10-08-2003, 02:56 PM
Bob,
The stars on the top two uniforms are the same. Tal digitally enhanced the top one. It is either a fantasy item or a copy of some East European hero type star.
The "awards" on the right breasts of these uniforms are also (with the exception of the odd academy badge, guards badge and one half hidden fake (?) Nevsky) fantasy items and/or veteran's badges. The stuff selling for $5 or less in Russia.
We have had the debate on what these are for quite a while. All M69 uniforms up to the top rank are still being made today for sale in Ukraine in an old uniform factory from (mostly) genuine materials. They are thus very hard to tell from the genuine. In Russia it is thought that many of these are actually old original unissued stock, although there is some evidence they too are being made in Russia or shipped Ukraine to Russia.
So many are fakes or maybe better yet post-Soviet production copies. As yo rightly note the big danger is when (usually) they are sold as the genuine Soviet puppy.
The sad thing is that original and genuine examples of all of this are available. While there is far less of it and not everyone can get one and you would have to wait a bit in many cases - ironically the genuine is often not much more than the "fake" - at least those offered on Ebay.
I shudder to think how many people are out tere who have paid $500 plus for what was sold them as an original item.
Shawn
The stars on the top two uniforms are the same. Tal digitally enhanced the top one. It is either a fantasy item or a copy of some East European hero type star.
The "awards" on the right breasts of these uniforms are also (with the exception of the odd academy badge, guards badge and one half hidden fake (?) Nevsky) fantasy items and/or veteran's badges. The stuff selling for $5 or less in Russia.
We have had the debate on what these are for quite a while. All M69 uniforms up to the top rank are still being made today for sale in Ukraine in an old uniform factory from (mostly) genuine materials. They are thus very hard to tell from the genuine. In Russia it is thought that many of these are actually old original unissued stock, although there is some evidence they too are being made in Russia or shipped Ukraine to Russia.
So many are fakes or maybe better yet post-Soviet production copies. As yo rightly note the big danger is when (usually) they are sold as the genuine Soviet puppy.
The sad thing is that original and genuine examples of all of this are available. While there is far less of it and not everyone can get one and you would have to wait a bit in many cases - ironically the genuine is often not much more than the "fake" - at least those offered on Ebay.
I shudder to think how many people are out tere who have paid $500 plus for what was sold them as an original item.
Shawn
