Original U.S. M1881 Army 3rd Infantry Dress Plumed Pith Helmet by Horstmann - dated 1897 Spade Grip Assembly which matches the serial number

which matches the serial number on the scabbard

in that while it is the later pattern

There are repairs (Soldering) that can be seen on the inner shell

reaching their zenith during World War I

Original U.S. M1881 Army 3rd Infantry Dress Plumed Pith Helmet by Horstmann - dated 1897 Spade Grip Assembly which matches the serial numberOriginal Item: One Only. Much like our European cousins in the 1880s, the U. S. Army started to adopted spiked pith helmets, often in white, with all brass mounts and occasionally plumes. These saw active service in the Spanish American War of 1898 especially in the tropical climate in Cuba. This helmet is dated NOV. 29 1897 on the underside of the liner, and it really is quite striking. This is not the type of helmet that was worn in the field, but