Italian M33 Helmet - Opinions Please

[fischer]

Hi Guys,

What do you think of this one? I believe it's a size 66 with 59 liner.

Best Regards, fischer

[Nicolas P]

It’s an early version, sent to Spain during the Civil War and used post war by the Spanish army, which painted their helmets in that unmistakable thick brown paint. I read somewhere that thousands of these arrived in the US during the 80’s sold as surplus.

Nick

[Jack59]

Good call Nicolas, seems like the Spanish front insignia bracket was partially removed. Fisher, ou have a nice & very interesting historical helmet. The kind I enjoy. Jack

[fischer]

Cheers Guys and Thanks for the information...much appreciated!

I wish I could make out the writing on the Liner.

@Jack - Do you know how the emblem was attached to the front of the helmet?
Without any welded bracket or any bore-hole maybe it some kind of adhesive?

Here is a close-up of the helmet front and the area I think the emblem was.

Best Regards, fischer

[Jack59]

Hi Fisher, it's hard to say from the photo, the helmet as a lot of scratches, what I believed to be welding marks maybe are not after all. Have a look inside the shell. Issued in 1943 the frontal brass Army badge was to be inserted on helmets in a welded bracket. Until then with the older helmets, holes were bored & wire was used to hold the badges, my Con Ala is an exemple, bored first then a bracket was welded later on. Note how the welding was crude! Some badges were welded directly on helmets! Some were certainly glued until the brackets were installed.

M26 Con Ala, bored, then bracket added.


Inside of Con Ala, second bored hole & welding marks.


M26 Sin Ala crude welding.


M43, spot welding from manufacture.


M33 with badge.


Jack

[fischer]

Hi Jack,

Thanks for the reply...I looked inside and there are not any drill holes or welded bracket.

If my helmet ever did have an emblem, it must have been some type of adhesive due to the lack of weld or drill hole marks.

Cheers!

Best Regards, fischer