slava1stclass

Gents, While a long way from being a Full Cavalier, this crusty, old, two-war sea dog deserves a spot here - I. N. Shutov. Regards, slava1stclass

Gents, These three veterans came up just one short of being Full Cavaliers themselves. The aviation colonel is S. N. Nikitin. Regards, slava1stclass

Gents, An unidentified Full Cavalier. Regards, slava1stclass

Gents, It was a bad hair day for A. I. Tsymbalyuk who is also seen in post #55 above. Regards, slava1stclass

Gents, "Buddy" needs no introduction - his 'stache does it for him. Regards, slava1stclass

Gents, Full Cavalier D. I. Mamrikishvili. Regards, slava1stclass

Gents, A much crisper image of HSU/Full St. George Cavalier K. I. Nedorubov as seen in post #33 above. Regards, slava1stclass

Gents, This clearly ranks among the most outstanding images I've ever encountered. Two generations of cavaliers. Unfortunately, no identifying information. Regards, slava1stclass

Senior Chief, This is what $3,500.00 would have gotten you on January 9th, 1998. This is one heck of a primo, in-your-face combat Full Cavalier group. Suffice it to say Full Cavaliers who came from the ranks of Guards airborne units are far and few between. Regards, slava1stclass "Group of 4, to Guards Sergeant Major Grigory Shekera, reconnaissance scout in 6th Independent Guards Airborne Reconnaissance Company (2nd Guards Airborne Division), recipient of all three classes of the Order of Glory: 1. Order of Glory, 1st cl., #407, perfect condition, issued on 03/24/1945 for courageous conduct during a reconnaissance raid on Hungarian territory. He led a group of 4 scouts that ambushed and dispersed a group of 60 enemy soldiers. Senior Sergeant Shekera killed six of them at point-blank range and captured a prisoner for interrogation that was later delivered to the headquarters and gave valuable information. 2. Order of Glory, 2nd cl., #1986, faded gilt in the center, perfect otherwise, issued on 07/18/1944. The award was given for 06/24/1944 fight on the enemy territory, when his decisive actions saved the reconnaissance group surrounded by the enemy. 3. Order of the Red Star, #683246, issued on 08/08/1944. The award was given for Grigory Shekera's daring action in reconnaissance raids. On 05/05/1944 he killed an enemy soldier guarding a bridge thus allowing Soviet strike team to blow up the bridge. On the way back he destroyed a Nazi machine-gun emplacement with hand grenades and captured a prisoner for interrogation. Included is also unresearched Order of Glory, 3rd cl., #9715 (!) to the same recipient (listed in the award record card). Missing: Order of the Patriotic War, 1st cl., WW 2; Order of the Red Banner. Included: Xerox copies and translation of the commendations for the Order of Glory, 1st cl., Order of Glory, 2nd cl., Order of the Red Star; copy and translation of the award record card; photo of the recipient taken immediately after the Victory Parade in which he participated (shows him wearing all decorations); Xerox copy and translation of the story about Grigory Shekera's feats in the catalog "Soldier's Glory" (contains his photo); brief history of the division."

Gents, The Glory 1st seen in post #349 this thread is no longer listed on the dealer's site. Regards, slava1stclass

Wild Card, Here is a wartime image of Guards Airborne Sergeant Major and Full Cavalier of the Order of Glory P.N. Barybin in his army uniform. After reviewing his various award recommendations on the Russian MinDef site, I can confirm there is no reference to naval service. I can also confirm three light wounds as received on 12.1.43, 3.8.43 and 5.5.44 respectively. Regards, slava1stclass

Wild Card, Were you ever able to confirm Barybin did in fact serve in the navy? Regards, slava1strclass

Gents, This is the Category 4 Full Cavalier set that is referenced in post #91 this thread. It was offered by the same dealer at his January 8th, 2009 auction. Opening bid was $20,000.00. Unlike the other Full Cavalier set he offered that day (see post #87 this thread) which sold for $50,000.00 (opening bid was $30,000.00), this set went unsold. Regards, slava1stclass

Gents, I just happened upon this Category 4 (see post #1 this thread) Full Cavalier set which the other well-known NYC-area dealer offered at his January 6, 2011 auction. The set's Glory II and Glory III orders were duplicates. Opening bid was $15,000.00. It sold for $22,000.00. Regards, slava1stclass

Rogi, While unusual, it is not uncommon to see this darker coloration in isolated locations of a given specimen. The Glory 1st in the attached images is within 200 serial numbers of s/n 2174 and exhibits this same dark blotching around the eyelet (both sides). For me, this patina is less of a concern as to s/n 2174's originality. Again, just because s/n 2174 was an unissued piece doesn't mean it was handled with kid gloves once it left the mint's door. Regards, slava1stclass

JapanX, As per the information contained in the book "Ordenskaya Knizhka Kniga 1 Kavalery Ordena Slavy Tryokh Stepeney" published in Moscow in 2005 by G. A. Grishko and M. Yu. Zhavoronkin. Regards, slava1stclass

Christophe, Hard to say. While an unissued example, it appears legit. If it found its way out of the mint in the chaotic days after the Soviet Union's collapse over 20 years ago, it's been in circulation and changing hands for quite some time now. As I've commented previously, these Glory 1s were often viewed as pure cash commodities in the former Soyuz and not necessarily handled with the respect orders and medals collectors would show them. Scratches and gold check gouges on this and other Glory 1st specimens I've handled over the years (to include those I examined over 20 years ago) are very common. Regards, slava1stclass

Gents, Currently available on the well-known auction site for a BIN asking price of $11,000.00. Before you rush off to log on to your PayPal account, however, note that like the Glory 1st in post #212 above, this is an unissued example. How it got out of the mint is an entirely different matter... Regards, slava1stclass

Gents, A nice image of an unidentified lieutenant who is also a "Triangle Man." Regards, slava1stclass

Gents, A nice Category 6 (see post #1 this thread) Full Cavalier set currently for sale at the well-known NYC-area dealer. Asking price is $18,500.00. This is the first time he has offered this set. Regards, slava1stclass

Gents, An outstanding example of the M1922-pattern Armor Forces insignia as worn by a sergeant major in full battle rattle. Regards, slava1stclass

Gents, Full Cavalier D. K. Abatsiyev. Regards, slava1stclass

Senior Chief, Congrats on the promotion! Isn't that the truth. Instances of mid to high three-figure single Glory 1sts were not uncommon back in the day (the early '90s). If one were savvy enough to have pulled the trigger at that time, you'd be talking about a 50-60% annualized ROI today. Regards, slava1stclass

Gents, After having offered no Full Cavalier-related items in over four months, the well-known NYC-area dealer has this loose Glory 1st for sale at an asking price of $9,400.00. When he last offered this very same Glory 1st for sale on July 30th, 2003, his asking price was $1,995.00. At his current price, that's an annualized return of 37% per year over the last 10 years. Not too shabby. Regards, slava1stclass

Dave, Apropos. Currently on the well-known auction site. Per the item description: "ORIGINAL RARE WWII RIBBON BAR RACK TO USN PILOT WITH BRITISH DFC/RUSSIAN ORDER OF GLORY. Bought from local veteran's estate. Very rare custom embroidered rack to a WWII/Korea Naval Aviator who earned US & British DFC, Russian Order of Glory 3rd Class etc. He was one of very few Naval Aviators with this medal combination. Both were awarded for his part in destroying a German U-boat. A copy of his military bio will be included. Guaranteed original!" Good luck. Regards, slava1stclass