Anybody else collecting Soviet uniforms?

[Rick Research]

Or am I all alone?

I got into this in the mid-90s when stuff began pouring out, originally late (1969+) generals because I couldn't believe how cheap the stuff was... then my taste "matured" and I got back into WW2 vintage. 1950s remains a strong interest, and my sole pre-WW2 is the M1940 tank Captain's uniform (the ONLY one I've seen come up, BTW, in all these going on 10 years) that has been posted here.

I was lucky enough to get a few WW2 generals' tunics, caps, etc before prices skyrocketed, and have a few more from the 1950s. I've stayed focussed at least on officers: ground forces, air force, civil police ("militia"-- including a complete WW2 Major General), and lately State Security. I try to get tunics/smocks WITH pants, since it is virtually impossible to find matching pants separately.

I suffer from the urge to get full head to toe outfits-- and not having anyplace to display them.

Hats are probably easier, as well as DEFINITELY easier to display, but I still try for the whole uniform. I prefer everyday, service uniforms-- so much easier than trying to find (or PAY for!! ) correct full dress medal bars to complete them.

[Gene]

I have a smattering of WW2 Soviet uniforms, in fact a grand total of 3. I have a tanker Captain's gymnesterka and breeches, an air force Senior Lieutenant's kitel tunic and breeches, and an air force Junior Lieutenant's gymnesterka which I am trying to find correct pants for (also looking for an original pair of WW2 Russian pilot's goggles too).

[JaimeH]

I too have a smattering of Soviet stuff. I was in Montreal in the early ninties, the stuff was all over the place, some woman fashion shops were even selling the stuff. I picked up a flag/banner with Lenins picture, I believe it's a youth group banner. I also picked up a few medals and a cap. I'm presently looking for a Russian WWII helmet.

[Rick Research]

My latest-- Xmas -present-to-me. Got this tonight from Motka--- much nicer than his too much sunlight "faded" scan's looks---


1954 dated buttons KGB Major's M1943 tunic and dark blue breeches. This was one big comrade-- I'm 6-2 and 220 and it was tailor made for me. The 13 ribbon bar was a nice bonus!

[paddywhack]

iv got a nice little collection of soviet caps and i have a captains uniform circa 1980s( i got that cos i just missed out getting a lovely para uniform from the 60s ) and rick is 200 euros to much to pay for a genarals tunic?

[Rick Research]

WITH the original ribbon bar on it? How old? Over here it is possible to get a recent (1980s) Major General tunic with pants or breeches for ABOUT that much.

[Hannibal]

I also collect Soviet uniforms, so far I have 2 generals' greatcoats(one is 1950 era and the other is 1960s), a Navy Quartermaster Lieutenant dress tunic and a admiral visor hat 1960 era. I am particular interested in the 1945 parade uniforms.

best regards

hannibal

PS very nice uniform you have got there Rick.

[paddywhack]

well thats just it im not sure if its the origanl medal bar as it has only about 6 ribbons on it and as the old genarls were fond of there fruit salads im thinking it might have been replaced!!!! oh and it doesnt have the pants just the tunic!

[paddywhack]

oops forgot to add that the dealer sold the viser cap separtaly for 230!!!!!!!! well some one bought it as well!!!!!!!!

[Rick Research]

I think you'd do better staying with someone like Igor Moiseyev at

http://collectrussia.com/

or go to the eBay dealer "Motka" and from there to his permanent home website (every single thing he has on sale on eBay may simply be bought instantly off his website, no need to wait 9 days, 3 hours etc-- things often go literally in minutes after being posted--or sit "lost" on Page 14 for months!).

I have been getting most of my uniforms-- including the one above-- from Motka these last couple of years. Alas, Igor's prices have risen. For a while I had a local "live" dealer here who travelled back and forth and kept me supplied in nifty old stuff, but he's gone over to hockey jerseys, amber jewelry, and nesting dolls-- it is MUCH harder getting militaria out of Putinia these days.

