New Italians - M33 and Lippmann

[Theodor]

Hi guys, here are two new Italians for the collection First, a nice M15-16 Lippmann. Unfortunately shell only.

[Theodor]

more

[Theodor]

Another

[Theodor]

the inside

[Theodor]

And interesting reissue of the M33

[Theodor]

the front

[Theodor]

finally, inside

[Paolo Marzetti]

Theo, nice pieces! Never seen before an Italian M.33 reissued with Bulgarian
shield! Ciao PaoloM

[Lafitte]

Nice examples Theo, m.16 is it in very good conditions, into there are the ink marrk to probably MA or SA.
About the m.33 probably this one stay in a far depot in Greekland or Macedonia and so after the 8-IX- 1943 can be used from bulgarian Army.
In effect the m.33 is it very similar to the bulgarian m.51, for me isn't a coincidence!!

[Paolo Marzetti]

Lafitte! In fact the Bulgarian Armed Forces
were issued since 1951 with their own Italian styled new helmets. The Italian made M.33 shown by Theo, was surely in a Bulgarian depot, and refurbished after 1951 considering the typical stencil of that period, and also the
good conditions of use. For what is known, no Italian M.33 has been ever officially used by the Bulgarian Armed Forces after Sept 8, 1943 or shortly after that date. PaoloM

[inno]

The past week, there were other helmets at auction similar to this and any of it have the rest of the insignia(fanteria) under the second paint.

[Theodor]

Thank you! I thought the circle inside the M16 would contain size number. Unfortunately can not read any letters there.

Af for the M33, I think it could be a very old reissue. Even late war time. The color does not match the usually seen Bulgarian communist times paint. The color is very different. Also it is not sprayed, but brush-applied repaint. The shield is also made by hand, not spray/stencil and the shape does not match the usual socialist type /although in socialist times you can find any possible size and shape for the shield, but this one does not look like the average ones/. I think it can never be said for sure, but the reissue is for sure old and could be very short after the war or even during the war.

Yes, it is correct that no M33 were officially used by the Bulgarian army, ever. But unofficially the situation is different. The army was keen in gathering all possible equipment, all kinds of helmets, which were most likely kept as a deep reserve. Though most likely were never used as primary helmets /and just kept as a reserve/, the Bulgarian army had lots of WW1 Adrians, M-23 adrians captured in WW2 from Yugoslavia, obviously Italian M33s, also Italian/Greek M34s, German M35/40/42, and even one earliest type WW2 US M-1, which appeared some time ago to my collection directly from an army storage!! The official steel helmets of the army were only 2 types - M16 and M36, later paratrooper helmets and later M51. But in the meantime the army stockpiled any helmets, which fell in their hands.

Yes Paolo, this is the most funny part - Socialist Bulgaria, part of the Warsaw Pact, chose to use exact copy of the Italian Fashist helmet

[Theodor]

Hi guys, I am back to the thread, as found an interesting photo. Unfortunately not dated and no location indicated.

But from what is seen, I think this is a wartime photo, a Bulgarian officer with M36 style uniform, in front of a damaged bunker of the Greek Metaxas fortification line.

And yes, he has an Italian M33 helmet!

[Theodor]

will try to show him closer

[Paolo Marzetti]

One lives and learns!! Italian M.33 indeed! I don't think however this nice photo of the time (I suppose WWII period of few years later) has much to do with the currently offered Italian M.33s on eBay, bearing the tri-colouyr Bulgarian shield ! The one on the photo has been used probably for that photo, while the other issued (or not issued but kept as reserve)almost surely in the commie period, have been given to Bulgaria by the Soviets,and later refurbished with a new paint and the issue hand made shield. It is certain however that the 'inspiration' for the issue Bulgarian M.51, came out from those helmets that they had the opportunity to directly appraise. Thanks Theo!!!
PaoloM