WW1 French M15 Artillery Helmet - Early Light Blue & Named 'Augon'

Fresh out of the woodwork & in remarkable condition this is a very good untouched & early manufactured M15 Adrian helmet in the harder to come by light blue factory paint of the first 1915 issues.
As is well recorded this initial light blue colour was not long lived as it was considered too conspicuous by the troops in the trenches & thus darkened after 1916. Those already existing were simply hand repainted in a darker blue & new productions coated in the much darker shade before leaving the factory. This piece , unlike most emcountered, was never repainted & remained in its early factory light blue for the duration of WW1. The crossed cannons insignia denotes artillery troops . To the underside of the rear lip is the french name 'Augon' with some further writing to the underside of the front. Liner is of the multi construction second pattern & has folded newspaper to its underside no doubt inserted for insulation at the time by the soldier. Chinstrap remains intact & is in very good condition.

Code: 13647