Russian medal collectors?

Check this one out, the Soviet Military Awards page with pretty good descriptions and rarity ratings.

http://soviet-awards.addr.com/index.htm

 

I don't collect them, but there are fakes for sure! I was at a gun show about 5 years ago and there was an Order of the great patriotic war medal in a case. I asked if I could look at it, and I swear, on the back was the word "peace" and a peace symbol!! And this junk was being sold as real. I'm sure with the growing popularity of Soviet Reenacting, there are probably tons of fakes by now.

 

Thats the trouble with new and uneducated people trying to get into collecting. I still get fooled on some items--like the more recent incident at the last gunshow here in Corpus--in late jan or early Feb.

Anyway, I went to this dealers table (the dealer I have bought from for a few years now) I saw two Panzer Assault Badges one in Bronze the other Silver. Both priced at $75.00 each--which is a good price and about what they would sell for here.

Anyway, I looked at the badge for probably 30 minutes before deciding to buy it. I had referance materials with me--and the FRONT side of the badge was no less than perfect--you could not tell it was a fake. The back side was perfect--and unless you are totally familiar with all makers markings--the backside was perfect.

Now how did I know it was fake? I did not. I saw it as a JFS made PAB and that it was a nice minty piece. I paid for it--went straight to the library and emailed a good friend of mine in Germany who is a big collector of Panzer items-- Especially all the different grades of the Panzer Assault badge.

I compared this badge with pictures shown on the Wehrmacht forums-and I found nothing that would lead me to believe these were fake. So I was satisfied. However, I went back to the library the next day--and I had a PM from my Panzer Collector friend--he posted pics and all-kiinds of great info explaining that JFS ONLY made #ered Panzer Assault Badges and NOT the un#ered Panzer Assault Badges.

I sent my thanks to my friend--and zipped back to the gunshow--getting there as the dealer I bought it from was loading the last two boxes onto a cart and was about to leave back to Illinois. I got me refund with no problem.