Egorka

Don't know. I think thise are technological markings. Could mean a batch or a factory. Don't think they make much difference for price.

Always at your service! I have just correct myself a bit. It is not a parade, but everyday model.

Hej. Is his Gallipoli star placed according to regulation? It seem to me hanging way too low, almost on his belly. I think if he had to ride a horse, the belt would push on the star, so it doesn't look practical either.

It is 1969 model.

This is MVD parade cocade (internal affairs or Militia). I think 70s-80s period. I remember them from my childhood.

You see, the are TWO nines in the number in question. And BOTH don't fit to the known styles. So I'm afraid it not just shaken hand, but a system. Plus "one"! Plus dodgy last digit, which, with given picture quality, looks like zero modified to six. There are no very obvious traces of old number clean up, but again with such unsharp photo I cannot say for sure. I see some suspicious small horisontal traces, which might be the number clean up traces. Again the photo is not sharp to make sure judgement. What can be seen clearly is that 4 out of 5 digits are not looking right.

Right, I am not intended to pay the asking price.

Yes, I thought so, these you posted are completely different from the one in question. "Nines" are completely different. And "one" like that has not been seen before. Neither in original nor dublicates numbers. The last digit is dodgy too, but it might be just unsharpnesd of the picture. Some questions about guiding too, but this could just mean some reparation work.

If you think it's a textbook, then show at least one with the same number inscription style. There are none.

What do you think the number is? 94190 or 94196? With this photo quality it is difficult to judge. So far it looks to me as a genuine order with illedgitimately changed serial number.

Quite strange "hand writing"... suspicious...

5 Gv.A commander's plan for the first 3 days of Vistula-Oder offensive. The location of the Kniazev's action is marked. Red Army force disposition on the starting position just prior to attack on 12/Jan/1945:

Golden diamonds!? That is rich! What for? For street credit?

Please, meet Guards First Sergeant Kniazev Ivan Mitrofanovich, a T-34 gunner of 226th detached tank regiment. His T-34 was "one of first tanks to reach river Elbe", the meeting point of the Soviet Army and the American Allies. Kniazev was awarded order of Glory III class for the action on 12 January 1945, on the first day of the Vistula-Oder offensive. His tank was taken out by the German AT battery and he was badly wounded. Here is the citation: Tank gunner First Sergeant KNIAZEV showed exceptional military skill in delivering precise artillery fire and courage on the battlefield during the breaking of enemy defences 12.01.1945. The tank rushed into enemy defence position at village BOREK reference point 228,9 and was met with dense AT fire from the edge of the woods west of MAGIEROW. Comrade Kniazev one by one took out 3 AT cannons, 1 fortified AT position. When the tank reached the woods edge it was hit by the AT fire and caught fire. Comrade Kniazev was wounded, but despite that he dismounted machine gun from the burning tank and opened fire at the retrieving enemy infantry killing 8 hitleriets and capturing 4. For courage, bravery and resourcefulness in battle, comrade Kniazev is worthy of order of Glory III class. This was Kniazev's 3rd sustained wound. He was lightly wounded in 1942 and badly in 1944. The "edge of the woods west of Magierow" is still there in 2016. A tank from 226th Detached Tank Regiment of 5 Gv.A. 226th Tank regiment commander KOROBEINIKOV

Hej, guys. These are not mine. But It know the guy, so if there questions I might be able to answer.

Hey, Tony. Thanks for your input!!! I don't have access to the medals. Will try to ask the seller. Will post if available.

Thank you for the informative overview! But I have a question. On the B/W photograph the center field (which should be blue) appears to be lighter in tone than the 32 rays (which should be red). I was trying to play with the picture, but I cannot get the sender blue field look like on the photograph here... How dod you explain that?

Wow! Thank you very much! A lot of info to work with. Nice online source too! I still need to learn about online resource for British medal research. I understand there a many these day, bit I need to learn them...

Don't you think it's suspicious that exactly the area around the number happens to be washed out? And with a weird paper damage, which is difficult to explain by natural wear and tear?

Actually, it should be other way around then. The order book is genuine and belonged to A.D.Sorokina, but the ORBL was missing from the set. So another one was added in and the document had to be doctored to replace the original serial number with the "fake" one.

Hello Bill, Looks good and interesting, but the document for ORBL has been doctored. Probably a real document for another ORBL, but the number was washed out and fixed to fit the set.

Hi Odulf! Mainly interested in comments and thoughts of the bar, the recipient and the brunch of service. Is there a good potential for good interesting provenance? I would like to expand my collection and add British awards, which have some good story behind them (I almost exclusively collect awards with stories). And valuation is also important, as I need to understand if the 500 Euro price the seller asks for is too much. With limited budget I need to check first. After British, I think, I take German awards, and I hope you can give me some hints then, Odulf. Some of those German bars are impressive.

Well let's then wait together for grownups to show up...

Mihai, so you mean it is not Romanian language? Because it does not look Russian to me either. Maybe it is Lithuanian? I cannot read it...

Where are you, our knowledgeable British members?