C027759 ITALIAN M33 SPANISH CIVIL WAR CAVALRY BODYGUARD HELMET.

BACKGROUND: Originally the Italians had used the French Adrian style helmet during WWI and afterwards until they began development of their own helmets in the early 1930's with the introduction of the M31 helmet in 1931 which was to be the forerunner of the standard M33 Italian helmet of WWII. In 1933 a helmet designed by engineer Nicola Leszl was approved, manufactured and distributed and was utilized for the duration of the war with minor variations.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: WWII Italian production helmet which bears the insignia of either the Calvary bodyguard detachment of Spanish Dictator Francisco Franco or Independent lancers attached to Spanish troop (research material has been hard to find). The art deco style insignia takes the form of a large (12cm x 9cm) black eagle, with a white crown and crossed Calvary pennants. Insignia is painted/stenciled and is retained about 75%. The helmet, whose rim is subtly pointed in the front and sweeps down over the ears, retains about 94% of its original green factory paint . Its one rear and two forward liner attachment rivets are intact. To the interior, there is an eight fingered, brown, leather liner, with ventilation holes punched in it. The size number "59" has been punched into the right side of the liner. Between the leather liner and the metal liner attachment ring is a band of thick, orange/brown-colored felt, which is in good condition. The olive drab-colored leather chinstrap, with a similarly-painted steel pronged buckle and leather retaining loop to one side, and seven buckling holes to the other side, is folded over and rivetted to suspension rings to either side. The liner and the chinstrap are in excellent condition. Very nice untouched example. Attractive insignia.

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