05-25-2003, 05:25 PM
Chris,
One of the problems you seem to have is that your "info" comes from people you know, or you heard this or that from this guy or that guy.
I have been a dealer is Soviet uniforms since 1994 and have had hundereds of uniforms in. I base my opinions on what I have observed and what I read in regulations.
1. Regulations never mention differences in quality or design for the naval officers badge based on rank. Its simply was "the" badge. Yes, there were differences in quality but that was due to where and when the items was made, but not rank (i.e. different badge for jr. and sr. officers). If you are the one challenging the regulations, saying that quality and rank went hand in hand, then you need to show this in regulations or research to prove your point. It can't really be based on your "instinct" since you really don't really have the background to make such assumptions ( no insult intended here). It takes many years. I made incorrect assumptions in the early years of my collecting, but after years of dealing with items I was able to make more balanced assesments.
2. I have had in about 40+ WWII soviet officers, NCO, and admirals caps. All in all there were no major differences in quality. Some of the admirals were ok, and yet some of the NCO's were just as nice (though made in 1940).
So, looking at the regs, and my exposure to the caps, I am telling you that there was no major difference in quality based only on rank.
If you accept this, great. if not, fine. I really don't want to debate it much further. As I said I have been doing this almost 10 years, have had in some of the best Red Navy items ever to be sold ( including Kuzntezovs VP and Yumashevs VP uniforms) and have been to 4 seperate soviet naval museums. I do not base my assumptions on instinct based on examination of one cap badge.
DD
One of the problems you seem to have is that your "info" comes from people you know, or you heard this or that from this guy or that guy.
I have been a dealer is Soviet uniforms since 1994 and have had hundereds of uniforms in. I base my opinions on what I have observed and what I read in regulations.
1. Regulations never mention differences in quality or design for the naval officers badge based on rank. Its simply was "the" badge. Yes, there were differences in quality but that was due to where and when the items was made, but not rank (i.e. different badge for jr. and sr. officers). If you are the one challenging the regulations, saying that quality and rank went hand in hand, then you need to show this in regulations or research to prove your point. It can't really be based on your "instinct" since you really don't really have the background to make such assumptions ( no insult intended here). It takes many years. I made incorrect assumptions in the early years of my collecting, but after years of dealing with items I was able to make more balanced assesments.
2. I have had in about 40+ WWII soviet officers, NCO, and admirals caps. All in all there were no major differences in quality. Some of the admirals were ok, and yet some of the NCO's were just as nice (though made in 1940).
So, looking at the regs, and my exposure to the caps, I am telling you that there was no major difference in quality based only on rank.
If you accept this, great. if not, fine. I really don't want to debate it much further. As I said I have been doing this almost 10 years, have had in some of the best Red Navy items ever to be sold ( including Kuzntezovs VP and Yumashevs VP uniforms) and have been to 4 seperate soviet naval museums. I do not base my assumptions on instinct based on examination of one cap badge.
DD
