Badge "Meritorious Worker Of The MVD".

[deValcourt]

I went looking for the non-fakes version of "KGB and 'egg' badges" here, but no luck, so I guess it will have it's own thread.

Here's a badge I never thought I would even hold let alone own thanks to one of our great forum members who does not need me to plug his rock solid reputation as a scholar, gentleman and all-around cool guy.

Anyway, there are several things about this badge that I find fascinating. One is that the document came with it as did a documented 1985 OGPW2 which means there is a chance his career might be researchable. He would have to have been young in the war since the "Honored MVD Employee" badge was issued in 1972 (#11727), probably for long service or a pre-retirement boost to his pension and benefits. But, we may find out more since at least part of his career can be checked through the OGPW.

For those of you who don't know, the high serial number is deceptive because this is the same design bagde that was used by NKVD, then prototypes (at least one of which still exists) of an MGB version and then

The badge itself is also very unique because at some point it needed some sort of rivet repair that from all indications suggests a mint job. However, somewhere along the way, the H&S and sword ended up on the opposite side of the usual ones like this. And because the badge design is such that once sealed, the red enamel scallop shell rays emanating upward on most in the background can't be tinkered with. The result is what you see below; the rays shining downward. The reason I know the H&S and sword were put facing the wrong way from the start is that the serial number on these is almost always on the bottom right of the reverse and that is how this one apparently started - with the rays facing the right way before the H&S were attached. And since it looks like these pieces were soldered into place, I doubt it was done later or after a repair to any enamel.

Also, all the original enamel is present since there is nothing strange under the black light or under the high magnification of those cool "microscopes" many of us got.

Someone was very proud of this badge because though there are very few signs of wear, the gold plating is nearly all gone - though the silver is still very much intact on the sword.

First the badge, then it's original? box, then the accompanying document (almost as impressive as the badge itself and certainly better quality than similar KGB award documents with the embossed badge on the cover) and finally the OGPW2 with doc.

Weeee....!! I'm a happy camper folks.:B)Like I said, I never dreamed of owning one before now.

Phillip