Belaruski

Here you go!

Here's mine, a nice Mennica one with the enamel intact and some of the gilt left on the rifles! A lovely order.

Another angle. It's all very nicely made and the gold colour is consistent, it hasn't been painted on later!

..and the back.

I just got this Skanderbeg 1st class today, A nice Prawema screwback, but the central medallion is gold too. Is this a known variation, common/scarce etc. or a mistake!?

Thanks for the information! I bought it as one 'medal' and my bad maths didn't spot the 10 year difference! Is this something that would only have been given to one of the original delegates?

And the badge itself..

Another Albanian badge, this one for the 20th anniversary of the conference at Permetit. The large ribbon is marked for a delegate so I'm presuming this was given to delegates at the 1974 party conference.

A nice Albanian 'ribbon' bar. With a Yugoslav order of bravery on the end!

I just picked up an Albanian Ribbon bar including a Yugoslav order, I'll post a picture tomorrow! I'm trying to stick to the orders and medals themselves but occasionaly you get tempted!

That is a super way to display your badges! I might have to completely steal your idea for my Belarusian collection! It's nice to have a display that's convenient to add to, great work!

I can't answer your question, but I just wanted to say that's a lovely flag!

That's a nice collection! I'm getting back into the Albanian medals and orders, so here's a photo of my small collection so far, I have a few more on the way to me at the minute, but it's always nice to share!

I just picked up this lovely Albanian peace badge. Nice brass and enamels. My interest in Albanian medals etc. has just kicked in again!

Lovely little article! This takes me back to when I started collecting, just turning up at a show (or arms fair as they were known in the UK) and seeing what turned up. Now I'm collecting obscurities often ebay is the only place I'll find them, but definately feel inspired to go back to a show or two now, maybe take the eldest son too and see wqhat we find!

That's sad to hear. I know when the Soviet uniforms changed in 1943 some soldiers still wore the old style uniforms until they too were 'pressured' to adopt the new ones.

Thanks! I presumed they'd have kept the caps, so now I can see that a border troop's cap would be VERY hard to find!

Hi Artan, That's amazing, I started off collecting Soviet uniforms 1918-1945 and now I've ended up focussing on Albanian medals! But this picture could make me diversify again! What about a post 1966 border troops cap?

Wow! Thanks Mr. Lame. How hard would it be to get one of those caps?!

I like how the sigurimi had matching collar patches and socks! A nice rare photo though, did the border troops have green collar patches in Soviet style?

I'd also be interested in a 3rd edition! I know Lame's work is out now, but I still use Eric's book as my reference!

I have a couple of bezkozhirka caps with border tallies (one is green piped) and a jumper too of a diver with nice green border to the badge and a leningrad defence ribbon. I'll try and get pics on soon! I love the pea coat by the way, and want one!

The wartime ones had the star without wreath, correct version is straght armed as opposed to slighttly curved arms on furazhka star. Some people put side cap stars on later caps to make them appear 'older'.

It's really hard to tell from these pictures. Use the close up feature on your camera, the little flower picture, and no flash. Really good pictures of the stitching on the inside etc. AS Mr. Williamson says fold out the sweatband to show the construction.

Not strictly true. The Hammer and plough was the Red Army symbol but hammer and sickles did appear before the 20's. I think I have a 1919 banknote somewhere with one on it. I personally think this is non-Soviet and probably a German comemorative piece. Potentially very rare if 20's / early 30's German. Why German? Well the pin is rarely encountered on Soviet or even Russian badges of the period (even from 1900-today) The oakleaves are Germanic, Soviet insignia prefers wheat and cog wheels, and lastly the 7 in 1917 is crossed, typically German and not seen on Soviet awards or badges of the era. Have a look at the 'Arsenal' badge to see all these features missing! (It's screwback, has cog wheel and wheatsheafs and no 'cross' on the 1917).