Strange Uniform Top- Transitional? Soviet or Post Soviet era?

[PaulR]

I have had this uniform top for about 20 years... and just now rediscovered it. The rubberized letters off of one board have lifted off. I have them still.

What are your thoughts on it? Check out the special patches and insignia. Have any of you seen anything like this?

[PaulR]

Next. Closeup of the patches and insignia. The patches are rubberized.

[Al-muell]

Soviet.
An example of dembel shirt - the shirts modified on de-mobilisation were not as common as jackets and caps, but still existed. This one is one of them. The sleeve patch (which should not be on a shirt at all) has the background modified added metal insignia and made to contain information on the service: "RVSN"(?), "[19]88-[19]90" and "autumn"
The flag is a total fantasy, probably made of warrant officer's shoulderboard material.

[PaulR]

Cool. Thank you. IT is still really an interesting item. Sucks that the patch is not a rare and legit piece, but it is still history.

[Esteban_cool]

Actually, the patch is legit. Upon demobilization, it was (and still is) a common practice for soldiers to customize their uniforms that way as a memento of their service.

Much better than nowadays' Dembels, imo.

[desantnik]

The RVSN is for "Strategic Rocket Forces" and it is from a quite historical time in the Cold War '88-'90 as the Soviet Union was undergoing its first fissures. This is a GREAT uniform and the patch is really nice too!

[PaulR]

Thanks everyone, for the input and information. It is the first and only like it I have seen. I really do like that custom made patch. Have any of you seen another like it? It appears as if he put a lot of pride in the fact that he was present in the military for the transition from the Soviet Union to the new era.

Were patches like this mass produced for folks to buy and dembel their uniforms with or did he likely make the patch himself?

[Esteban_cool]

Thanks everyone, for the input and information. It is the first and only like it I have seen. I really do like that custom made patch. Have any of you seen another like it? It appears as if he put a lot of pride in the fact that he was present in the military for the transition from the Soviet Union to the new era.

Were patches like this mass produced for folks to buy and dembel their uniforms with or did he likely make the patch himself?

They could either modify the issued patch by themselves and/or purchase another one or some more items at the Voyentorg (military tailor shop) to add to it.

Yours is a mix of both; he got some extra fabric, an officer star and artillery insignia at the shop and cut the plastic off the patch by himself to write the letters.