m16 italian helmet

**geelong** · 07-25-2015, 06:50 AM

I just thought I would share this with you guys. I've had this helmet for a few years now, and always thought it had a post war paint job done on it. so it has been sitting in the unwanted pile of stuff.
So today I thought I would remove the lighter green paint to see if it would have the original darker green.
As I was removing the top layer, I started to see what is in the images I have posted.
now I have no idea what this helmets past life was.
At the front, looks to be a naval insigne, at the side seem to be berlin with the Nazi symbol. I've ran out of stuff to keep going to see what the other side has on it for the moment, the local store dose not have any.
cheers mark.

**geelong** · 08-30-2015, 04:51 AM

The rest of this helmet has been done now. as for the helmet I am not shore if this is a m16 Italian helmet with the reverts added later on, or a French m24 used by the Italians.
The markings, two of them are pretty obvious, Berlin and Rome and a anchor at the front.
The other side of the helmet.
looks like to me some sort of unit markings, the 3 red dots, but above that there are more letters,,,,, ca nisciun, or could be ca hisciuh. unshore. as for what this helmet was intended for I do not have any idea.
just thought it would be interesting to post. thankyou mark

**MAP** · 08-30-2015, 05:21 AM

Very interesting helmet. Behind the Swastika is the Facist symbol.

**geelong** · 08-30-2015, 05:27 AM

yes this has me thinking that it could have been a early fascist's helmet. and not vet art helmet

**MAP** · 08-30-2015, 02:30 PM

The key is finding out what the other side says.

I wouldn't rule out allied vet art just yet.

**Gunny Hartmann** · 08-30-2015, 02:33 PM

Very interesting lid!...

**emileverbunt** · 08-31-2015, 08:51 AM

It says: cà nisciun è fess.

Now for the translation! I have no Italian. Ca = ? Nisciun = nobody, e = is, fess = ?

Good luck,
Emile

**MAP** · 08-31-2015, 02:26 PM

This translation of "cà nisciun è fess" is from my friend.

"....Ahahah, it’s an expression from Naples, but used all over. It’s dialect. It means literally, “here none is a fool”. It’s used when people try to scam you or when you think something will make you worse off so you say…hey I’m not a fool!..."

I'm liking this lid! Great find.

Michael