The NKVD is back in style, literally !

[deValcourt]

Originally Posted by vvadim_

Please say no more:thumbsup

I'll add the qualifier - "when it comes to something I wish to wear during the winter."

Now if you can let it go with the understanding that I just want a full length black leather coat cut in the design of the 1930s-40s for my own personal use, then we can get back to exchanging accurate information about Soviet awards, uniforms, papers, etc. I apologize to anyone who thought my individual preference in winter clothing had anything to do with historical accuracy. There is no need to turn this into a personal grudge match over something so simple as individual taste. When it comes to the "serious side" of my collecting, I am a fanatic about historical accuracy, and anybody who has bothered to look at my posts will see just that.

Phillip

[Jeffrey Meffert]

Originally Posted by HuliganRS

Phillip,

Although the the Nagant's that you find are technically the same gun, OGPU & NKVD had a short barreled version. they are very rare guns and highly desirable.

At a gun show last month a guy had a nagant target pistol which i didn't even know existed. It had a carved grip and an extra heavy barrel (and a highly modified trigger pull obviously). It was manufactured in 1938...perhaps in anticipation of the 1940 olympics which never happened. He wanted $300 which seemed like a lot of money for a nagant so I passed.
With some time to think about it and get the collector juices flowing I went back this month to buy it....gone. Ah, well.
The one shown below is off the web, the one i passed on (unfortunately) had an even more elaborate and massive grip

[Jeffrey Meffert]

Originally Posted by vvadim_

Most likely you have seen Khaidurov’ model TOZ-36 with grip from TOZ-49.

Must be. Grip, as I recall, looked the same as the lower pistol shown. I shoot a stock 1944 nagant that I would probably do more damage to the target throwing the pistol at the target than shooting at it. Hopefully the target version is more accurate although appears to fire same cartridge.

[vvadim]

Originally Posted by Jeffrey Meffert

The one shown below is off the web, the one i passed on (unfortunately) had an even more elaborate and massive grip

Most likely you have seen Khaidurov’ model TOZ-36 with grip from TOZ-49.

Originally Posted by deValcourt

The gestapo and SS bastards stole the idea from the Soviets as they did the entire structure of the NKVD/OGPU, with the addition of a particular ethnic group to be eliminated. Nonetheless, I like the story of how they went "leather" from the railway personnel coats.

Phillip

Your fascination with black uniforms is well known, however Soviet OGPU/NKVD/MVD didn’t had any black uniforms. With exception of short lived transportation police uniform in yearly twenties and in late forties – yearly fifties.
In entire OGPU/NKVD/MVD/MGB history leather attire (including leather coats) was never adapted or issued for soviet state security personal, ever.

Originally Posted by Will

Most of the early photos that I have seen of Chekists in leather coats show them wearing a short coat, double-breasted, with patch pockets, very much the style worn by railway personnel. The coats look very similar to the leather tanker jackets adopted by armored forces at a later date.

Would you share these photos?

[vvadim]

Originally Posted by deValcourt

I'm not terribly concerned with historical accuracy

Please say no more:thumbsup

Originally Posted by Jeffrey Meffert

you could get a nice flyer's leather coat...possibly even same manufacturer but better price because it's not nkvd

This is not flyer's leather coat. They all had reglan sleeves.
Just ask yourself for how long those external buttons going to last when you have to wear parachute like this? Please take a close look how side pockets looks like.

[deValcourt]

Originally Posted by Jeffrey Meffert

Well, you came to the wrong place if you didn't want e-expert pontificating about meaningless minutia. Here you go: Mens Trench Coats. It will cost you $350 plus postage. (or more than 3K for the Versace)

Jeffrey, my friend, we have been quite amiable throughout the past on this forum, trading information and what have you. What started out as a very, very simple question has caused all sorts of innuendos, insults and even practically hidden vermin to come out of the woodwork. Let us leave the matter where it lies.

Even Versace won't make me one cut with the lapels, sleeves and pockets of a 1940s Soviet overcoat. I missed my best chance in Moscow for unforeseeable circumstances and who knows, I may just get back there one day and have that tailor finish the coat.

As the Jesuits would say, "Peace be with you."

Truce?

Phillip