OGPU Badge

[Curator]

Judging by the more common fake OGPU badge, this one I recently aquired looks promising. But I am not an expert.

Here's the front and back. Look how closely the thin fakes out there with the perfect enamel resemble this very well made badge. This one looks somewhat newer than the 20's - but it sure does look more like the other real Soviet era badges I've seen than the fake OGPU badge. Perhaps it's a later KGB "Chekist" badge?

These are the photos from the dealer I bought this from. I will post more detailed shots when I get my hands on it. That is, if it doesn't turn out to be a well-known fake - I leave that judgment to the far more experienced out there. One thing I do like - the script does not say "Workers of the World Unite." Anyone know what it says? I can't read Cyrillic.
Anyway - it's a well made badge IMO.

For me it was a bargain price. I may have even bid against some of you out there.

Lastly -any comments would be Greatly appreciated.


John

[CtahhR]

"За беспощадную борьбу с контрреволюцией"/"For relentless struggle against counter-revolution".

Welcome!

[Curator]

That is what was listed at the dealer - but I had to hear it from the real experts - that is Awesome!

That seems very promising for such a badge.

Thanks for your translation!

And thank you for welcoming me....

John

[deValcourt]

Welcome. Glad to see another collector of the more "romantic" or - as one good man has called this area - "sexy" badges of the security services.

As far as this one goes, I've learned not to get too excited about anything this potentially old until I have it in my hands and can scrutinize it under a good magnifier. It also helps if you have a high resolution camera (16+ megapixels) or a good scanner to capture an image of the badge and greatly enlarge details.

My only worry about this one is that it is in perfect shape - a very, very rare occurrence (though not impossible). Most often, the enamel suffers first with some chips or broken bits. Look closely for repaired or replaced enamel the minute you get it. Nonetheless, it looks very promising - though I can't help thinking of Henry's post about "The Fox in the Hen House.":confused:

I posted a copy on my website just because I was pressed for time and couldn't get a decent photo of an original. If yours does pass the "skeptic's tests" please let me know if I may replace my fake with photos of a real one - which is such a far more satisfying thing for viewers. (Collecting Soviet History - non-profit:)).

Phillip

[desantnik]

John, steer clear.

[deValcourt]

John, destantnik is absolutely correct. The more I looked at it today (after getting a full night's sleep), the more things are missing or unlikely for something that old. For the most part, I've written these off as possible fantasy pieces because I have never seen one that meets the "skeptic test" requirements. It doesn't mean they do not exist, but they are in no reference books I have on security service merit/honor badges.

Very early badges like this one is supposed to be, were almost exclusively made from silver by silversmiths - generally kept alive for their skills from the Imperial court. As I mentioned before, when they made such badges early on, the makers stamped their own markings on the badge. Also, there is practically no case where the enamel is in such pristine condition on such an allegedly old badge. At the very least, when looked at closely under magnification or in a high-resolution photo (as I mentioned before) there will be far more hairline cracks than you ever imagined and quite possibly tiny pieces of enamel missing. Even when the OGPU did commission brass-based badges - as in the case of some of the later versions of the Dzerzhinsky portrait 10th anniversary OGPU badges - though they were silver-plated and painted (no enamel) - the quality was superior to the one in the photos you have.

The last thing, and is usually not a major consideration with really old pieces is the screw nut (or wing nut in this case). It has no mint marks, which is not necessarily an automatic strike, but the soldering mess where the loops are attached is a bad sign.

On the bright side, it will look good in what I refer to as "educational displays" in which I have a few good copies of badges I never intend to afford. Some people use good copies of badges, medals or other awards as "place holders" until they acquire an original, but I know I will not be purchasing any of these pre-1938 security service badges unless I hit the lottery (which would be a miracle since I never buy a ticket:rolleyes:). You said it was what you considered a bargain price, so I hope you don't feel too bad about it. We live and learn. Learning is what this forum is about.

Phillip

[NTAT]

John,

Don't feel bad and take the purchase of the spurious piece so hard. I would like to claim I have never purchased an order, medal or uniform that wasn't a bogus piece. But if I did I'd be lying!

If you collect long enough you'll get stung. We all have.

In fact, I personally have several orders/medals that were a long shot or too good to be true resting in a cabinet drawer. All purchased because I thought they were the "real thing" .

Stay in the arena and keep moving forward.

Regards,

Gerry C.
NTAT

[Curator]

Phillip and Gerry,
thank you both, seriously - its amazing what the kind words of fellow collectors can do for your outlook.

I'll study the posts, and the next time I get the urge to buy something too good to be true, I'll consult the forum....

I intend to "stay in the arena, and keep moving forward" - thanks Gerry

and -

when I get that bust of Dzerzhinsky, That's what I'll focus on from this experience - thanks Phillip.


John

[Jeffrey Meffert]

There are two types of collectors: Those who admit having bought fakes trusting they were genuine...and those who have but don't admit it

[Curator]

For the benefit of all those who encouraged me in this,

I want to share with you how good these fakes are. But fakes indeed they are - I have yet another corroboration from a very great expert in New York...

To be honest, when I had this in hand, I waffled, doubted - could this be fake? Look at these details, this age!!!! I even deleted the two pictures at the front of this post until I had the final proof -but yes - fake- as we agreed. Thanks everyone. Not only fake, but fake made in the last 10 years.

I am going to post some close ups to show you how good these are -at least how good they look to the inexperienced collector of Soviet Badges. But in the spirit of the OGPU, they were always good at deception, disinformation, and especially at provocation - to lure the unsuspecting into their traps! Whoever is creating these fakes is doing the OGPU proud:)