The Kingdom of Italy used a variety of pith helmets during the early days of their colonial empire building. These included British-made examples, as well as those made domestically by hat makers.

This example is of the 1887 pattern, and may have been produced sometime in the 1880s or 1890s. This model remained in use until the introduction of the Model 1928 helmet.

This pith helmet was likely made in India after the turn of the century, and is of the pattern most commonly referred to as the Model 1911 Sun Helmet. It does not feature the cockade, and most interesting is marked with the name of "LIEUT COM C.S.JACKSON.- H.M.S. 'VENUS'."

Possibly this helmet was acquired by a British sailor in World War I or World War II. No other information is available.

Modeled after the British Wolesley pattern Foreign Service Helmet, the Italian Model 1928 was first introduced in 1935 and remained in service until the end of World War II.

This example features the insignia of the 10th Granatieri (Grenadier) Division, which served with the 65th GRANATIERI DI SAVOIA in North Africa at the start of World War II.

This Italian Model 1928 sun helmet features the badge and feathers of the 8th Bersaglieri. In February 1941 the 8th Bersaglieri regiment landed at Tripoli and were incorporated into the Ariete Armoured Division. The XX Motorised Corps working in support of the 132nd Tank regiment were the most active and well known heavy armored unit in the Italian Army.

An example of a straw Model 1928 helmet, most likely a result of wartime shortage of preferred material such as cork.

This helmet features the stencil insignia of the ‘Blackshirts’ or MVSN (Voluntary Militia for Nation Security). These troops were the military arm of the Italian Fascist Party, much like the SS in Nazi Germany. While the Italian army typically used gray-green helmets the MVSN used black helmets with yellow stencils throughout the war.

This helmet features the stencil insignia of alpine (“alpini”) troops.

This is the definitive version of the post-war paratrooper helmets. The steel shell is identical to the war time version (M-42), and many of these shells are in fact wartime versions that were refurbished for post-war use. This model features a new style liner system along with a khaki canvas chin-strap.

Based on the Italian colonial pattern sun helmet, the summer police helmet used in various Italian cities by the police. This one features the police badge of Genoa.