Egorka

Who would expect... two awards came to my colection from opposite sides of the globe, yet the awardees served practically tougher, supporting the same rifle unit at the same time and on the same theatre of operation... Two pieces of the puzzle have just clicked tougher...

Kniazev on his T-34 (226 Tank regiment) and Lihomanov on his SU-76 (8 SABR) were both supporting 34 Guards Rifle Corps, 5 Gu.A in January 1945. 

Respect guys, for all that hard core research you do!

Lesser coat of arms 1830 

Lesser coat of arms after 1856

On 12/1/2016 at 22:45, Mark McM said:

Hi all,

From my observations, eagles on the St. Stanislaus order seem to have undergone a style change sometime around 1850.  Does anyone have details concerning the change?  

Hello Mark,

There was heraldry reform finalized in April 1857, which among other things lead to changes in the lesser coat of arms of Russian Empier. That what you see. Some of the main changes are the shape of the eagle wings and St.George changed orientation from "riding right" to "riding left".

Well, it was not a steam boat, Paul.  A diesel. 

I will lay out the research in a couple of weeks.

7 hours ago, Paul R said:

Thanks for adding these details.  Now this is more than just a basic ORB.  Where did you find the photograph?

Hey, Paul. Yes, the research adds extra dimention to our hobby. The photo is from archival research. Chufarov was an officer, so there is always a chance there is a photo in the service record. 

Check out my signature.  I can do such research for you too.

Some times photograph is not to be found in the service record papers. Then there is a slim chance to locate it on the mighty Internet. F.ex. I managed to locate like that awardee photos for 2 of my Red Banner orders. Though it may take some effort.

One is found on our forum "for forcing Oder in January 1945". The other one is for a Baltic fleet armoredboat captain, who after was was serving on "target ship".  It was exactly how it sounds. This ORB I need to find time to present on our forum.

Chufarov's service record. 

hehheeehhe I also though for some time I was blind...  

Number of flowers (?) is different, and the star is completely golden (5th has silver/golden rays).

Please meet the awardee Chufarov Anatoly Zosimovich.

Town Els in 1945 after it was captured by Soviet forces.

22. Guards private SHAPOVAL IVAN ALEKSEEVICH - rifleman, 6th company.
Participated in the fighting for town Els /Germany/ in February 1945,
showed courage and bravery. Rushed the first into enemy position eliminated 2 hitlerites. Twice wounded during the fight.
Participated in capturing town Breslavl. Repelled bravely enemy counterattacks.
Born 1910, Ukrainian, not party member. Drafted to RKKA by Onufrievsky RVK, Novgorod Region in 1944.

On 7/11/2016 at 16:15, Ferdinand said:

... and I don't see any traces of an old serial number or those giveaway watery stains that you usually see.

I see ink remains and more. Do we at least agree, that there is mechanical damage of the paper around the number?

19 hours ago, Bill Garvy said:

Documents group of Lyubomira Igrat'yevna Gunkevich

Just in case it is not a simple misspelling: Lyubomira Ignat'yevna Gunkevich.

I am a little confused with the black marker number writing on the order. What on Earth is that?

The medal was suspended on combined St Vladimir and St Andrew ribbon.

Good one.

About the enamel chip. Well, it does affect price. BUT, if the order is shown to have an intersting citation or otherwise, it does not matter. 

F.ex. look at this Order of Red Banner. That enamel damage doesn't matter at all considering the citation it has!

So the research is the key!

Hello! Exactly as said by Ferdinand, the eBay is probably the easiest option. It will be easy to find sellers. These pentagonal suspensions are still in use, and therefore also produced. But the material is aluminium. Some times you can find old types, but as a single item mainly, not in volume.

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. 

On 11/16/2016 at 14:01, Kvart said:

I don't know so much about the value, but I think I know where you found them for sale. And they have been for sale at that place for a pretty long time.

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

18 minutes ago, Ferdinand said:

Here you go, five similar numbers...

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. 

9 hours ago, Ferdinand said:

The serial number - 94196 - is textbook, there's nothing wrong with it.

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.