Ed_Haynes

PM sent, Bob.

Interesting. Would LOVE to see/have a copy (hint-hint?) before I see Bat this summer. We'll be discussing (1) research and (2) the Second Edition.

The multi-generational inheritable nature of our addiction is important. Provenence provenence provenence. Always nice to know "ex-XXX collection" (I have some with 3 or 4 named genealogical links back to The Greats). To know that XXX once fondled our guests . . . . But, then, some see these as mere investments, to be flogged whenever the "market" goes up . . . .

See: http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=16754&st=14 and http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=16754&st=17

It is "family" never ever sell! (Much as I would like one.) Value as a family piece: $1,000,000,000 or more? What is the family story behind it? I had the chance to meet Tito (briefly) on his (next?) 1974 trip to India.

It was granted as a commemorative for Tito's first visit to India. A lovely medal, and one I have been seeking. Problems of purchase mechanics have intervened. Grrr. Lovely.

Ohhhh . . . shall ask . . . however unlikely.

Thanks all. Our collective detective work is this forum at its best!

Agreed. I feel uncertain. Why a Hans Beimler Medal and no Medaille f?r K?mpfer gegen Faschismus 1933-45??

These medals are fairly common in India (less so elsewhere). The records are unclear (and the Government of India was immensely confused) as to who received them. (The government, by the way, found all these Prince of Wales visits to be a great frustration, in part due to the medals -- all unwearable, but often worn -- that were strewn about.) While I have never seen any reference as to the proper ribbon, I believe this is the correct ribbon, an incredibly rare thing to encounter with this medal. Nice.

By George, I think I've got it . . . maybe . . . . Think: Korovin TK (introduced 1926). Quoting (http://world.guns.ru/handguns/hg189-e.htm ): "Most TK pistols were either issued as self-defence weapons for high ranking officers of Red Army or above-average officials of Communists party and Soviet government, or were used as presentational pieces for various achievements." Look at the one on the bottom (upside down sorry, image editing is dead). Opinions?

Thanks, Rick and William. I appreciate your help on this puzzle. Unfortunately, I know little about firearms or such, and so need all the guidance I can get. Likewise, I do not have the Russian original of what has been tranalsted as a ". . . pistol for 12th anniversary of chekist service . . .". Was it "pistol" or more generic "weapon"? I have been looking closely at the image of Budyonny?s pistol ever since I got the Durov book, but the whole idea and structure here would have been quite different. I have not held one of these Mauser pistols since high school (they had one that some WWI era graduate had presented [also had a TON of medal bars, where are they now?]). I tremble (literally) at the thought of having to go to a gun show somewhere in the Carolinas to compare the plate to the pistol. It may come down to this, though. Honestly, this smooth little silver plate doesn't say "saber" to me, but I may be deaf. It comes closer to saying "bayonet", but I am not sure that works either. The very flay plate (64 mm x 31/37 mm is quote flat, with a single (screw?) hole and the traces of four very short pieces of wire in each of the corners of the slightly recessed reverse. As I said, right now, my computer is very much on "life support" (with a good bit of stuff lost -- has everyone backed up recently?) and scanning offline. When things are healed (by, alas, a new computer), I'll certainly add details and scans as requested. While I love such puzzles, this one . Again, thanks for the interest. And here's another pistol picture to ponder.

Nice. I think I recall viisting this tailor's shop in Lahore, so it feels quite halal to me.

Welcome also. We need all the Yugoslavian widsom we can get. I am sooooo trying to learn.

Thanks, Guy. A lovely lovely one!!

Sorry, Guy. Those without forum membership there or language skills can't get anything useful.

Generally? My advice: Don't.

All is now back in hand, but ongoing computer issues (= nightmares) preclude scanning. (All is sort of on life support just now, new computer on the way, ouch.) Size of the little metal plate? Horizontally around 64 mm, vertical dimension of 31 mm (skinny part) to 37 mm (fat part). Scan to come when possible. I still wonder the relationship of this scrap to the "Awarded pistol for 12th anniversary of chekist service on Chekist day 20 December 1932" mentioned above? It is certainly the same date.

And all of us need to strive to keep our personal family histories far away from our understanding of history. They are a part of history and they may help to make history real for us, but they can so easily become just another part of self-serving distorted memory and nationalistic myth-preserving. In all wars, "atrocities" take place, on all sides., and all sides commit them, really, in shameful abundance (which is why all "patriotism" gets so quickly made dirty and tawdry). It is pall part of the "game" of war. The ones any combatant reports against "the enemy" during the war are usually as false as those their wartime opponents intone about them. The real atrocity stories usually come only after the conlict (reference: WWII) when sources can be checked, though there are some modern exceptions (My Lai, Abu Ghraib, etc.).

The online LG can be incredibly cranky, but it repays patience.

Very impressive . . . and impressive presentation.

Well . . . once you get past that picture of Ricky at the head of the thread . . . .

Very very nice, and quite historical. These up- and down-grades add an extra dimension of historical value.

Interesting, bizarre, what is it??? (Asssuming 'tis pre-1963 and not related to you -- oh, biker boy -- as depicted in that first photo in that other thread, entitled -- temptingly -- "Nazis in Chains" -- yum?) You seems to be developing a sub-theme here, Rick??