K396 "Novosibirsk Komsomlets".

[marsino]

Thank you very much, Marsino, what are those badges and the title of this book? It appears to be a catalog of Komsomol Badges.

"Основные знаки Комсомола" (Principal Badges of Komsomol), by A.S. Butushin and B. G. Stetsurenko, 2004

[Bill Garvy]

Thank you, again, very much!

[marsino]

Bill, :thumbsup

Another catalog.

[marsino]

With the entire series.

[desantnik]

Of note is the word "Proekt" (like prototype) below these badges.

Is it possible these were planned, but never actually made then enterprising individuals took the dies and "ran with them"?

[marsino]

Of note is the word "Proekt" (like prototype) below these badges.

Is it possible these were planned, but never actually made then enterprising individuals took the dies and "ran with them"?

This I do not know, but probably you're right.

[Bill Garvy]

This is all very useful information; thank you, gentlemen. If what desantnik hypothesizes is correct, then this would be one of those very badges. It certainly is well made, two-piece construction, as can be seen in the scans.

[Tretov]

I can only speak for what I have seen, but in the Baltics these badges used to be available by the handful. That being said - the badges were very well made with excellent enamel, still the entire series could be bought from the better antique stores in Tallinn and the price was usually about 20 USD per piece (200-300EEK). I have not seen them in the same quantities the last few years though.

[Bill Garvy]

As I have said, I am greatly relieved and most appreciative of all this additional information being shared by all of you. Interestingly, the price you mention is about what I paid recently.

[Al-muell]

Legitimate or not, this is of course not a VLKSM badge - it's a commemorative badge - or collectible pin - commemorating the ship "Novosibirskiy Komsomolets" ("Komsomol member of Novosibirsk"). There were many ships holding the name of e.g. "Komsomolets Tadzhikistana" or "Russkiy Komsomolets". I have once heard, that the names came from the fact, that those ships were build for the money raised by the KOMSOMOL mambers of a specific republic, but don't know if it's true. Here in Poland these badges were rarely seen and I haven't seen any in ~5 years. Anyway, I was told that those were collectible pins - issued by the Navy, but meant for sale.