WTK: Soviet era uniform ID and FMV.

[K1196A]

I've been trying to do some research to ID a pair of uniforms I have and found this great site so first and foremost, "Hi everybody!"

Anyway, pics of what I have are attached.

1. The first is a pullover type tunic (dated 1955), that is black, collarless, has two chest pockets, olive shoulder boards with two black stripes and an subdued star. It also has a full set of hand painted ribbon like medals (painted on acryllic from the back side and backed by tin) and a Soviet's Guard Badge. I believe I have identified 11 of the 12 badges.

2. The second set is dated 1984. I believe it is a Soviet Army EM field uniform. It is OD in color with red piping on the legs with the taper and stirrup for boots and green plastic buttons. The collar on the jacket has green felt tabs on it and there are green shoulderboards with two red stripes and a OD colored star. there are also two other pieces that i would call branch insignia that look like wheels with a handle (i think maybe they are "Transportation").

[Lapa]

K1196A,

Welcome to our little corner of Cyberland :thumbsup

Let's start with the easiest of the two.

You second uniform is a Major's field uniform from the mid-1980's. You just need a nice field cap to go with it and you'll have the full set.

Your first one is more complicated. I believe that the various components were simply put together because the Army didn't use gymnastorkas of this shade. It could be either a milicia or a Vokh shirt. The boards are regular army field boards.

Marc

[K1196A]

Thanks.

Not possibly Naval Infantry? Boards would be wrong for naval infantry, I guess?

I need to pay some expenses so I need to sell all of these (lots of firearm related stuff has already gone). FMV?

[Jeffrey Meffert]

I agree militia with regular army field boards for the first uniform. What do the buttons look like? Hammer & Sickle? Anchor? Seal of the soviet union? If you post a picture of the ribbon bar we can probably help you out with whatever you can't identify.

[Esteban_cool]

There is something weird with the order of precedence of the bars. The 40th AF anniversary medal should be before the irreproachable service medals.
And the last bar must be the polish warsaw defense medal.

[K1196A]

I agree militia with regular army field boards for the first uniform. What do the buttons look like? Hammer & Sickle? Anchor? Seal of the soviet union? If you post a picture of the ribbon bar we can probably help you out with whatever you can't identify.

Hammer & Sickle on the buttons. I contaced a place that specializes in selling Soviet militaria (Espenlaub Militaria)and they tell me it is Naval, but weren't forthcoming with a lot of other information.

Esteban cool seams to have identified the outstanding medal above. If you click the attachment it will bring up a picture that is big enough for you to view the ribbons. I'd be interested in your thought on them as well -- I just found a resource and di my best to ID the ribbons. My interpretations could certainly be wrong.

[Lapa]

K1196A,

Navy and Naval Infantry did not use this type of gymnasterka. I am fairly certain that this is a milicia one that was "upgraded" to make it more appealing to collectors.

Marc

[K1196A]

A friend of mine who collects later period Soviet militaria (post 1960 or so) says that he believes it was not uncommon for men to transfer between branches of service and continue to utilize existing uniform items in their new branch with the updated unit/branch information. I have NO idea if there is validity to that or not -- just a thought for debate.

Also, I took more pics of the top and it appears blue -- does that change anyone's impressions?

In any event, I really would like to post these for sale on E-bay or something -- any idea what would be a FMV if I sold all items in one lot?

[Jeffrey Meffert]

Still looks like militia to me. If the buttons are only hammer & sickle (no star) then for sure it's militia. Navy needs an anchor, even naval land forces. Exception might be in the middle of the war, especially when it wasn't going well, and people wore a lot of whatever they could get. I just can't make the boards go with the tunic (and they are definitely not WWII by my eye) so I think you will have trouble selling it for any sort of reasonable price.

[Lapa]

K1196A,

I never heard of that tall tale of people wearing their previous uniform after being transfered. That would make for one very strange looking army IMHO.

I agree with Jeff, and simply keep repeating myself: MILITIA

Marc