Italian M33 helmet out of the woodwork in NZ

[User14158]

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[Steelhead10]

Hi Rob,

Are there any markings on this? The shape appears more likely to be the Bulgarian M51 than the Italian M33.

Italy M33 MVSN - Brendon's Helmets
Bulgaria M51/72 - Brendon's Helmets

Bulgarian M72 ??

Matt

[User14158]

Thanks Matt. The M33 and M51 are nearly identical, intended to be clones of one another (as opposed to the later m51/72) but this liner band differs from the M51 in the location of the punched holes.

[Jack59]

Hi Rob, here is a Bulgarian M72 metallic headband for comparaison with yours. The M51 original metallic headband was single & flimsy. The M72 (improved with a 2nd metallic band copied from the Italian M33). I believe your helmet to be a Bulgarian M72, hardly no curves on the brim. The M33 brim as a little curve. It's star rivets had 2, 6 or 8 branches, the Bulgarian as 4, seen here. Final confirmation is the stamping on the back inside brim for Italian M33s, no stamping on Bulgarian helmets.





Italian M33 postwar.


Regards
Jack