WW2 Original German Tropical Heel (Army) Pith Helmet Shields Set Marked RK By Rudolf Karneth & Sohn
SKU: 891
Original/Reproduction: Original
Availability: In-stock
Manufacturer: RK/ Rudolf Karneth & Sohn
Date Manufactured: 1939-1945
Materials / Construction: Die struck zinc-alloy base
Condition: Excellent
Price: $200.00
Seller Type: WW2C
Seller ID: JMW
Code: PS50
Return Policy: 3-day inspection and return policy on used guns and accessories.
Description
Exceptional pair of matching Shields for the Tropical pith helmet (Tropenhelms Abzeichen) in excellent condition, marked "R.K." on the reverse indicates manufacture by Rudolf Karneth & Sohn of Gablonz. This maker-marked insignia set typically includes the national army eagle shield and the national tricolor shield.
This Original Heer (Army) tropical pith helmet shield set from World War II. Maker marked “RK” for Rudolf Karneth & Sohn. This is a matching pair of original period insignia that were intended to be worn on the German tropical sun helmet. The Heer Eagle Shield would be worn on the left side of the helmet and the National Colors Shield would be worn on the right side of the helmet. Both of these shields are in excellent condition and would be of great interest to the advanced German militaria collector. These would also be very desirable for the restoration of an original Heer pith helmet.
Original Heer Tropical Pith Helmet Insignia
This German Tropical Helmet was issued to the German military forces serving in hot-weather and tropical environments. The characteristic metal side shields on the helmet were designed to protect the wearer’s face from the sun and from rain. The typical German Heer pith helmet had two different types of side shields. There was the Heer Eagle Shield displaying the German Army eagle and the National Emblem in the center. The other type of shield was the National Colors Shield displaying the traditional German national colors of black, white, and red.
- Heer Eagle Shield – displaying the German Army eagle and national emblem (Eagle, in German Army terminology).
- National Colors Shield – a pith helmet side shield made up of black, white and red stripes.
This type of shield displayed the traditional German national colors. Note on Mounting the Shields on a Helmet: Typically, the Eagle shield is mounted on the left side of the helmet and the National Colors on the right side. RK – Rudolf Karneth & Sohn The "RK" maker's mark is of special interest because Rudolf Karneth & Sohn was one of the German manufacturers of military and political insignia. Most of these companies produced heraldic and other emblems to be worn as collar insignia, aglets to be sewn to waistbands, collar disc bases, helmet, hat and cap insignia, cuff title and other uniform accessories.
These types of items are highly sought after by collectors because they have the makers mark on them. The collector can identify the item, research it, and then properly catalog it for their collection. The RK maker mark on these items refers to Rudolf Karneth & Sohn. They were a maker of German military and political insignia, during the period of WWII. This helmet insignia set consists of the two typical forms of German Army helmet insignia of World War II for Heer pith helmets. The two formed metal shields are attached to the pith helmet by their two attachments each (one on the top of the shield and one on the bottom). Condition This is an original 80+ year old Heer pith helmet shield set in excellent condition. Details of the raised areas are still sharp and very clear. All important details like the eagle, the national colors and the lettering are still very clear. Normal wear and tear, patina, oxidation, wear to the finish and scuff marks can be found on this item. It has been well handled in the past decades and there is no major damage to the item. The reverse of the shields is still intact with all the relevant construction details as well as the RK maker marking. The reverse of the two helmet shields are typical for pith helmets of the German Heer. And on the reverse of both shield there is also the maker marking "RK" of the German Insignia manufacturer Rudolf Karneth & Sohn. Collector Significance Original German tropical equipment are very popular items to collect within WWII militaria.
Heer pith helmet shields are of particular interest, as the majority of completed German Heer tropical pith helmets are found to be missing one or both of the pith helmet shields. A matching set of helmets insignia is extremely desirable to collectors of German WWII tropical military equipment and uniforms as tropical helmets are so often found without the emblems that were once attached to the helmet. This Heer pith helmet shield set is of great interest to the collector of German tropical equipment and uniform of the WWII period. As it is maker marked by Rudolf Karneth & Sohn with the “RK” stamp, it is a particularly desirable item. The set is in excellent condition for a nearly 80-year-old item. The shields have strong and sharp relief and are of the typical period construction for German pith helmet insignia.
Highlights
- Original WWII German manufacture
- German Heer (Army) tropical pith helmet shield set
- Two-piece eagle and national colors shield configuration
- Maker marked “RK”
- Manufactured by Rudolf Karneth & Sohn
- Period metal construction
- Original-style reverse attachment hardware
- Strong, well-defined design details
- Excellent overall condition
- Desirable original German tropical headgear insignia
- A high-class collector's item for advanced WWII German militaria and/or headgear collectors.
A very attractive original WWII German Heer pith helmet shield set by Rudolf Karneth & Sohn, the RK maker marking present. This is a highly collectible item of original German tropical headgear insignia. A rare opportunity to complete your WWII German militaria collection with this excellent item.
