French Adrian Helmet

I have been keeping my eyes open for a long time for an antique French Adrian helmet. I almost found one the other day but something made me resist buying it. I was concerned that there was no method of attaching any sort of identity plate to the front. Subsequently a Google search has made me feel this is in fact a French made helmet for the Italian army. 

The same antique shop had two helmets without liners painted a very new and bright horizon blue. I recognize them as reproductions I've seen online. They were very cheap, so I bought them.

That blue paint bothered me like crazy. All photos of antique helmets I could find show a much darker colour. I could stand it no longer and took the paint remover to the blue. The final effect has been perfect and I wonder if the French "poilu" had the same thoughts and rubbed the paint back to a more steely look. Surely nothing could be more threatening to one's life and limb than bobbing around with a bright blue helmet above the trench parapet. 

A bit more working on the surface and a light waxing has produced a perfect effect. I am now working on a chinstrap and will next create an inner lining. 

Strangely, the metal tabs to hold the lining in place have been broken off on both helmets. I am left wondering why these were so freshly and newly painted and yet show signs of incompleteness and damage. I also find that with the new paint off there is a degree of corrosion evident and other signs of general use. I'm suddenly wondering if in fact these two helmets are originals that were made but never issued and may be part of a larger stash that has been sitting around for 100 years. It's such a thing possible?

The details are quite exquisite and these are clearly older than a modern reproduction. The more I read the more I think these were decommissioned helmets put away after the war. I'm glad to be rid of the vile blue and to be down to an original primer. 

I've made a simple liner and chin strap, but I doubt I shall ever wear them....much.