
- The curved chinscales were 2.7/1.4 cm wide and were gilded like the clover leaf rosettes. Cockades measured 6.5 cm in diameter.
In 1901 the Jäger-Regiment zu Pferd Nr. 1 was formed, but initially it was just a combined one. In the years 1905 to 1913, the 13 Jäger zu Pferd regiments were gradually formed on October 1. For these new regiments, beginning with regiments No. 1 to 3 on October 1, 1905, the helmet configurations listed below were prescribed. The non-commissioned officers and enlisted men of the regiments no. 7 to 13, which were formed only in 1913, partly still wore a dragoon helmet until 1915, because out of consideration for the available budget, as so often in those times, not all units could be immediately provided with a metal helmet.
Enlisted men of the Jäger zu Pferd Regiments No. 1 to 3 (from 1.10.1905), No. 4 (from 1.10.1906), No. 7 (from 1.10.1913) - (Fig. 1)
- Helmet shell made of blackened sheet steel, the paint on the inside of the visors was similar to that of the cuirassier helmets.
- Squared front and rear visor, the latter pointed at the bottom to the center and consisted of a smooth plate. The trims were 0.5 cm wide and were made of nickel silver, as were the 15 large bolts.
- Smooth spike and 4-times shaped like a leaf spikebase with 5 ventilation holes in the neck, both consisted of nickel silver.
- A nickel silver dragoon eagle with banner "Mit Gott für König und Vaterland" was worn as decoration.
- The curved chinscales were 3.2/1.4 cm wide and, like the M91 rosettes, were made of tombac. Cockades 6.5 cm in diameter.
Officers of the Jäger zu Pferd Regiments No. 1 to 3 (from 1.10.1905), No. 4 (from 1.10.1906), No. 7 (from 1.10.1913) - (Fig. 2)
The officer helmets of the Jäger zu Pferd were similar in design and dimensions to the officer helmets of the cuirassiers with the following color schemes:
- The helmet shell was shaped like the cuirassier officers' helmets and was made of blackened and polished steel plate, the interior surfaces were again similar to the cuirassier officers' helmets.
- Silver-plated spike, 6-times fluted and 13,0 - 14,0 cm high in total. The silver-plated spikebase was 4-times shaped like a leaf and had 4 cross shaped vents in the oxidized neck. The 0,5 cm wide trims and 17 large bolts were silver plated as well.
- A silver-plated dragoon eagle with banner "Mit Gott für König und Vaterland" (With God for King and Country) was worn as ornament.
- The curved chinscales were 2.7/1.4 cm wide and gilded just like the clover leaf rosettes. Cockades 6.5 cm in diameter.
Enlisted men of the Jäger zu Pferd Regiments No. 5 (from 1.10.1908), No. 6 (from 1.10.1910)
- Helmet shell made of blackened sheet steel, the paint on the inside of the visors was similar to that of the cuirassier helmets.
- Squared front and rear visor, the latter pointed at the bottom to the center and consisted of a smooth plate. The trims were 0.5 cm wide and were made of nickel silver, as were the 15 large bolts.
- Smooth spike and 4-times shaped like a leaf spikebase with 5 ventilation holes in the neck, both consisted of nickel silver.
- A nickel silver dragoon eagle with banner "Mit Gott für König und Vaterland" was worn as decoration.
- The curved chinscales were 3.2/1.4 cm wide and, like the M91 rosettes, were made of black-stained tombac (HOWEVER, THIS REGULATION WAS REVERSED FOR THE OFFICERS IN AUGUST 1913, WHICH PROBABLY ALSO APPLIED TO THE ENLISTED MEN‘S HELMETS). The cockades had a diameter of 6.5 cm.
Officers of the Jäger zu Pferd Regiments No. 5 (from 1.10.1908), No. 6 (from 1.10.1910)
The officer helmets of the Jäger zu Pferd were similar in design and dimensions to the officer helmets of the cuirassiers with the following color schemes:
- The helmet shell was shaped like the cuirassier officers' helmets and was made of blackened and polished steel plate, the interior surfaces were again similar to the cuirassier officers' helmets.
