Imperial Russia Custom Shooting Badge

[Chuck In Oregon]

I've been away from the forum for a bit. Now I can resume the things that I enjoy here. I'll start by sharing this custom (I hesitate to say one-off, who knows?) shooting badge that I received last month. It has no known provenance, unfortunately, other than that it came from the family in Tbilisi. I can't even make out the stylized initials on the reverse. My guess is ФМ or МФ (FM or MF) but I'm not sure.

The shape of the badge is a target with a black bull's-eye and colored outer rings. There are no proof or maker's marks, typical of small Tbilisi shops I think. The crown over N II appears to be solid gold and the and the rest of the metal seems to be silver except for the link. The enamel, in three colors, is of fair-to-poor quality with an uneven surface overall that takes away from the overall appearance of the badge.

Still, I like the old shooting badges and this one is likely to stay in my collection.

Chuck

[GeorgeCL]

Hi Chuck,

Welcome back..

Heres a pic. I picked up a little while ago..

Look at this guys rifle shooting medals..

George

[GeorgeCL]

close up

George

[Chuck In Oregon]

WOW! What an outstanding photo. At first I didn't even recognize it as a shooting award because it's so darn big. When I saw the zoom image I couldn't believe it. I haven't seen anything like that before. His tunic has more awards than my whole collection. I hesitate to ask if you would sell it for fear of offending you, but if you would ever consider trading (or selling) that photo I would sure be interested. Can you identify all the other hardware? I am especially curious about that award around his neck.

Thanks for sharing that photo. It is a treat to look at it. Would you mind if I saved a copy for myself?

Chuck

[Chris Boonzaier]

Would it have to symbolise a target? it seems similar to the cockade system used by the Germans. And tell a british pilot that the RAF roundels are targets ;-))

Maybe something other than shooting?

[Chuck In Oregon]

Would it have to symbolise a target? it seems similar to the cockade system used by the Germans. And tell a british pilot that the RAF roundels are targets ;-))

Maybe something other than shooting?

* * * * *

Yes, it is possible that it is something other than a locally commissioned shooting award. However, that is what I believe it to be.

As far as the RAF roundels, good point. But what Luftwaffe pilot would think that they weren't?

Chuck

Edited January 19, 2006 by Chuck In Oregon

[Chris Boonzaier]

But what Luftwaffe pilot would think that they weren't?

Chuck

[Stogieman]

Hi Chuck. You have under-described the quality of the piece.... it's beautiful!

[Chuck In Oregon]

Hi Rick

Thanks, I like the piece too. However, in describing it I would be remiss not to comment on the wavy enamel. I wonder why the original purchaser didn't specify better enamel, as long as he was ordering silver and gold anyway.

Chuck

[Pete A]

Hi,

this might be a hell of a long shot, but since Chris said that it's not necessarily a shooting badge, that got me wondering if it could it have something to do with the Chevalier Guards? That MF cypher would for fit the dowager empress Maria Feodorovna, who was their honorary colonel-in-chief, and so would the colors red and white. But then again, there's that black center..

Here's a jeton commemorating MF's 25 years as the regiments colonel-in-chief, from 1906 by Faberge. It's exactly like their "official badge". Can't remember where this photo is from, sorry.

[attachmentid=23641]

Pete

[Chuck In Oregon]

That's a knock-out jeton, Pete. Even the box is a great collectible.

The color in my badge is a pretty true orange rather than a red. However, I have to allow that the MF might be Maria Feodorovna. (Manny Fernandez? Nah, probably not.) With its gold and silver but lacking proof or maker marks, I have to wonder whether any regimental badges were so unsigned.

This is starting to get a lot more interesting than I thought it was!

Chuck

[Wood]

Weren't the roundels on WWI Period Russian planes white/red/blue. Are these just Tsarist colours?

Regards,

Pete

[Chuck In Oregon]

Weren't the roundels on WWI Period Russian planes white/red/blue. Are these just Tsarist colours?

Regards,

Pete

* * * * *

Yes, I think a white circle inside a blue ring inside a red ring. The same as today, I believe.

Chuck