Visiting And Shopping Inside And Outside The Former Soviet Union.

[Laurent]

The biggest (or at least one of the biggest) open market for ODM in France will take place in Paris; it is called "Bourse de Baltard". Unfortunately it will be only on October 21st-22nd. You should go then!

Apart from that I agree with Marc... lots of fakes or very common stuff.

[Manu Dalton]

Just too bad I take the plane to go back home in Canada the 23th..:banghead

Last time in Paris I only saw a lot of common french stuff and thats all. Not even the normal faked nazi medals...

If someone ever drop in Strasbourg theres a nice shop over there at place d'Austerlitz, not too many soviet stuff but awesome swords selection!!!!

[Bob]

Isn't there a huge auction house in central paris where there are daily auctions incl. awards? I forgot the name.

[Lapa]

Bob,

I think you are talking about Drouot. Last time I attended an auction for Soviet stuff there, at least 80% of the medals, orders and badges were obvious fakes that were certified as original by the "expert".

Marc

[Manu Dalton]

Drouot is more know for antiques then militaria anyway!!!

[charlet]

Drouot is more know for antiques then militaria anyway!!!

I believe Drouot has the same problem with soviet stuff than others big places in Germany for example...Drouot is specialized in french stuff, and fakers have a by far more difficult job to perform in this field of collection. In Paris, knowledge about soviet stuf is not from offical experts side, but from private collectors side.

[Dzerzhinsky]

It has been almost 10 years since I travelled to Paris and I found most good Soviet stuff in antique shops. The prices at the time were higher than in the States. The best deal I located was a nice Imperial Adrian helmet for $500.00. It was in excellent condition and a beautiful piece. I was tempted to buy it with a credit card, but I fought the urge. In retrospect, I should have bought it considering my current interests. Have a nice trip!

[Manu Dalton]

I go in Paris the 11th and 12th so I told you after my trip if I had find something cool or not!

For Drouot I would just like to say that they are just all others antiques houses, no ones knows militaria very well...

[OKP]

Hi Manu,

Here are some adresses :
*LE POILU,18 rue Emile duclaux,75015 PARIS.
Metro : Pasteur (closed on Mondays)
They may have uniforms but for sure medals and badges and even reference books.
*DOURSOUX,3-5 passage Alexandre,75015 PARIS.
Metro : Montparnasse or Pasteur.
They may have some soviet stuff but quite pricey.

http://www.doursoux.com/

*EUROPSURPLUS,2 Boulevards Voltaire,75011 PARIS.
They may have soviet stuff and deac weapons.(If I remember well,closed on Mondays).

http://www.europsurplus.com/

For reference books...you must at least visit if not both,one of these 2 bookstores :
*La Librairie du collectionneur,15 rue de Cronstadt,75015 Paris.
Open Monday thru Friday,10h to 19h.

http://www.lehussard-librairie.com/

*Armes et collections,19 Avenue de la République,75011 PARIS.
Open Monday 12h-19H,Tuesday-Saturday 10h-19h.

http://www.librairie-ac.com/accueil.html

Otherwise,needless to go to the flea markets at St Ouen or Montreuil : overtouristized,then logically overpriced.

Hope this will help,have a good time.

Cheers,JP.

[charlet]

Hi Manu,

Here are some adresses :
*LE POILU,18 rue Emile duclaux,75015 PARIS.
Metro : Pasteur (closed on Mondays)
They may have uniforms but for sure medals and badges and even reference books.
*DOURSOUX,3-5 passage Alexandre,75015 PARIS.
Metro : Montparnasse or Pasteur.
They may have some soviet stuff but quite pricey.

http://www.doursoux.com/

*EUROPSURPLUS,2 Boulevards Voltaire,75011 PARIS.
They may have soviet stuff and deac weapons.(If I remember well,closed on Mondays).

http://www.europsurplus.com/

Otherwise,needless to go to the flea markets at St Ouen or Montreuil : overtouristized,then logically overpriced.

hello, Eurosurplus is a dead contact, they don't do militaria anymore...

Doursoux is extremly expensive but you can ask for a contact in its central store in Champigny Sur Marne, in Paris surburbs. Not too fakes, but a lot of fancy tunics...
About the Poilu and Overlord (rue de la Folie-Méricourt, Paris), you must assume at least 50% of fakes.