- Silver-plated spike, 6-times fluted and 13,0 - 14,0 cm high in total. The silver-plated spikebase was 4-times shaped like a leaf and had 4 cross shaped vents in the oxidized neck. The 0,5 cm wide trims and 17 large bolts were silver plated as well.
- A silver-plated dragoon eagle with banner "Mit Gott für König und Vaterland" (With God for King and Country) was worn as ornament.
- The curved chinscales were 2.7/1.4 cm wide and blackened just like the clover leaf rosettes (HOWEVER, THIS REGULATION WAS REVERSED FOR THE OFFICERS IN AUGUST 1913, WHICH PROBABLY ALSO APPLIED TO THE ENLISTED MEN‘S HELMETS). The cockades had a diameter of 6.5 cm.
Enlisted men of the Jäger zu Pferd Regiments No. 8-13 (from 1.10.1913) - (Fig. 3)
- Helmet shell made of blackened sheet steel, the paint on the inside of the visors was similar to that of the cuirassier helmets.
- Squared front and rear visor, the latter pointed towards the center at the bottom and consisted of a smooth plate (similar to Fig. 20). The trims were 0.5 cm wide and were made of tombac, as were the only 15 large bolts.
- Smooth spike and a 4-times shaped like a leaf spikebase with 5 ventilation holes in the neck, both consisted of tombac.
- A tombac dragoon eagle with banner "Mit Gott für König und Vaterland" was worn as ornament.
- The curved chinscales were 3.2/1.4 cm wide and, like the M91 rosettes, were made of tombac. Cockades 6.5 cm in diameter.
Officers of the Jäger zu Pferd Regiments No. 8-13 (from 1.10.1913) - (Fig. 4)
The officer helmets of the Jäger zu Pferd were similar in design and dimensions to the officer helmets of the cuirassiers with the following color schemes:
- The helmet shell was shaped like the cuirassier officers' helmets and was made of blackened and polished steel plate, the interior surfaces were again similar to the cuirassier officers' helmets.
- Gilded spike, 6-times fluted and 13.0 - 14.0 cm high in total. The gilded spikebase was 4-times shaped like a leaf and had 4 cross shaped vents in the oxidized neck. The 0,5 cm wide trims and the 17 large bolts were gilded as well.
- A gilded dragoon eagle with banner "Mit Gott für König und Vaterland" (With God for King and Country) was worn as ornament.
- The curved chinscales were 2.7/1.4 cm wide and gilded just like the clover leaf rosettes. Cockades 6.5 cm in diameter.
1915
As with all the other troops, a new helmet M1915 was introduced for the „Jäger zu Pferd“ on 21.9.1915. This was characterized by the following features:
Enlisted men:
- The removable spike was 8.5 cm high and had a bayonet catch. In maneuver or field service the spike was not worn and left in garrison.
- In maneuver or field service, the M91 chinstrap was worn in place of the chinscales.
- The cockades kepts a diameter of 6.5 cm. If some metal war helmets were equipped with smaller cockades this was surely only due to the lack of material during the war, because the center part of the cockades would be almost invisible behind the wider chinscales. According to regulations, however, all areas of the cockades had to be clearly visible. Should the monarchy not have perished after the war, these small imperfections would certainly have been corrected.
- Moreover, during the war, the fittings and Wappen were made of galvanized or gray steel. The gray color was produced chemically or even by paint application.
Officers:
- Even for officers, the spike was always removable and not worn for maneuvers or field duty. However, a bayonet catch was not mandatory.
- In addition, officers now also wore a leather chinstrap with the M1891 rosettes on maneuver or field duty. But special chinscales covers, made of the same material as the helmet covers, seems to be also permitted. The chinscales were worn on all occasions when a cover was not prescribed.
- The officers' cockades continued to have a diameter of 6.5 cm, as with the enlisted men.