Italian camo helmets, any help with ID please.

[keith23]

Hi,
my name is Keith and i collect WW1/WW2 uniforms, equipment and camouflage but i've never had a WW2 M33 helmet before and am very unsure if these two helmets are correct or not. I've read through the forum and seen some beautiful helmets but still do not know and would appreciate your help with them as i want to learn the differences.
I hope i've unloaded the photos ok and will retry if i've done it wrong!

Thank you in advance for any help.
Best wishes,
Keith

[keith23]

The first helmet, this looks good but i'm not sure?

http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/7594/p1040366b.jpg
http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/7291/p1040368u.jpg
http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/8859/p1040367d.jpg
http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/5151/p1040370s.jpg
http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/456/p1040371r.jpg
http://img709.imageshack.us/img709/3244/p1040373.jpg
http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/5066/p1040372t.jpg
http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/8207/p1040374c.jpg

[keith23]

The second helmet, this one "feels" wrong!

http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/3135/p1040375.jpg
http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/4743/p1040376p.jpg
http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/3657/p1040377y.jpg
http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/7161/p1040378zk.jpg
http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/6572/p1040379q.jpg
http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/7429/p1040380.jpg

[CIANO]

Hi,

I am not an expert but my feeling about both helmets is that they are not original.(painture and frontal insignia)

The sand painture of the first posted, is not original for sure.

Once I have posted here one beatiful Italian sand cammo, similar to yours, and the painture turned out to be not original.

herewith the link of the discussion of the helmet:

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d+cammo&page=3

Paolo the moderator will explain you the details, if I am not wrong...


best regards

Luis

[brus]

Hello,
I concur 100% with Ciano. Also I'm not an helmets expert but theese M33 are not WWII original, sorry.
The first (cavalry insignia) has a fake/strange paint.
The second (transport speciality insignia) has a remount liner: the last picture show the air vent fixed in a bad way. Infact on the M33, if you don't have the apposite tool, is very difficult fix air vent with hands... and the result is like on your helmet. Also I don't like its paint.
Both helmets seem have post-war air vents, too.

Regards
brus

[Paolo Marzetti]

Sorry Keith, but I quote Ciano and Brus. Let's hear other opinions, but
I don't think there are many chances...PaoloM

[keith23]

Many thanks for your help

Thank you Luis, Brus and Paolo for your advice, it is much appreciated. I had my doubts and you have settled my mind and i will return these helmets to the dealer for the promised refund.
If i could ask for clarification on one point please? Should pre 1945 M33's always have the vent hole that is flatter and with the smaller hole? Is that a simply way to spot them?

I can thank these helmets for leading me to join this forum and to the knowledge and friends i hope to gain.

Best wishes,
Keith

[brus]

Hello Keith,
in a very crude way we have

Pre '45 air vents of 2 type:
- 1st type, flat with small hole (pre-war)
- 2nd type, with the step on edge (war-time)

After '45 (post war) air vents are more curved/domed than the previous types and haven't the step on edge.

Regards
brus

[keith23]

Brus,
many thanks very much for the info' i asked about. I shall go through the photo's of helmets posted and familiarise myself with the air vent's and other differences that have been pointed out previously.

Best wishes,
Keith