TacHel

More pics.

This helmet is in a small museum in Southern Quebec I found by accident this summer. It was identified as from the 1914-1918 Era. I'm no expert on the field by a long shot, but the eagle seemed older than that, or is it just beat up? Any thoughts?

Beautiful items! When I was stationed in Germany, I used to regularly hit the flea markets and antiques markets in Belgium and the Netherlands. I didn't only purchase ODMs, I came out with dozens of large Royal Delft pieces and complete sets, not the cheaper smaller modern stuff, I mean the older stuff. You could still buy incredible treasures in some of the smaller places. The younger people wanted modern furniture in their homes, incredible family treasures dating back multi generations were on tables in flea markets at ridiculously low prices... It wasn't only China or porcelaine, solid oak century+ old furniture to give you goose pimples just from admiring them... Oh how I wish an airman made more money in those days!

In my familiy, I'm the one attracted to such incredible works of art. My wife doesn't care as long as it isn't a dribble glass... I for one would completely fill my house with such beautiful and ornate craftsmanship. I wish I had been born when such attention to details was the rule and not the incredibly rare exception.

Just my luck, I probably just pissed off a 40+ power magi (whatever the frig that is) that'll turn me into a newt if I ever log onto that mind numbing game... ;)

Work on your house? The house can wait! You've got some of us hooked on your model here! ;)

The Justice MInistry Medal of Valour is an extremely high award, I've only seen it worn by ranking members of OMON who earned them in combat. The Order of Courage is a high state award for bravery, it isn't an efficiency award. How many sergeants of junior lieutenants have you seen walking around with a Medal "For Distinction in the Protection of Public Order"? This guy was no junior member, and he wasn't a prison guard... Unless he single handedly stopped a major prison riot during a visit from the governor simultaneously saving the latter's life. And no, there's no way it's a complete set. Once again, I would only bid on a set such as this for the individual awards I needed and would ignore the documents thus greatly limiting the maximum price I'd dish out. Sorry, but I've learned to follow my instincts on sales like this. I've seen too many large sets broken up in the USA with the docs going with half the medals and the other half of the medals being joined by purchased ones to make a second set that looks legit.

That it does...

190 blood donations? Man! That would fill a 45 gallon drum! Is the list in Dutch a scan or in electronic format that could be copied and pasted into an e-translator? My Ducth sucks... I only remember this "twee frikandellen met friet alstublieft"... :whistle:

Yikes! Except for the Valour medal, the other 2 are borderline worthless... And the medal isn't worth that much, maybe $125, $150 on a good day. For that auction to hit $300+, there must've been 2 or 3 individuals fighting it out who lost track...

At first glance I figured it was a set from a member of OMON, they transferred from the MVD to the Justice Ministry some years ago, but the award dates are backwards. After further examination, I wouldn't pay 2 extra kopeks for the fact this is supposedly a set. IMHO, it's made up and the documents faked or partially faked. Individually, if real medals, they're worth between $450 and $550. 1- Inter ministerial awards are only permitted with a few select medals, the MVD Decoration for Faithfulness to Duty isn't one of them. 2- The 3 middle awards (Min Justice Medal of Valour, 2 State awards = Decoration "For Distinction in the Protection of Public Order" and the Order of Courage) are as high as it gets short of being a Hero of the Russian Federation, this guy had to be OMON, and a fairly high ranking member. No other ministerial awards? No commemoratives? No breast badges for efficiency? No public awards? No unit badge? Me thinks not! Such a highly decorated individual would've been showered with medals, badges and pins! 3- The 2 last ones are un official semi tolerated awards that dissapeared prior to the dates at which they were supposedly awarded. The last one was replaced by this one http://gmic.co.uk/index.php/gallery/image/3376-cross-for-service-in-the-caucasus-1-class-gold/ which was adopted by all ministries and departments. The badge for participation in combat ops has no equal in the Justice Ministry. If MVD, then this one: http://gmic.co.uk/index.php/gallery/image/3411-decoration-for-participant-in-combat-operations/ Like I said, I.d be extremely weary... To the point of not bidding at all.

Can you please shed some light on these 2 neck orders? Are they awarded for giving blood, if so, how many gallons? Or are they part of the Order of the Belgian red Cross? What is the significance of the devices onm the ribbon?

Finishing my 5th day at home taking care of the wifey... What a horrible operation! She's black and blue and swollen like she'd been hit by a truck!

OK... Thanks. Speedytops' medal's bars are still weird. Shouldn't it be two bars of 4 stars and one bar of 1 star?

The set is unfortunately quite incomplete... A veteran's badge usually means 25 years of service meaning we're missing 3 long service medals (1st, 2nd and 3rd class). The "Medal for Valour" is quite interesting though! Odd that no other breast badge was present... Just out of curiosity, how much did these fetch?

The operation went well, but they really kick you out of the hospital quickly these days! 2 days after the operation and she's home! I took a leave from work to be at home with her, she can barely move!

For those of you who might be interested, here's a link to the complete list of recipients of the Belgian 1830-31 Iron Cross (1833). This on line book in French also includes all related Laws and Decrees. A very sweet -gratis- reference! http://books.google....=gbs_navlinks_s

Could someone please explain to me the star-bar system? Why multiple bars?

It's been a while... Where's the München???

So the medal with M.S.A. is pre 1993. I also have one with 1973 on its clasp, when would they have started putting the year on the upper clasp versus M.S.A.??

They just don't get it...

Thank you for noticing and bringing it up, what a coincidence, I've been thinking of upgrading my avatar... You'll let me know if you think it's a tad presumptuous? :whistle:

The dark background is a result of using a scanner, it's actually a highly polished smooth area. SHould've used my digital camera... I should find out soon if I'm being awarded this medal in the coming months... If so, I'll take a better picture.

You know 3/4 of all medals minted in Russia in the past 20 years have been mere souvenirs, public medals, associative items, and crap like this... A few minutes on the zaslugi web site will discourage most to even consider collecting modern Russian ODMs. That's why I've spent sooooo many long hours seeking out Presidential Decrees and ministerial orders to ID the real awards. THat's also why I've spent sooooo many long hours on Wikipedia putting together these pages: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awards_and_decorations_of_the_Russian_Federation http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awards_of_the_Ministry_of_Internal_Affairs_of_Russia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awards_and_Emblems_of_the_Ministry_of_Defense_of_the_Russian_Federation http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awards_of_the_Ministry_for_Emergency_Situations_of_Russia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awards_of_the_Federal_Security_Service_of_the_Russian_Federation http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awards_of_the_Federal_Protective_Service_of_the_Russian_Federation http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awards_of_the_Federal_Border_Service_of_the_Russian_Federation http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ministerial_Awards_of_the_Russian_Federation

When was the Order created exactly? Do you have a date? When did the model change? 1945 or 1952?