Soviet Different types of National Flag 1cl

[reichsrommel]

National Flag 1cl is one of the top North Korea decoration. According to Collectruassia.com, "Established in October 1948, this was the first award of the Communist North Korea and it remained its only order for nearly two years. As the new awards were added in the first days of the Korean War, the Order of National Flag kept its status as North Korea's highest decoration (it became second highest award only in 1977, after the establishment of the Order of Kim Il Sung). "

How many types are there? I don't have Mr.David Cabral's book, but according to the refrence I have on my hand, there are at least 4 types. And I have 3 types:

From left to right: pin back(T4), Czech made screw back(T2) and Soviet made screw back(T1)

The compare of these 3 types:

Tang Si

[reichsrommel]

Type 1:

Soviet Made screw back variation. This type were most manufactured during Korean War, and the awarded number is very very small. Also, the quality is higher than the other types. Its character is the flat reverse. And this is the most valuable type. In China, the price of a mint one is selling above RMB 20,000. I think the price in international market is higher than $3000. This type is larger than other types. Here is some information:

Size: 70.75 mm from top to bottom

Weight:83.98g

Here is one of my collection:

[reichsrommel]

Type 2:

This type is manufactured by Czechslovakia. As one of the highest industrilized socialist country, Czechslovakia was the second manufacturer of North Korea National Flag 1cl. This type is smaller than T1. And the reverse is relief. Also, this type is expensive, the average price in China is RMB 5,000-6,000, I think interantional market may be higher than $800. Information:

Size: 61 mm from top to bottom

Weight:51.26g

My collection:

Edited September 24, 2006 by reichsrommel

[reichsrommel]

Type 3:

This type maybe manufactured by North Korea itself. It is horizonal pin back, circa 1960s. I have no this type. So no furthur information. But I know the price in China is RMB2,000-2,500.

Quoted Collectruassia.com's picture:

[reichsrommel]

Type 4:

This is the final type which is manufactered after 1970s. The quality is poorer than the previous types. Information:

Size: 61 mm from top to bottom

Weight:49.72g

My collection:

[reichsrommel]

Is there no any kind of comment?

Tang Si

[SWE Erik]

Great pictures! Interesting to se some variations.

A bit off topic maybe but what is the serial number for? Is it like Soviet orders and medals? Stored in some kind of archive and connecting the recipient to a specific order?

/Erik

[Riley1965]

Thank You for displaying the different variations!!! It's valuable information for a guy like me that has a collection from around the world.

Doc

[Ed_Haynes]

Tongzhi Tang Si,

Many thanks for these!

Ed

[Guest Rick Research]

We do not see many of these here in the West.

Almost every Chinese award that we see, for example, from the Civil War and Korean War periods 1945+ is from a Soviet group.

I don't remember ever seeing a Russian group with a North Korean award in it other than the common 1945 Liberation Medal. That's the only North Korean award that I have in my collection.

[Riley1965]

I have an Order of the National Flag, 2nd class and an Order of Soldier's Honor, 2nd Class.

Doc

[reichsrommel]

Great pictures! Interesting to se some variations.

A bit off topic maybe but what is the serial number for? Is it like Soviet orders and medals? Stored in some kind of archive and connecting the recipient to a specific order?

/Erik

Hi, Dear Erik

This serial number ought to be the award number, but you know the documentation of North Korea is hard to research now.

Tang Si

[reichsrommel]

I have an Order of the National Flag, 2nd class and an Order of Soldier's Honor, 2nd Class.

Doc

Hi, Dear Doc

You will have National Flag 1cl and Soldier Honor 1cl soon:)

Tang Si

Edited November 23, 2006 by reichsrommel

[reichsrommel]

This article will be updated soon. The updated version will have the variation of each type!!

[reichsrommel]

We do not see many of these here in the West.

Almost every Chinese award that we see, for example, from the Civil War and Korean War periods 1945+ is from a Soviet group.

I don't remember ever seeing a Russian group with a North Korean award in it other than the common 1945 Liberation Medal. That's the only North Korean award that I have in my collection.

Hi, Rick

That is right. I think the reason is that North Korea has not opened its door to the world. You can see China and Mongolia opened, and the collectors from the world have the oppotunity to collect such militaria.

Tang Si

[Gerd Becker]

I have had a little collection of NK awards, but i only had the cheap versions, which were not so attractive. The only screwback type, which was in my pricerange, was the National Flag 3rd class and maybe the Soldier?s Honor Award 2nd class (sorry, don?t have the correct names handy). All the higher classes are much too expensive to collect and i better spend my money on soviet awards, as they are researchable.

But no doubt, the early versions are very nice

Great overview, Tang Si

Gerd

[SWE Erik]

Hi, Dear Erik

This serial number ought to be the award number, but you know the documentation of North Korea is hard to research now.

Tang Si

Perhaps it will be possible in the future.

The reason why I'm asking is that many Mongolian and North Korean awards have very low numbers. If I would buy a Soviet order with such a low number it would be very expensive. But these are not.

/Erik

[reichsrommel]

Variations:

Type 1: Soviet made, bigger type screw back:

Just one variation. No need to decribe. See above. Some detail updated:

screw diameter: 32.5mm

the name of its class "1" is in Korean

[reichsrommel]

Type 2: Czechslovakia made, screw back:

screw diameter: 27mm

Variation 1: the name of its class "1" is in Korean

[attachmentid=62029][attachmentid=62030]

[reichsrommel]

Variation 2: the name of its class "1" is in Arabic, but this variation is not identified as extised.

[attachmentid=62032]

[reichsrommel]

Type 3: Horizonal pin back:

Just one variation. No need to decribe. See above.

Type 4: Vertical pin back:

Variation 1: the upper hook is made by rivet

[attachmentid=62033][attachmentid=62035]

[reichsrommel]

Variation 2: numbered

[attachmentid=62036][attachmentid=62038]

[reichsrommel]

Variation 3, unumbered

[attachmentid=62073][attachmentid=62074]

[reichsrommel]

The compariation of T4V1 to T4V2&T4V3

[attachmentid=62075][attachmentid=62076]

End

Next time I will post the different type of National Flag 2cl and National Flag 3cl

Tang Si

[reichsrommel]

Hi, All

Not any new comment?

Tang Si