Reserve Senior NCO Pickelhaube for a Preußen Line Infanterie-Regt
 
Eigetumsstück (privately purchased) Pickelhaube from one of the Line-Infantry Regiments for a Reserve Unteroffizier mit Portepee.

Unteroffizier mit Portepee were the two highest ranks of NCO who were entitled to wear the Officer's sword knot and wear the special Unteroffizier mit Portepee Kokarde with seperate metal ring overlay on the Pickelhaube. The two ranks of Unteroffizier mit Portepee were Feldwebel (Company Sergeant Major / First Sergeant in the US) and Vizefeldwebel (Company Warrant-officer / Master Sergeant in the US).

Each infantry Battalion normally had four Feldwebel (one for each Company) who was the Etatmässiger Feldwebel - 'Der Spiess' who wore the double rows of NCO braid on the cuffs. The Vizefeldwebel wore the single row of NCO lace on the collar and cuffs.
A view of the officer quality Preußen Reserve Wappen (front plate) with Reserve cross. This high quality Wappen retains most of the original mercury-gilding with polished high and low areas such as the feathers to add contrast to the gilding. Unfortunately the little eagle on the sceptre has literally 'lost his head'. Note the voided crown and that there is no "Fatherland" Bandeau. Unlike the issued Mannschaften (Other Ranks) Wappen which carried the Landwehr cross on the chest for Landwehr and Reserve, for officers and private-purchased eagle Wappen it was different; for Reserve the Landwehr cross was mounted to the tail feathers, for Landwehr the Landwehr cross was on the chest. For both, there was no "Fatherland" Bandeau.
A view of the tall spike with rounded spike base studs; the spike top is not removable to accommodate a Haarbusch.

Note the M1871 pattern rounded Perling, which was a private-purchase option often seen on helmets worn by Privates to Unteroffizier mit Portepee. This gave rise to the collector's "NCO Perlring" urban-myth, although in fact, this helmet was worn by a Senior-NCO as indicated by the Kokarden. In this case, however, the owner simply opted to purchase this pattern of spike base, it had nothing to do with his rank.
Note that the rear spine does not incorporate the M1895 rear sliding air vent, correct for a private purchase pattern helmet.
A side profile of this example which shows the Unteroffizier mit Portepee Kokarde with the additional silver metal ring with a distinctive diagonal ribbing; this pattern of Kokarde only worn by Unteroffizier mit Portepee entitled to wear the officer's sword knot.
The liner of this example is high quality with internal leather sweatband and silk skull-cap.

The underside of the front visor is exposed leather, with only the rear one covered in red leatherette.
A view of the "Prima Qualltät' (Excellent Quality) inside the leather skull.