Officers had a silver metal helmet of the 1871 pattern heavy dragoon pattern. The skull was of a lighter and thinner metal than that of the other ranks. The fittings were of gilded metal apart from the Victorian crown and garter which were silver. The garter was inscribed HAMPSHIRE CARABINIERS. The central gilt rose was on a black leather backing.
The plume holder was tall, incorporating a ball-shaped base. The plume was bound to a square steel stem with a screw-thread at the end so that it could be secured inside the helmet with a wing nut. It was also screw-threaded at the top of the stem so that the gilt cup shape could be attached. The horsehair plume was topped with a gilt rosette.
The seams of the helmet were concealed with gilt decoration. The front peak had a laurel waist-band and the vertical seam at the back was covered by a gilt band of oak leaves. The edge of the helmet was gilt metal and the gilt chin chain was attached to gilt rosettes on the sides of the helmet.
