matteti

The fact that the serial number is not centered on star arm but more on the left was also an element for me, but after checking mondvor website, I've seen very similar alignment on Glory II, so that seems ok to me. About the last digit, I cannot really say good or bad, but there is still a small doubt... When I was buying orders, I always tried to make sure there was absolutely nothing weird or strange that could make me doubt. Unfortunately, I had to buy one such unsure order before to realize this and make the decision for future purchases. Hipnos, you can definitely send your order for real authentication to an expert. I don't know personally someone to refer in Europe, but in USA yes.

I might be wrong, and that's why I would appreciate other members opinions (including Lapa), but to me, it seems there was a number "6" at the right of current serial number. First photo is the one that was posted here, second is the same photo in negative colors. Does it look like a 6 or I am being paranoid?

Personally, I also have very serious doubts and I think that this order might in fact be a 3rd class with serial 20700X where the last digit was buffed out and gold plating was applied on the medallion.

I don't know the regulation, though I think they are printed at the end of the book, but they say that the guy had 7 of the same badges. The one with 9 though, they just mention the number without telling which one, which seems to indicate they are not all of the same badge. I don't speak russian, but here are the texts that was under the photos... first one (just the text in white background was from the guy with 7 badges excellent tankist)

Or 9 "excellent" badges A. Matveev Those photos were taken in the book "Breast Badges of the Red Army, 1941-1945". by B. V. Airapetyan, 2004

Slava, What about 7 excellent tankist badges? starshina V. Kiseleyev

Hello Christian, According to the data I have, your HSL was probably awarded in or around 1965. 1 1940 177 05/11/43 1294 25/04/48 2743 28/08/48 4102 09/08/49 4457 24/09/49 8005 26/02/58 8744 23/10/45 9978 17/06/61 10420 28/04/63 10701 07/05/65 12435 1966 12272 04/02/69 14572 08/04/71 15699 08/04/71 15712 08/04/71 17510 10/03/76 18073 08/04/71 19874 02/04/81

I agree with you William. That's why I said "what price would Igor asks for that one?" and not "for how much this member could sell his BK1?". What I also wanted to express was that these awards that are totally out of reach for most of collectors (me the first!) are not only owned by rich Russian oligarchs, but also by members of our collectors community.

We have a fellow on the other forum that has a nicer BK1, with lower number (serial number #9) and with PMD authentication....what price would Igor asks for that one?

Hello, Just look at <a href="http://www.crwflags.com/FOTW/flags/de1945su.html" target="_blank">http://www.crwflags.com/FOTW/flags/de1945su.html</a> for another version regarding what happen to the flags during that rainy day parade...

Ibanez, send me your email and I will send you the page you are looking for.

If you also look at DM's site you will also see that inventory is very very low. Many categories have no item for sale.

Thanks for explanation about the rank difference between army and KGB Rick. I didn't consider that and what you said totally makes sense.

Hello Bill, It's an interesting grouping of documents, but in my opinion, nothing proves the medals belongs to the docs. The fact that the combat service medal is unnumbered while it should be in the 3 million range already show that something happened there. And it's a bit surprising that he was only a major in 1958 if he really had 20+ years of service.. I thought that those that saw the GPW from the beginning to the end rose up pretty fast in the hierarchy.. but I guess that's not always the case. Regards.

Ed and others, Nikolai Ivanovich Kuznetsov's HSU was serial numbered 6264 (April 19, 1945) and OGI was 2656 (March 13, 1980) He received OGIII on April 23, 1944 and OGII on January 12, 1944, but I don't have serial numbers.

Thanks for your comments Sergey. I paid them around 1$ each exepted the general ones who came from Doug Drabik and weremuch more expensive (though at a friend's price!)

Hello Sergey, Unfortunately, I don't have photo of the other side of the flag. The flag is from a Ukraine museum of Strategic Rocket Forces.

Good comment about the booklet. And it's weird, beause as Rick pointed the "D" series of the book doesn't match the time period. Also, the ARC filled in 1977 indicates order book # is: I-007174 while the Xeroxed order book # is : D-723527 This means he would first had the order in a "I" booklet (which came after the "D" series) and then would have lost it and they would have issued a "D" series booklet later... to lose it again after the xerox... smells very very bad. I also hope it's not the dealer. However, I don't believe he would do such thing. Can you imagine the impact it can have on its reputation and business. He doesn't need this.

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Sorry for the previous post which is a bit far from Soviet Flags, but I thought it could be good to share this. Here, back to the topic.. here are some of my flags (I wish!!!). They are from the Soviet Strategic Rocket Forces Museum somewhere in the middle of nowhere in Ukraine in the Vinnitsya oblast on our way to Yalta summer vacations! The guide was very knowledgeable, but it seems he didn't know Soviet Union had ceased to exist and that Cold War was over. He was an ex-engineer who had worked all his life in the Rocket Forces and he was now a poor guide in a rarely visited museum.

This young Lenin was also on the Oktyabr small pins. There were many variations of them with slight differences in color or Lenin's depiction. But the two main types were the one with a photo of young Lenin and the other with the "3D" young Lenin (either in golden or silver color)

and unfortunately, that's all what I have for Buds in my photos collection.

another one...