Original Item: Only One Available. The M33 Helmet (Elmetto Mod. 33 in Italian) is a steel combat helmet designed in the 1930s in Italy, and was the standard combat helmet of the Regio Esercito up to World War II, and of the Esercito Italiano well into the Cold War. Designed by Nicola Leszl for the Mussolini Government, these have become extremely hard to find on the collectors market today, especially WWII examples that have not been refurbished. 

As these were still in production well after the war, it should be noted that after the war, design changes were made that make it possible to identify an example made in WWII or prior. The characteristics only found on these earlier helmets are:

- Metal Grommets around Liner Drawstring with Z-stitch in rear
- Rectangular chin strap bales (post war were trapezoidal)
- Tan Leather liner with Orange felt padding (post war has yellow leather and felt)
- Leather Grey-Green chin strap (post war was canvas)
- Liner Chinstrap Mounting Ring is Rectangular (post war was trapezoidal)
- Small vent holes with flattened tops

This example is in very good condition, and has ALL of the characteristics of a WWII issue helmet, with original paint. We see no evidence that it was refurbished or used post war. It also has an original hand-painted M.V.S.N insignia on the front of the helmet, indicating issue to the "Black Shirts" fascist militia in Italy.

The liner and chin strap are in good condition, with a bit of wear from age and use. The leather of the liner is a lovely brown color, and though it is a bit stiff, it does not have any major cracking or other damage, as shown. It also still has the original leather top tie, still installed in the grommets. It is stamped 57 on the right side with little holes, indicating the size of the helmet in cm. There do not appear to be any other markings on the liner or chin strap.

The shell is in very good condition, with most of the paint intact, and no signs of repainting. There are some areas of missing paint around the edge, and light corrision, but that is to be expected on a helmet of this age. There are not any major dents that we can see. The rear of the helmet near the edge is stamped with production code PP 14, which we have unfortunately not been able to identify.

A very nice example of the Italian M33 helmet from WWII, marked to the MVSN. Ready to display!

The Milizia Volontaria per la Sicurezza NSDAPonale (MVSN, "Voluntary Militia for National Security"), commonly called the Blackshirts, was originally the paramilitary wing of the National Fascist Party and, after 1923, an all-volunteer militia of the Kingdom of Italy under Fascist rule. Its members were distinguished by their black uniforms (modelled on those of the Arditi, Italy's elite troops of World War I) and their loyalty to Benito Mussolini, the Duce (leader) of Fascism, to whom they swore an oath. The founders of the paramilitary groups were nationalist intellectuals, former army officers and young landowners opposing peasants' and country laborers' unions. Their methods became harsher as Mussolini's power grew, and they used violence and intimidation against Mussolini's opponents. In 1943, following the fall of the Fascist regime, the MVSN was integrated into the Royal Italian Army and disbanded.