Original Item: Only One Available. This interesting dress hat is made of pressed felt and oilcloth with leather edging around the brim. The leather brim has approximately 60% of its original black finish, unfortunately the leather has cracked in most spots with small pieces missing exposing the bare brim. A pair of metal ventilation grommets are to each side of the crown. 8th Bersaglieri Regiment Italian Brass badge with circular ribbon to the background. The circular ribbon features the Italian patriotic colors. Sadly the thread has started to come undone and separate from the other pieces, but it doesn't take away from the still vibrant colors. The unlined interior is approximately 55cm, with the leather sweatband and chinstrap missing. The hat has a few holes in the crown and is no longer soft to the touch. This is still an excellent piece of history and is deserving of a spot in an Italian themed military collection.
 
The Bersaglieri are a corps of the Italian Army originally created by General Alessandro La Marmora on 18 June 1836 to serve in the Army of the Kingdom of Sardinia, later to become the Royal Italian Army. They have always been a high-mobility light infantry unit, and can still be recognized by the distinctive wide brimmed hat that they wear (only in dress uniform in modern times), decorated with black capercaillie feathers. The feathers are usually applied to their combat helmets. Another distinctive trait of the Bersaglieri is the fast jog pace they keep on parades, instead of marching. Italy began the Second World War with 12 Bersaglieri regiments of three battalions each. Over the preceding years the Army had resisted suggestions to dilute their quality, and recruits continued to be of above-average size and stamina, endured intense physical training and had to qualify as marksmen.