Badge "Voroshilov Shooter".

[yolkin]

Hello gurus of the badge world!!!

Question:

What do you think of the authenticity of the attached item?

Seen at a local military collectibles show last weekend.

Thanks,

Eric

[Tal Inbar]

I don't like it. Looks brand new, not a scratch, no patina, no traces of wear. However, the sniper has very poor details.

Look at this picture - credit of the pic - Scrabichewski.

[yolkin]

Tal, I see that the shooter on "mine" has less detail... The screwnut looks different as well on "mine"... the one in your example has no s/n... could "mine" be a variation? Another forum member thought that this badge was perfectly fine... Thanks for your reply.

Anyone else?

[Chuck In Oregon]

I have six different Voroshilov Shooter Badges. One of them is exactly the same as the one in question here, including the screwplate. If I could figure out how to post pictures (there are probably some instructions that I haven't found/noticed, right?) then I would post one. The detail on my "duplicate" is a little better, especially the face, but I can allow for that as either wear or a weaker stamp. I don't hold myself out as an expert, but I think the badge in question is authentic.

[HuliganRS]

Tal's picture has an earlier I believe Silver variation.

Yolkin's badge is not silver but original.

It's cost prohibitive to make a fake... Since Yolkin's badge has a mirror reverse, someone would have to make a die! Too expensive to produce $25-$75 badge!

Just my 2 cents ;)

Rusty.

P.S. Chuck you can e-mail me the pic and I can post it!

[otlichnik]

It is hard to tell from the photo. Detail is poorer than on the best ones. I would be worried about that. It is true that this badge was made in the millions from many dies and there COULD be poorer ones like this but I would be suspicious. What worries me more is the perfect, read modern looking, enamel. Maybe it is just the photo. But if the enamel is good quality and in perfect condition it must be a fake as I have never seen an original like that. On genuine one's the enamel is poorer quality with may bubbles and inclusions and should be somewhat worn.

Shawn

[Nota Bene]

Gentlemen,

This is the most commont variation of this badge, and they are anot faking it. I believe it is genuine, except for the screwplate.

Alexei

[Kim]

Here are some of mine.

Voroshilov strelok on the far right has the number 941 362.
The middle badge, nr 1 013 478, is in poor condition. The front is not showing that much, but the reverse has a screw that is corroded. Plate is not original.
Voroshilov strelok second grade is unnumbered. How does the number II stay in place? There are no pins holding it. Is it melted in the enamel… The screw is made from copper.

All badges are made at the mint. They have the same detail that one would expect from mint made badges.

Perhaps these "low-quality" badges were made in other factories than the mint. I have one with a plate marked: FABMASS; L_GR. Probably some factory in Leningrad.

The front, notice that the target on this one is blue, not the usual black. It has been silver(?)plated once but that is now coming of.

[Tal Inbar]

NKVD TYPE

Issued by NKVD secret police – Cyrillic abbreviation for “NKVD” is stamped to the reverse, above the engraved serial number.

[Tal Inbar]

Well, the sniper reminds me the variations of the soldier on the order of the Red Star: