06-23-2004, 12:07 PM
Avers 6 does have a lot of Russian text, along with its fine photos, but it's not that hard to extract things like variant, years, price and so forth. I, too, think it was mostly an attempt to jump up into the McDaniels league, at which it fails, IMHO. It has some really good Red Banner items, some illustrative, but not comprehensive, award documents, and some gramotas. Again, the gramotas are merely illustrative, something to fill a few pages without tieing them together. About my second or third time through I found myself asking "Why is this in here?"
However, I also collect Soviet badges and I was very disappointed to find that A-6 does nothing in that area. I ordered my copy on faith, in the blind and without ever having seen one. I accept that it may (or may not) be an occasionally useful reference book for orders and medals, but all in all A-6 was a disappointment to me. For those of us here who collect, it is a moderately interesting read or gee-whiz book. However, if I had known of its limited scope I might have saved my money. They were trading on their name when they dreamed this book up. I would have preferred an updated color version of A-5, with variants, and continue to rely on McDaniels for orders and medals. I can't say there is nothing new in A-6, but I think it's way overpriced and offers little new to anyone who reads this forum.
That's my two cents.
Chuck In Oregon
Currently, Chuck In Tbilisi ... for 38 more days!
However, I also collect Soviet badges and I was very disappointed to find that A-6 does nothing in that area. I ordered my copy on faith, in the blind and without ever having seen one. I accept that it may (or may not) be an occasionally useful reference book for orders and medals, but all in all A-6 was a disappointment to me. For those of us here who collect, it is a moderately interesting read or gee-whiz book. However, if I had known of its limited scope I might have saved my money. They were trading on their name when they dreamed this book up. I would have preferred an updated color version of A-5, with variants, and continue to rely on McDaniels for orders and medals. I can't say there is nothing new in A-6, but I think it's way overpriced and offers little new to anyone who reads this forum.
That's my two cents.
Chuck In Oregon
Currently, Chuck In Tbilisi ... for 38 more days!
