I have seen other pictures on this site and on E bay and there is one small thing different from the others... is that small pin on the rifle, it is not a scratch.
Doesn't look like anything so I doubt it was applied intentionally. Sometimes we see rare specimens where engraving is present. But I've only seen an officers name or an unusual serial numbering of some sort. Never on the front though. The closest thing this little mark resembles is a makers mark, but we've only seen those on the reverse. My opinion, a clean scratch.
Here's an interesting document awarded for a Military Merit medal. I saw that Tal posted up a similar document for a "For Valor" medal. I don't know why this fellow rated a document like this, but I do know (since this was a family-purchased group) that the guy was NKVD (a Captain) and spent his War in Moscow guarding communications lines in and out of the city. I believe this was his 10-year long service award, and possibly they awarded these spiffy little books during 'staged' presentations within the Kremlin (you know, bring in the soldiers from out in the field, present them with medals in front of the Stavka to make them 'feel good'. Or something like that...) Also interesting to note is that this is a mid-range six-digit award, yet it was awarded in February 1945!
Anyone know of a reason these were awarded vice the temporary certificates in the field, and the later red medal award books?
Hello, Gentlemen.
Another newly purchased medal. A type 1, var. 1 with both the 'No' and the serial number hand-engraved. Also the downward curve on the sabre hilt. Does everything look alright? It has the 1943 5-sided suspension device.
Thank you. I spent a great deal of time studying the back of the badge in question to try and find any traces of it being tampered with. I know the people who do this work can do a fantastic job, and I am aware of this after spending years collecting 3rd Reich collectibles. Every dent, scratch, scrape looks different, and of a different depth and different direction. Even by perhaps a different 'tool'. The patina is not the same in every scratch as most of the fakes will reveal under magnification.
I have enjoyed this research. I feel even better in knowing that it turned out to be a good piece.
