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Lorenzo - Give me a day or two and I'll send you a want list. Thanks. Kevin

Lorenzo - I'd be interested in trading it for theater made US cut edge ACU and DCU patches and/or AAFES / EFI POGs. Send me a PM if you are interested. Kevin

Thanks Tony. Hopefully Iraqi marked 58 pattern webbing will have a little more value than the standard stuff. I taught ROTC here in the US shortly after the first Gulf War. Back then we had a lot of prior service Cadets and many of them came in offering to give me Iraqi kit, like canteens, bayonets, web gear, uniforms. A good deal of it was either British or Soviet issue. I turned it all down as I had no interest in it at the time. Kevin

Lorenzo, Thanks. You confirmed what I thought. I've seen a couple of British Pattern 58 Webbing bags of this type on UK websites in the 15 Pound range so I was figuring about $30-$35. Kevin

Lorenzo - Thanks for your reply and translation. Any idea what one of these might be worth?

Close up of tag:

Back Side...

I was at a thrift shop on base today and came across an unusual bag with Arabic markings which had a tag that said Iraqi Army Backpack. It looked a lot like the British Pattern 58 Webbing converted for Iraqi use. So I bought it. I know nothing about collecting this kind of stuff since my collecting interest are in US and East German. Is there any value in this bag and would anyone know what the Arabic says on the white tag? Also any idea what it may have been used for? Thanks. Kevin

Viktor - Great barber's kit. I've only seen one or two of these, where did you find it? Kevin

All and all a good buy for 2 Euro! If you ever tire of it I'd be interested.

It appears to be an older badge with a replacement catch from a ribbon bar. Below is my Leistungsabzeichen der NVA from the 70s or 80s with a simular catch. Follow this link to the WAF DDR forum and this thread shows differences in construction of the pin for different eras: http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/sho...ead.php?t=75364

Chris, Did you post a photo? If so it's not showing up. From the front it looks like an older badge, perhaps from the 60s or early 70s. The rule of thumb with DDR insignia is the older it is the higher quality it is. Once you get into the 80s they started cutting corners on materials and quality is just not the same as the early stuff.

Chris its a outstanding badge called the Leistungsabzeichen der Nationalen Volksarmee. This version was issued from 1959 to 1990. There is an older version issued from 1956 to 1959 without the round state symbol in the flag. Would it be possible to show a photo of the back? Kevin

Very nice, this style of pilot's badge is hard to come buy. Would it be possible to show the reverse sides of each with the screw plates removed?

Viktor - Outstanding para equipment! After years of looking this year I've finally found a reasonably priced para rucksack. I also picked up two of the three versions of the plastic para helmet. I still have to find the earliest.

John - Very nice indeed! I have a simular NCO uniform that still has that funky smell of body oder even after a healty spraying of Fabrize. Kevin

John - Very nice. What year was it made (year code) and is it wool or gabardine? Kevin

See this thread on the same medal at the WAF DDR forum: http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/sho...ad.php?t=349439

Grant, To me it sounds like this was an unissued tunic for which the insignia was added later. If you want to be close to authentic take off the 60s para badge and find a modern one as well as an academy badge. Replace the ribbon bar too and I believe you will be good to go. Hand sewn collar tabs may or may not be a red flag. It's possible they are original, however I have 7 para uniforms from Private to Lieutenant Colonel all purchased from different sources and and all have machine sewn collar tabs. Kevin

Grant, Dan, whoever you are! Great badges all, especially the mini qual badges for the lapel which are relatively hard to get. I don't ever recall seeing mini-badges for the post-1986 qual badges.

Uwe - I missed the 10 year Treue Dienst. The Kampfgruppen were trained by the VOPO to avoid various arms control treaties. So it's unlikely that a Para Captain would have this medal. General Officers were more likely to get it as they were frequently given orders and medals from other state organizations.

This forum isn't that active so I tend to forget names.

Grant - Per our discussion in the other thread. First off this is a good period Para uniform with I believe a 1986 date code. But there are a couple of read flags that lead me to believe that it's been "enhanced" by the addition of badges to increase its potential sale value First off is the "1st Class Classification Badges for Members of the Parachute Service". The original version of this badge is very rare. I checked my references and only 400 were issued from 1960 to 1963. So it's near impossible for a 60s badge to be worn on a 1986 uniform. There were a number of restrikes of this badge made in the early 90s by the original manufacturer. The second issue is the 8 place ribbon bar. It's a good bar, and these things are sought after, but also appears to have been added. Would a Captain have had 20+ years of service? There is also an upside down Kampfgruppen Verdienst Medal in Bronze. Why would he have a Kampfgruppen award if he was on active service? He is also missing a school badge, is there a hole centered above the right breast pocket that would indicate the this badge was worn? Last off can you photograph the underside of the collar where one of the collar tabs is sewn. Is it machine sewn or hand stiched? Does it appear that other collar tabs have been removed and replaced with these? Kevin

Grant - I was in a bit of a rush because I was at work, that's why I called you Dan rather than Grant. Trying to multi-task and failing at it. I'll look at the other thread and provide comments there. Kevin

Dan - Great medals but the para tunic appears to be a put together of mostly original parts. The para badge however is the one from the early 1960 and less than 300 were awarded and the original is extremely rare. These were restruck by the original maker shortly after the fall of the wall. It's hard to tell from the photo is the material wool or gaberdine?