Are these Italians???

[Theodor]

The emblem on his arm is a machinegun and number 1680 over it. The cap badge has crossed rifles /?/, a crown and number 64. Is he Italian? From what unit is he?

[Theodor]

Here some more, the same man is the 3rd to the left - I mean the one that left out of the scan so that the insignia of the others can be seen closer

[Glenn2438]

Italians

Theodor,

they are definitely WW1 Italian and probably members of an independent machine gun company.

The first photograph shows a Lieutenant with the 1915 pattern badges of rank on the cuff. The second photograph shows two captains.

Regards
Glenn

[Theodor]

Thank you very much, Glenn! The pictures are from 1919, seems these men are from an Italian unit in Bulgaria /as Bulgaria fought on the side that lost the WWI/.

[Dave Mosher]

Theodor
The two rank stripes on his cap also indicate he is a leutenant (tenente). Aside from the crossed rifles (infantry) and the 64 on his cap, the collar insignia also indicate his specific infantry regiment, reggimenti 63/64 Cagliari. The colors on the collar tabs on these two regiments are a background of red with white stripes.

Dave

[Dave Mosher]

Theodor
It also appears that the man on the left is either an artillery or engineer officer from his collar insignia; most likely artillery. If you could zoom in and sharpen up the photo on his cap, you would be able to distingiush which one.

Dave

Here some more, the same man is the 3rd to the left - I mean the one that left out of the scan so that the insignia of the others can be seen closer

[Theodor]

Thanks!!! I wish I could put my hands on one of these hats!!! Here is a closeup, but unfortunately yet not well seen...

[Theodor]

and even closer, but not too much detail again

[Theodor]

May not get such a hat, but have something close, an Adrian from the 61st infantry regiment Trento /notice that it never got holes on the front/.

[Dave Mosher]

Theodor
The detail still is not enough to distingiush between artillery and engineer from the cap. The insignia for both are very similar. They both have the flaming bomb with a number in the circluar portion. However, below that are two crossed cannons for artillery and two crossed axes for engineers/pioneers. I still think he is an artillery guy. The triangular collar patches for both artillery and engineers are a black background. But, the piping around an artillery patch is golden yellow; the piping aroung an engineer patch is red. I think the brightness of the piping on your b/w picture would lean towards artillery. Just my educated guess. I have an engineer officer's cap and if you want, I will submit a picture in for you.

Dave

and even closer, but not too much detail again

[Theodor]

Thank you very much, Dave! If you have a picture, I'll be very glad to have a look

[Dave Mosher]

WW1 Italian engineer's cap

Theodor
This is a captain's (capitano) cap for an engineer (genio). I have had it for several years, and some day I will find one of those "goofy-looking" wide chinstraps for it.

Dave

Thank you very much, Dave! If you have a picture, I'll be very glad to have a look

[Dave Mosher]

WW1 italian engineer's cap

Here is another shot showing the insignia.

[Theodor]

It is beautiful, Dave!!! Thank you very much for the pictures!!!