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| The Model 1887 Pickelhaube |
Several changes were introduced in 1887 to reduce the amount of brass used and to simplify construction. The body was reduced in height and the front brass or silver peak trim was removed and replaced by a ribbed edge pressed directly into the leather, identical to that of the Preußen pattern Tschako. These modifications to the front visor did not occur on Pickelhauben of the Garde Regiments, or Grenadier Regiments 1 to 12, who all retained the metal visor trim.
Other significant changes for all Foot Troops, included a new pattern of leather chinstrap and a shorter spike with five ventilation holes and no Perlring. | 
Photo German Army Museum Rastatt | |
 | For Foot Troops, the brass chinscales were changed to an adjustable leather chinstrap which hooked onto a loop and hook system which replaced the previous threaded screw-post. Garde Regiments were fitted with their same brass or silver chinscales, but with the unique M1887 hook and eye.
The intent was for these metal chinscales to be worn only on parade and in garrison; for field duty the helmets of Garde Regiments would be fitted with leather chinstraps as worn by the Line Regiments. | |
To further aid in ventilation, the M1887 spike was significantly shorter than previous models. The previous twin ventilation holes on the spike neck were increased to five or six, although it seems that few contingents used six ventilation holes, as these seem to be found only on helmets from Baden and Hessen.
For foot troops the rounded Perlring on the spike neck was replaced by a solitary protruding ring around the circumference of the spike neck. Cavalry, however, and apparently Artillery (until 1895?) continued to use spike necks with a Perlring. |  | |
Although more suitable for the Pickelhaube Characteristics & Rank Guide, a few significant changes to the Preußen eagle Wappens occurred between 1887 and 1891 that are worth mentioning here. The regiments of the Garde Grenadier who since 1842 had worn a swept-wing eagle Wappen without the Garde star, were appointed to wear the Garde star by AKO 28 August 1889.
In 1888, the first pattern Grenadier line eagle Wappen with FWR on the chest, worn by all line Grenadier Regiments, began to be changed to a swept-wing eagle Wappen without the Garde star, which had previously been worn by the Garde Grenadier regiments. The line Grenadier Regts adopted the swept-wing eagle Wappen and retired the old Grenadier eagle Wappen on the following dates:
- 1888 by Grenadier Regt. Nr. 4
- 1897 by Grenadier Regt. Nr. 2
- 1897 by Grenadier Regt. Nr. 7 with Bandeau "22 März 1797"
- 1898 by Grenadier Regt. Nr. 8
- 1900 by Grenadier Regt. Nr. 1 with Bandeau "1655"
- 1901 by Grenadier Regt. Nr. 3
- 1913 by Grenadier Regts. Nr. 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, and 12
- 1913 by Grenadier Regt. Nr. 9 with Bandeau "COLBERG.1807"
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| References |
