Border Guard Camoflage Uniform

[Al-muell]

Left to right:
1.Modern Belorussian PV (2002?)
2.Late Soviet PV (1989? Camo pattern no longer in use in Russia as far as I know)
3.Soviet PV - and here's the question: What period can it be? Buttons are not dated and there's no stamp (there is a trace of some label that was removed). It was certainly worn for a long period.
The differences:
1&2 have all buttons "hidden", and both have shoulderboards, while 3 has the buttons always visible.

type of buttons (see next pictures - note that there is a difference in attaching between Soviet - horizontal- and Belorussian - vertical).

Space between shoulderboard and the collar in 1&2 (they are almost the same size)

I would appreciate any help

[Al-muell]

btw. The difference in colour is probably caused by the fact that they were worn for different terms

[otlichnik]

Based on my 15 years of collecting Soviet uniforms, and examining ones dating from 1919 to th late 1990s, I seriously doubt that it is possible to make any clear assumptions like this.

What I mean is that I don't think you can look at the way a button is attached and say Belarus or Soviet, 2000s or 1980s, etc. More likely differences are by factory or even more likely machinst or even day they made them.

I have seen different fabric colours from the same factory and on soldiers in the same squad.

Maybe hidden vs. visible buttons will tell you more but I doubt it can narrow stuff that much.

Soviet uniform regs never covered details that small which were up to the factories themselves.

I am not doubting your IDs of these three items, just saying that I don't then think we can say button x = place or time X, etc.

Shawn

[Al-muell]

You are right that the way buttons are attached is not the best way to identify the period, but the last one must be Belorussian (Only Belarus still uses this pattern. In addition I've been told it's Belorussian - that seller sells many of them so I belive he gets them directly from Belarus).
The interesting fact however is that the last jacket that doesn't have "hidden" buttons has hammer and sickle on them (like "standard" field uniform).
I am certain that in 1991 all camouflage uniforms had hidden buttons. I have heard it started in 1982, but I have seen one w/ h. buttons and it was 1981 dated.
The variati9n of colour between 1 and 2 my be an effect of different manufacture, but 3 is worn and that's why it's so pale.