NJB

Dear Swordguy,

Thanks for the help with the blade, pity about the condition but still a nice piece of history.

Best regards,

Nick

Sorry my mistake,

it was bought in the uk in the fifties,

cheers

Nick

No clue on retail. I note completely different ideas of "market value" between the U.S., Britain, and Germany for the same things.

This is some pattern of Damascus, though I am too novice to be able to tell which. Try scanning a good length of the blade as big as you can and then cropped tight (the way you did for the maker mark, but with a longer length of blade to show more of the pattern). Black and white or even better, take that scan into your computer's "Paint" program and "invert" the scan for a negative effect-- which shows the pattern clearer than normal as viewed scans. Damascus always looks like used barbecue tinfoil when scanned. (At least when I do it. )

I am sure somebody will be along to tell you the pattern and who that maker was.

EITHER of your potential recipients makes for a story more interesting than we normally see.

Condition is important, and this has some problems there. The gilt has worn completely off from the blade inncription. But in my opinion, as a researcher who has seen scores of Imperial naval blades over the decades, any negatives in that regard are compensated for by the attribution to either of the possible owners, both of whom had outstanding WW1 combat records.

I would think somebody from the last place Eichler bombed before being shot down, for instance, would be far more interested in this for an East Kent museum than some flea market dealer. I've never collected for either "invetsment" or resale, so Going price is not my strong suit.

But we ARE coming up on the Great ar VCentennial--fast-- and you can bet that really GOOD items like this are going to be "worth" a whole lot more in 2014+ than they are today as intersst surges.

Your dad had a great eye for souvenirs!

Thanks Rick,

I will pass the good news onto pops

The blade is just plain with no discernable pattern,

still looks like ten pounds well spent

Cheers,

Nick.

Hello Rick,

Thanks for the information, I'm totally speechless, This is my dad's sword which I brought home this afternoon too try to find out what type of sword it is, as I know nothing about it,

After reading your post I'm starting to change my mind. Just too clarify how important or interesting/ valuable do you rate It

Kind regards,

Nick

and finally.

Thanks in advance.

Nick.

Hello Everyone,

If anyone could give me any help with this sword I would be most grateful.

Sorry looks like darrell's,

saturday night time for a beer.

Nick

And the reverse

which thankfully looks like Ed's

Hi Guys.

This one is mine bought on e... for 224 english oct 2007.

regards,

Nick.

Hello Everyone,

Just been looking at the pics of the FON 61458, reverse, post 5 listed above alongside the one listed on collect russia and thought there seemed too be a few discrepancies.

1. The neck.

2. The square tips of the rays at eleven and one o' clock.

3. The center two rivets are below the mint mark.

4. The serial number seems very close to the one on collect russia. yet the six is straight,the one is smaller and although the number has patina the underline does not.

5 The fake patina.

No offence meant to anyone just my humble opinion.

Nick.

Right, let me now step down my soapbox and inform Nick, and our other participants, that my question still has NOT been answered. Nick's answer is not the right one.

Hi Marc,

Welcome back,as mentioned at the the time it was a long shot,

still gotta admit i enjoyed asking a question

Christophe your question on the presidents, I thought this was a trick question after seeing this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_the_Soviet_Union

all the best,

Nick

Hi Guys,

we have a winner congratulations Auke for more info check http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamazasp_Babadzhanian

quite the hero by the looks of the awards and medals he received.

hope this was a decent question from a newbie like myself.

Cheers Guys.

Nick

Hi Guys,

Just to add, the answer is in the book pictured by Christian.

Nick

Hi Christophe.

Thanks for the vote of confidence,

In the spirit of making the quiz more accessible to new members and my own limited knowledge this is an easy question.

In the novel " The people immortal " by Vasily Grossman the main character's death later caused Grossman some embarrassment so....

what is the main character's name and what caused the embarrassment.

Good luck,

Nick.

In fact, Nick, it would be YOUR turn, not mine...

Cheers.

Ch.

Thanks christophe,

The next easy question is ready to go,

just waiting for the go ahead,

regards to all,

Nick.

Hi Guys

After reading the above post's I would like to say please don't get disheartened about the quiz it is an excellent idea and a good learning tool for newcomers like myself,

Nick

ps I have only been interested in all things soviet for seven months, so it possibly shows what can be learned from knowledgable people like yourselves,

Thanks, Nick! Maybe you are right. I hope you are. I have no clue!

My narrow mind doesn't deal well with unstructured questions??

Thanks Ed,

A little encouragement goes a long way

Nick,

OK, let's go with it again. That one should not be too difficult at all (then again, I did not think that my previous question was...)

A couple of months ago, I turned 75. Originally a czarist invention, I was abolished after the 1917 revolution, before being reinstated less than 15 years later.

1. What am I?

2. What is the exact date I was reinstated?

3. What was the actual reason for my return?

Good luck!

Marc

Hello Everyone,

As a newbie this is a hell of a guess on my behalf so don't laugh to loud

Marc,

1. LITERARY ARTISTIC ORGANISATION,

2. 23rd APRIL 1932

3. SOCIALIST REALISM

All the best

Nick,

BTW special thanks to Christophe for giving me the nerve to attempt such a tricky question

The medal type 4 v1 variant worker without belt, and no underline on s/n

Hello again Jim,

BOH doc, looked like a long wait !

Hi Jim,

hope this helps.

regards

Nick.