Hauptmann

Hi all, Don't think it's military... also not sure of the period but a neat set I've picked up. If this should go in another section please feel free to move it. A neat matched set that I just couldn't resist! I think it could only be better if it all came in a case. Dan

Hi Zsolt, Many thanks! Knew it was a good one due to Charles help. He was right there alongside me when i won. It's a pretty little thing for sure. Dan

Hi all, Okay... here's mine. I'll have to let Charles and Gordon tell more about it though: Dan

Dan

Here's my first class:

Closeup of truck: Reverse: Dan

Hi all, Well, the Drivers Badge arrived so just did my own scans: Obverse: Closeup of star:

Charles my friend... OUTSTANDING!!!! All those pictured here are terrific but between the case and the gorgious enamel... I'm in love all over again!!!! FANTASTIC!!!! Dan

Many thanks Ed! I'm so glad I finally got over that hump. It's been staring me in the face for months and with my heavy work schedule there's just been little if any time... and then I'm generally exhausted and sleep through my days off. I just got very determined the other night and decided to forge ahead. Dan

Many thanks my friend! You'll get there. Just keep plugging away. Trust me... when I started out I never would have imagined! But hey... it's been tons of fun and plenty more to come I'm sure. Dan

Hi Christian, So happy you like and want it and hope it all works out. Mike's a pleasure to work with and delivers the goods with no worries. It's a great piece and one of these days when I get our basement redone and I have a proper display area all my flags will be going up including that one to make what I hope will be a nice backdrop to my Soviet and Warsaw Pact collections. And hey... as far as your Kutuzov... it reminds me of the guy who bought a Luftwaffe dagger and then sent a pic to the seller of his original German fighter plane... if you've got the one you've simply got to have the other! Let me know when your's arrives and what you think of it in person. Dan

So doesn't Zsolt know? If even he doesn't know between the three of you... it's really got to be obscure! Sure hope you can find out and let us know before too long. It's a beaut! Dan

Many thanks! I look forward to seeing them. Dan

Hi Gordon, Was kind of afraid of that. Please feel free to move them over. Mucho thanks! Dan

Hi Vic, Thank you my friend! It's been a long time coming. Now on to the 4,000th mark! Oh, I sent you an E... hoping you got it. Dan

Here's my one sole contribution on these so far: Dan

There goes my accursed good taste again, eh? Oh well. It's like with all else, if it's meant to be one will pop out of the woodwork. If it can work with that Driver's badge I guess anything is possible. Here's hoping more turn up before too long. Dan

Well, now I know what I'm going to hear when I chat with Charles later today. A shame... I really love them, and the cases too. That's my problem though... it's like with cars... I love Rolls Royces and Bentleys (60's back with the long hoods and all the curves) and the Astin Martin DB5 and other such cars that are way beyond my means and likely always will be. Expensive tastes without the budget to match is not fun. But all in all in my collections I think I've done okay. I've been very lucky, God has provided in droves, and with such good friends helping out... well, having all that on my side how can I lose? I have a feeling thought that one day, between us (you, myself and Charles), we'll have to open a museum the size of the Louvre in order to display everything we've acquired over the years. But that's part of the fun! Dan

You are very welcome my friend. And it's terrific to see that you also have a supportive wife when it comes to your hobby. I've bragged on Kim for years and she deserves it. Shoot... tomorrow she's taking me to the local gun show. May not find anything I want but it'll be enjoyable all the same, especially being in her company. And who knows... she may find one she wants! I know when I purchased my SKS and Mak91 (basically a semi-auto AK with longer titanium lined barrel) with 30 round banana clips and 75 round drum bag, bipod, etc., thinking the SKS would be for her... which do you think she went for? As to this set... yet again you made the right choice. There are times you've just got to go with your gut feeling. And the way I look at it is... if you pay what you feel is a bit more than it might be worth... if you love it and it will give you pleasure owning it then it's well worth it. And over time it's sure to increase in value many times! Just can't say enough... a wonderful set. Here's to many more that are yet to be found and acquired! Dan

Well I sincerely think you made the right decision. I've seen things that are extremely rare with such flaws and due to the rarety they're still grabbed up and treasured. Plus, in your hands the damage can now be kept from getting any worse. Cared for properly it will now last for the generations to come. Again a terrific set! Dan

Oh dream of dreams! This is the one that has continued to elude me over the years. I've come close but then the $$'s always had to go elsewhere at the last moment. I'm nearly at the point of giving up hope of ever owning one which really hurts. I feel this is by bar the most beautiful of the Soviet Orders. You are indeed a very lucky man! And to show how much I love this particular Order... I made this my 3,000th post! Thanks so much for sharing this one. Dan

Hi Gordon, Many thanks my friend! Have you posted the others you mention? Would love to see them. It's funny as my first HuPR piece was that cased sports badge and that was also mislisted as a Soviet award. And also got that for a terrific price. Other than feeling 99.99999% sure this badge was Hungarian I didn't have any idea whatsoever that it was rare. It's the kind of thing that if I'd seen it at a flea market or antique shop I might have passed it by... save for the fact that the price would have probably pulled me into buying it to put into the collection. But if it had been much more I'd have probably passed it by. It's being shipped out later today via Priority Mail so with luck I should have it in hand by midweek if not sooner. Keeping my fingers crossed. Can't wait to see it in person and first thing I'll do is make better scans and post those. Dan

Gordon... many thanks for posting this thread. Very sobering and a reminder of what some of what we collect represents. Things that should never be forgotten... things we hopefully will continue to keep in the collective memory. Dan

Charles... how in the world do you and Gordon do it! Combined you both come up with the rarest of the rare and make it seem easy. Another terrific find! Don't know how I missed this one till now. Congrats!!!! Dan

Once again beautiful badges Charles. But this one especially! Looks extremely delicate... as you say... it's amazing how it can still be in such wonderful condition. I wonder how many have survived in anywhere near this condition. I wouldn't imagine too many. Dan