Christian Zulus

Gentlemen, that's really an incredible offer - never seen such a catalouge before . The prices are extremly low - are these starting prices, estimates or what ????? What's the buyer's premium and the additional costs (taxes, insurance, shipping etc.) ? What about the quality of the items, what are fakes ? Italy is a rather uncommon place for such an auction .... Best regards Christian

Dear Chuck, these badges are not SOOO rare, you found them frequently on auctions for prices of about USD 1.000,- or even less in the USA and Europe. But it's a nice and rather typical badge for that era in the Soviet Union. Best regards Christian

Dear Andreas, many, many thanks for your additional informations . Best regards Christian

Dear Oleg, many thanks for your expertise . As I pointed already out, the year (1996) I bought the set had been already the age of high-end fakes by forgers in the East . I guess, our friends in Kiev purchased the orginal set from the veterans family, sold the two genuine medals and combined a faked (and "well aged") Nakhimov Medal with the original booklet. Result: Double profit .... Best regards BTW: At least, I only invested some "peanuts" into the set .

Dear Auke, many thanks for your expertise . You are right, the s/n.-range is nothing extraordinary. But it is without doubt, we can make out a stamped in "d", which is NOT a makers mark, I guess. The simple reason, why the "d" is not located at the correct place - above the s/n. - might have been, that there wasn't enough space for placing the letter between the s/n. and the mint mark - just my theory . Best regards Christian

Dear Auke, me too . It's design is a perfect example of "Socialistic Realism" - more than any other (important) order of Stalin's era. Such items are telling stories about the CCCP with their pictures, symbols and writings on it . BTW: The construction on the RBL has been supervised and executed by specialist from the USA . Best regards Christian

Many thanks for the information . I will look after in the "Red Bible". Best regards Christian

Dear Tom, many thanks for the information . So, if there is no variation of strucking by the mint with lesser dots and differnt letters, then "Houston, we have a problem" ... Well, I bought the set rather late in the year 1996 and this had been a time, when high-end fakes were on the market. And it is rather easy to fake a Nakhimov Medal ... . I had two Nakhimovs in my collection. One was a outright fake: Far too thick and a poor relief of Nakhimovs face. I give it as a gift to a collectors friend, who wanted the faked Nakhimov, despite the fact, that it was a 100 % fake. Best regards Christian

Badge: "Master in Combine Harvesting" http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=31595

Badge: "Master in Combine Harvesting" Gentlemen, I guess, that this badge is from the 1930s . The s/n. 1285. That badge is every now and then on the market. Does anybody know more about that badge ? Many thanks for your information . Best regards Christian

Dear Tom, many thanks for your expertise . How many rivets should be on each side and how many has my item ? Best regards Christian

Order of the Patriotic War 2nd class Rare duplicate award. http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=31594

Order of the Patriotic War 2cl - duplicate award Gentlemen, this nice starback with s/n. 46653 has a small "d" (cyrillic letter!) on the rv., as you can make out. I guess, it's one of the rare duplicate awards ? Many thanks for your expertise . Best regards Christian

Two Orders of the Patriotic War 1st class http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=31593

Two Orders of the Patriotic War 1cl Gentlemen, my two OPW 1cl . The one on the left is s/n. 26707 (a rather early one ...) and the one the right is s/n. 196750. The earlier one has silver painted weapons - what was the reason ? Many thanks for your expertise . Best regards Christian

There are enough pics of the revers to see - just klick on the 2 links, which are leading to the 2 threads dealing with the RBL screwback and the RBL T3. Best regards Christian

The letters in "Admiral Nakhimov" are different .... Let's discuss that issue at my Nakhimov-thread, because the "showcase" shouldn't be used for longer discussions. Best regards Christian BTW: At least my Ushi is problem free .

Ushakov Medal http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=31592

Ushakov Medal s/n. 7394 Gentlemen, in 1994 I bought this well preserved Ushi for EUR 215,- in Vienna. The hanger and the ribbon are (original) replacements by the mint, I guess. Best regards Christian

Order of Lenin http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=31591

Order of Lenin s/n. 433268 Gentleman, a nice item in a 10/10 condition, except the fact, that the orginal owner tried to scratch out the s/n. . I bought it for EUR 400,- in Vienna in 1999. Best regards Christian