Thoughts on this Italian(?) Adrian Helmet?

[MikeS0000]

Hello Folks -

Came across this odd Adrian and wondered if anyone had any thoughts on it? Certainly not a 'thing of beauty' but...

Looks to be typical Italian Model 1916, but the star on the front also appears to be contemporary with it, as it has several coats of paint as does the helmet. Also, there was a backing to the star and two 'vertical slots' one on each side of the star. That placement of insignia slots is new to me!

Looks like it had a coat of gold that has washed off.... ?? Green on the inside, black outside and riveted comb on the top. Partial Italian Green Chinstrap on one bale. Beneath the paint, the star is made of brass.

No idea about the color on the comb and the lower portion. I might think some kind of costume, but they sure didn't do a good job if it was.

Thanks for looking!

- Mike

[Paolo Marzetti]

Former M.16,Italian made,refurbished in the 20's,probably reissued during the Spanish Civil War.The 5 pointed star on front has no sense in the Italian Army of that period on a helmet.PaoloM

[MikeS0000]

Originally Posted by Paolo Marzetti

Former M.16,Italian made,refurbished in the 20's,probably reissued during the Spanish Civil War.The 5 pointed star on front has no sense in the Italian Army of that period on a helmet.PaoloM

Thank you Paolo -

I wondered about the possibility of SCW usage. Do you think the 'star' may be related to that period. It seems to have the same black paint as the rest of the helmet.

Also, have you ever seen the two vertical slots that are on either side of the star? That is a new positioning to me.

Best regards!
- Mike

[Paolo Marzetti]

Originally Posted by MikeS0000

...I wondered about the possibility of SCW usage. Do you think the 'star' may be related to that period. It seems to have the same black paint as the rest of the helmet.
Also, have you ever seen the two vertical slots that are on either side of the star? That is a new positioning to me....

I said 'probably', however never seen before neither the slots on the sides nor the star on front.Uncommon also the gold paint of the crest..PaoloM

[MikeS0000]

Well, it got a bit stranger...., decided I didn't have much to lose, so started taking the gold wash off (some gasoline was working well) when a name(?) started to appear on the front and painted around the star. Looks like "Jucile" or "Fucile" who or whatever ....

So, I kept going and "Palermo Fucile" is painted around the star. Now, I can't tell if it is on the black or painted on the original green. But it was covered with a couple coats of black. So, what is the "Palermo Fucile"??

Please pardon the photo, it doesn't look that bad, it is my cheap camera that does not take a good indoor photo. It doesn't look quite as ugly in person...

Just as an aside, I blacklighted the entire helmet and didn't get a glow from any of the paint, even the gold wash that I took off.

[kanister]

May be "Palermo Sicilia"?

[MikeS0000]

Originally Posted by kanister

May be "Palermo Sicilia"?

By Gosh Kanister, you are correct, it is in fact "Sicily" There is a tail on the end of the last letter! Perhaps this is a 'bringback' from WW2?

Thank you!
- Mike

[MikeS0000]

Originally Posted by MikeS0000

By Gosh Kanister, you are correct, it is in fact "Sicily" There is a tail on the end of the last letter! Perhaps this is a 'bringback' from WW2?

Thank you!
- Mike

Should add, the 'star' is used as the 'dot' over the first 'i' in Sicily.