Post those Italian M-33s

[Paolo Marzetti]

Here is the cover I was speaking about.
Comments welcome.
Thank you.
Phil

There's a theory here that these khaki covers were intended for all the helmets (M33s and M42s para) issued in North Africa, but the production has been completed on December 1942, when theAxis forces were just in Tunisia, so the issue of these covers has never begun because too late.
They all remained in the Magazzino Centrale Militare VF of Florence.. RC in a circle means 'registrato-controllato' and 57 is the size.The Littorio Fascio, is not always present on these covers.The khaki cloth is the same 'tela olonetta kaki' of the colonial series of the Italian tropical clothing issued to ALL the Italian armed forces overseas. Very after the war, in the '70s the entire lot available of these khaki covers (it is said two thousand)has been bought by a British company at the symbolic price of 100 Lire Italiane each in a public auction promoted by the Italian Army.Some people says they're not good. IMO they're good, even if never issued.In my collection I've two specimen of these covers,one size 56, without printed fascio, and another, size 57,with black printed fascio inside.Very hard to state why nowdays we've available only small sizes (55-56-57).Almost surely, the larger sizes (58-59-60) have been
lost or destroyed during the war, or collected among the rags of other depots
in Florence,after that.
Ciao PaoloM

[Raffaello Carola]

There's a theory here that these khaki covers were intended for all the helmets (M33s and M42s para) issued in North Africa, but the production has been completed on December 1942, when theAxis forces were just in Tunisia, so the issue of these covers has never begun because too late.
They all remained in the Magazzino Centrale Militare VF of Florence.. RC in a circle means 'registrato-controllato' and 57 is the size.The Littorio Fascio, is not always present on these covers.The khaki cloth is the same 'tela olonetta kaki' of the colonial series of the Italian tropical clothing issued to ALL the Italian armed forces overseas. Very after the war, in the '70s the entire lot available of these khaki covers (it is said two thousand)has been bought by a British company at the symbolic price of 100 Lire Italiane each in a public auction promoted by the Italian Army.Some people says they're not good. IMO they're good, even if never issued.In my collection I've two specimen of these covers,one size 56, without printed fascio, and another, size 57,with black printed fascio inside.Very hard to state why nowdays we've available only small sizes (55-56-57).Almost surely, the larger sizes (58-59-60) have been
lost or destroyed during the war, or collected among the rags of other depots
in Florence,after that.
Ciao PaoloM

Dear Paolo,

WELCOME in the Italian Axis allies forum!! is an privilege to see
your info from the italian writer of the book HELMETS Paolo Marzetti.
with friendship
Raffaello

[helmhunter]

Great info Paolo,
Thank you
Phil

[ROBB]

Great helmet Dennis does it have the anchor stamped in the back rim? Rob

[Ralph P]

Hello all - I have pinned this thread for a short time so this thread can be viewed by more forum members. From time to time Raffaello Carola and I will pin and un-pin different threads to the top of the forum. Raffaello Carola and I want to do this so we all can enjoy the collectable items that our fellow forum members have taken the time to show through their posts and threads on the Italian & European Axis Allies Forum.

Thanks all...

[Dennis S]

I wil add some pics to this thread of m33's already posted on this forum

Again RSI Divisione "Italia"

[Dennis S]

side shot with tri-color decal

[Dennis S]

Decina Mas helmet beatup sister of the one posted by ItalianWarFront

[Dennis S]

Side view with Decima Mas insignia

[Dennis S]

Spanish Civil War M33 with Falange insignia yoke and arrows

[Dennis S]

falange insignia that was gently dug from the paint. Yoke and arrows are blue

[Ralph P]

Dennis - Thank you for posting your helmets in this thread...

[Raffaello Carola]

Dear Dennis,

FANTASTIC helmets thanks for sharing!!!
cheers, Raffaello

[Dennis S]

I originaly thought this was an RSI Naval Officer helmet, but now I believe it to be post war .
I still like it and will keep it in the collection.

[helmhunter]

Hi Dennis,
Fantastic lids. Thank you for showing us these beauties.
Phil