French Enlisted Dragoon Helmet, Pattern 1872/74

Original era manufacture. A nearcomplete example with its original chinstrap, leather liner and horsetail plume, missing only the feather plumefrom the left side of the helmet. The helmet shows its age in the form of a steel patina finish to the skull and visor and a mellow brass patina to the comb and front plate. Scattered denting to the helmet with some horsehair missing from the front of the comb. Helmets of this pattern were worn into combat during the early months of WWI.