Unknown French Helmet

**popeye** · 11-06-2013, 05:52 AM

I picked this up this summer at a flea market for next to nothing.
I know it is French but not sure for what?
At first I thought it might be a dispatch riders helmet, but now I am not sure?
Anyone got a better idea?

**Gary J** · 11-06-2013, 06:19 AM

Is it the 1915 three piece, missing two pieces .... the rim ?

Adrian helmet - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Wikipedia strikes again !!

Gary J.

**reneblacky** · 11-06-2013, 06:19 AM

This one has me stumped, looks for sure WW1 period

**reneblacky** · 11-06-2013, 06:21 AM

I think Gary J is on the money

.: World War Helmets - Casque Adrian modèle 15 :.

**Wagriff** · 11-06-2013, 06:48 AM

Well! It's Obvious, for Pete's Sake!(Whoever Pete was/is...) It's simply a French Football helmet....Those Frenchies played some Rugged football back then...

Seriously, though-Gary is right, of course. It's a partially dismantled Adrian helmet..

**Steelhead10** · 11-06-2013, 07:42 AM

did they do this to more? of the Adrian helmets because iv seen 2 more like this and one was apparently found in a bunker

**Gary J** · 11-06-2013, 07:50 AM

Quite possible .....
If the "visor/rim" got in the way, I see no reason why.
The two piece rim could very easily be removed.

As ever, the proof in the pudding, would be period photo's ...

Gary J.

**battle gear** · 11-06-2013, 08:25 AM

it could have been modified for use as a hard hat / miner's helmet

**Gary J** · 11-06-2013, 08:41 AM

All options could be open post WW1 ...

I think it was stripped post war to be used as a general hardhat/crash hat.

**Greg Pickersgill** · 11-06-2013, 05:31 PM

The first thing I thought of when seeing this is that it might be a modification of the mle15 for tank or mobile troops or even fortification troops. But so far I have not been able to prove my concept. Certainly the mle19 and mle33 helmets have similar liners with that corrugated band, but they also have a nape shield very similiar to that of the mle45 and its like, and a front bumper (again like the mle45) too. But I have peered closely at the pictures and cannot see any sign where either or both might have been. So maybe it really is no more than a partially dismantled mle15. But then again, maybe not.

Go to .: World War Helmets - France :.