Italian Carabinieri Cartridge Pouch
Black leather cartridge pouch with brass flaming bomb emblem for the Carabinieri Reali of the Kingdom of Italy, WWII era.
Images
Specifications
| General Information | |
|---|---|
| Official Classification | Cartucciera per Carabinieri Reali – Periodo bellico (1935–1943) |
| Arm / Corps | Carabinieri Reali (Royal Carabinieri), Kingdom of Italy |
| Era | Second World War, Fascist period (circa 1935–1943) |
| Intended Use | Garrison duty, ceremonial/parade wear, and military police / public order functions. |
| Primary Materials | Black leather, brass hardware, red felt backing for emblem |
| Emblem | Brass flaming bomb / grenade badge mounted over red felt on front flap— traditional Carabinieri symbol. |
| Finish | Blackened leather with polished brass fittings |
| Belt | Rolled black leather belt with brass buckle (period-correct reproduction accompanying original pouch). |
| Function | Cartridge pouch carried on the waist belt as part of the Carabinieri uniform set. |
Historical Summary
This black leather cartridge pouch is associated with the Carabinieri Reali, the Royal Carabinieri of the Kingdom of Italy, during the Fascist period and Second World War. Worn on the waist belt, it combined functional cartridge storage with the highly recognizable Carabinieri emblem: a brass flaming bomb mounted on a vivid red felt backing.
The classification Cartucciera per Carabinieri Reali – periodo bellico (1935–1943) places this pattern in the war-time era of Mussolini’s regime, when the Carabinieri served both as a national gendarmerie and as military police within the Italian armed forces. The pouch would have been used on garrison duty, ceremonial parades, and urban or security tasks where a polished uniform presence was important.
Surviving examples like this one, with intact flaming bomb badge and red felt insert, offer a tangible link to the Carabinieri’s dual role as symbol of royal authority and as a practical, armed policing force in wartime Italy.
Configuration & Features
- Body constructed from stitched black leather with reinforced seams and a flap-closure design.
- Prominent brass flaming bomb emblem fixed to the flap, set against a red felt backing—strongly associated with Carabinieri identity and prestige.
- Brass hardware for closure and attachment points, in keeping with Italian uniform accoutrements of the period.
- Worn on a black leather belt with brass buckle; the belt on this example is a period-correct reproduction, paired to display the pouch as it would have been worn.
- Intended for garrison, parade, and policing service rather than heavy front-line combat—a blend of ceremonial appearance and real cartridge-carrying function.
Collector’s Notes
Carabinieri equipment from the WWII period is less common on the collector market than standard line infantry gear, owing to the smaller size and specific role of the corps. Pouches retaining their brass flaming bomb emblem and red felt insert are especially desirable, as these elements immediately identify the item with the Carabinieri Reali rather than generic Italian army equipment.
When displayed with a correct-style black leather belt and buckle, a pouch such as this forms a strong visual centerpiece for a Carabinieri or Italian policing uniform grouping, illustrating the intersection of practical field gear and symbolic uniform traditions in Fascist-era Italy.