M33 Italian Helmet

[15parabattalion]

Hi All,

I've got what I though was a M33 Italian helmet. However there are some details that don't match my other M33. The studs are smaller and flat on the surface, The chinstrap is leather but stiched (not with two metal rivets), the steel seems thinner and if you look close you can see the 'press lines' on the outside of the helmet shell near the brim. there is a '10' stampped inside the rim and no other markings as far as I can see!

What is it?











Thanks Mike

[MAS36]

possibly Bulgarian ?

http://www.lawranceordnance.com/new/...m72-helmet.jpg

[15parabattalion]

I dont think it is Bulgarian - see link below. Also the helmet studs seem similar but not identical. However it could be later/earlier version than the one in the link below. Any others have any thoughts?

http://www.pottia.net/pottia/eng2.htm

Thanks Mike

[15parabattalion]

Wow - I just found this link below on the same site!! What a great little helmet site - now lets see if i can find my one!!

http://www.pottia.net/pottia/potat/index_fin.htm

[15parabattalion]

OK, I'm going for Bulgarian unless anyone knows better?? The helmet studs are slightly different but could just be a different batch or manufacturer! Also I got it from a Bulgarian - so tha helps to narrow it down. Cheeky git told me it was M33 Italian but could go wrong at £20 and now I have a Bulgarian in my collection - post WW2 though!!!

[WhiteFeather]

Hi,

This helmet is a Bulgarian M72.

++

[Paolo Marzetti]

Bulgarian M.51 1st serie,for sure. Look the shape, the liner and the
chin-strap ! Bye, PaoloM

[Raffaello Carola]

Bulgarian M.51 1st serie,for sure. Look the shape, the liner and the
chin-strap ! Bye, PaoloM

is the just answer from the author of the book Helmets of the world
with friendship
Raff

[AndersB]

Italian used by the Bulgarians?

Hi, I've got one like it and I would suggest that it's indeed an Italian M33 shell though probably relined and used by the Bulgarian army. The Bulgarian M51/72:s I've seen pictures of seem to lack the slighty pointed tip at the front which this one has. Are Bulgarian M51/72 shells stamped, by the way? Could it be that the Bulgarians imported Italian helmets during WW2 while both countries were fighting with Germany, liked it and copied the whole design in the early 50:s? The liner is very close to the Italian original, as is the general outline of the chinstrap though brown in color and sewn to the bails.

Just my 4 cents...

//Anders

[Paolo Marzetti]

Hi Anders,
the posted helmet is not Italian. Be sure :either the shell, or the liner, or
the chin-strap, or the paint, or the vented rivets.Everything has been copied
in the 50's from the M.33 Italian steel helmet.If you compare a common M.33
with this, you can see the steel is very different, and all the other particulars.
Generally the Italian M.33s are marked inside the rear rim.The Bulgarian
helmets of this period are not marked.The liner is about identical, but if you
look at the liner after a month of use, you can see the Bulgarian leather is
not soft, as the italian one. Bulgaria never received steel helmets from Italy.
By the way the USSR may have given some samples of original M.33s after
WWII to the communist Bulgaria, that produced these helmets into two versions from 1950 to 1972.
Bye, PaoloM

[AndersB]

Thanks Paolo,

I don't know about the helmet displayed, but my "Bulgarian M33" does have a rear stamp. See picture. I agree that the vent rivets (pic below) look a bit "stocky" compared the rounded shapes commonly seen on Italian shells. I don't have access to a real M33, but the helmet in my possession is a size-55 weighing about 1.1 kg in total. Still no chance?

M33-M51stamp.jpg

Hi Anders,
the posted helmet is not Italian. Be sure :either the shell, or the liner, or
the chin-strap, or the paint, or the vented rivets.Everything has been copied
in the 50's from the M.33 Italian steel helmet.If you compare a common M.33
with this, you can see the steel is very different, and all the other particulars.
Generally the Italian M.33s are marked inside the rear rim.The Bulgarian
helmets of this period are not marked.The liner is about identical, but if you
look at the liner after a month of use, you can see the Bulgarian leather is
not soft, as the italian one. Bulgaria never received steel helmets from Italy.
By the way the USSR may have given some samples of original M.33s after
WWII to the communist Bulgaria, that produced these helmets into two versions from 1950 to 1972.
Bye, PaoloM

[AndersB]

Vent pic

[ATTACH]827611[/ATTACH]

[Paolo Marzetti]

[QUOTE=AndersB;2283506]Thanks Paolo,

I don't know about the helmet displayed, but my "Bulgarian M33" does have a rear stamp. See picture. I agree that the vent rivets (pic below) look a bit "stocky" compared the rounded shapes commonly seen on Italian shells. I don't have access to a real M33, but the helmet in my possession is a size-55 weighing about 1.1 kg in total. Still no chance?

/QUOTE]

Very interesting Anders ! Never seen before a vertical printed marking
like that either on an M.33 or on a Bulgarian M.50/72.
These markings, on the Italian M.33s bear always letters and numbers
together, but printed horizontally on the back inside rim.There are also
markings of the size on the steel harness that holds the leather liner & felt.
Your marking is unknown to me and the vent holes are not Italian at all.
This evening I've troubles with the images, but if necessary I can post later some photos showing italian markings and of three types of vent rivets.
Let me know. Bye, PaoloM

[AndersB]

Please do. THX! Where on the liner (metal part) would that size marking be found on an Italian M33?

[quote=marpo;2283995]

Thanks Paolo,

I don't know about the helmet displayed, but my "Bulgarian M33" does have a rear stamp. See picture. I agree that the vent rivets (pic below) look a bit "stocky" compared the rounded shapes commonly seen on Italian shells. I don't have access to a real M33, but the helmet in my possession is a size-55 weighing about 1.1 kg in total. Still no chance?

/QUOTE]

Very interesting Anders ! Never seen before a vertical printed marking
like that either on an M.33 or on a Bulgarian M.50/72.
These markings, on the Italian M.33s bear always letters and numbers
together, but printed horizontally on the back inside rim.There are also
markings of the size on the steel harness that holds the leather liner & felt.
Your marking is unknown to me and the vent holes are not Italian at all.
This evening I've troubles with the images, but if necessary I can post later some photos showing italian markings and of three types of vent rivets.
Let me know. Bye, PaoloM

[Paolo Marzetti]

Some examples of markings inside the Italian M.33 shells:


One sample marking inside the steel harness holding the leather liner;the number is the size of the liner: