Original Item: Only One Available. This is a nice example of a genuine World War I M1915 French Army "Adrian" steel helmet for Artillery Troops. The still helmet retains its original 1st Pattern Leather Liner and leather chinstrap( which is miraculously unbroken). The front of the helmet still has its original French RF (République Française) marked Artilleryman's badge with crossed cannons under a flaming bomb attached to the front. This helmet has a period field applied layer of Moutard (Mustard) colored paint over the original factory applied Horizon Blue, which would indicate that this was most likely used by an Artillery unit assigned to one of the many Colonial units serving with the French Army.

The leather liner is in good shape, with an intact top tie, and the size is probably around 56-57cm, with the leather still supple. The original corrugated aluminum liner surround is still partly present, and the chin strap is still fully intact, though worn.

Overall condition of the helmet is very good, with the expected patina of age. The shell shows some minor dings, scratches and paint wear consistent with age and long service. If you were looking for a nice example of a rare Adrian helmet, this is it!

The M15 Adrian helmet (French: Casque Adrian) was a combat helmet issued to the French Army during World War I. It was the first standard helmet of the French Army and was designed when millions of French troops were engaged in trench warfare, and head wounds from the falling shrapnel generated by the new technique of indirect fire became a frequent cause of battlefield casualties. Introduced in 1915, it was the first modern steel helmet and it served as the basic helmet of many armies well into the 1930s. Initially issued to infantry soldiers, in modified form they were also issued to cavalry and tank crews. A subsequent version, the M26, was used during World War II.