So, Motka often has the best selection available that I have seen, though his descriptions of age etc are not always accurate, as Igor's are. When in doubt, ask here by PM before ordering, or Eric at Motka and Igor are always very helpful. From the early 1950s, Soviet uniform buttons are almost always dated-- so I know the tunic above, worn 1943-58, was made in 1954

Let me tell you... having run out of closet space: it will pay you to decide BEFORE getting into uniforms what to SPECIALIZE in... before you run out of space!!!

Those are the two best places to watch for caps and uniforms: good scans, lots of variety, and you will get a good grounding in realistic prices. Not the case with many eBay non-specialists.

[paddywhack]

cheers rick thanks for the help(again!!) and il pm if i do mange to find a nice para tunic\uniform!

[DaveK]

I got hooked on Soviet stuff by a WW2 Guards badge for 15 bucks! Historic significance, eye appeal and quality for $15!?! Reminded me of the lowly German Infantry Assault badge in early 1980s.

Soviet Uniform items are still relatively cheap but few collectors outside the Soviet field are aware how rare good period examples really are. One has to be very diligent to find them. Nevertheless its an opportunity for a WW2 buff on a budget to assemble a respectable collection without settling for beat up or questionable junk.

The medals and badges are all of very high quality up to the late 1950s. I find the designs a bit gaudy but some like the Hero Star are very well conceived. A particularly nice feature of Soviet awards is the serial number system, many can be traced to the original owner through the Soviet archives.

Its an interesting field, what some pieces might lack in quality and aesthetic appeal, they make up for in historic significance. The Soviet soldier of WW2, generally speaking, was a formidible character.

[paddywhack]

dont forget as well that most soviet medals bar the captuer of defence liberation of medals are actuly made of real silver gold platium and the quilty just reigns supreme over the german stuff from the same period (and christ my spelling is bad!!!!)

[Bill D.]

I have been heavily into the Soviet material for awhile now. In uniforms, my primary focus has been the Diplomatic Uniforms of the Soviet Union. I'll try to post some pics on this forum.

If anyone ever sees a Soviet Diplomatic dagger come up for sale, let me know!

I also have a pretty nice collection of Soviet flags and banners. I lean towards the Stalin era, simply because they tended to be more attractive, in my opinion, then the later Soviet pieces.

[DougD]

Hello all, this is my first post.

I began collecting soviet uniforms back in 1992 when they first came over. I started buying postwar generals uniforms. As rick said it was hard to imagine getting a better deal then buying a 3 star general for $200!

Anyway, I got up to about 40 of them when I bought my first M1945 "Victory Parade" Major generals parade uniform. Just a rifles general, but complete and it blew me away. I found a newer collector and sold him my entire postwar collection and started just buying WWII generals. That in itself became a big job, so I decided to specialize in WWII Generals / Admirals parade uniforms. One would think that would limit me, but it didn't.I used to buy from Igor Moiseyev, but I traveled over to Russia often enough that by 1996 I was able to develop my own contacts (ask Bill D and Gene).

By 2000 I had about 32 WWII soviet generals uniforms from 1940-1945, including 18 Victory Parade generals and 2 Victory parade marshals (Marshal Voroshilovs uniform worn at the parade and Air Marshal Voroshekinin, also worn at the parade; we found Marshal Voroshekinins uniform on the floor of his duaghters dacha! needed work, but cleaned up really well; this was back in '98). I sold off my entire collection (with the exception of my first VP general) about 2 years ago to buy 2 new BMW's ( at 28 I just found having 32 mannequins in my bedroom was hurting my social life if you know what i mean).

Now I still bring in uniforms for clients ( I have about 40 for sale now, officers mostly, some generals) and recently brought in the M1945 "Victory Parade" uniform for Admiral of the Fleet of the USSR Kuznetsov; its a unique uniform( only guy to hold naval "marshals" rank in 1945) and the 'holy grail' of uniforms as there is not another. One of my big clients took it without hesitation to complete his 'marshals of the war' collection ( he took voroshilov from me too). I also have a nice M1935 named Marshal pullover tunic that came in this week that I was playing with this afternoon. By being a frontman for the main collectors in Russia (Stepanov, Tsplenkov, etc.) I get to have in my hands some nice stuff from time to time, play with it, and then move it on. I have the M1943 Marshals parade tunic for Vassilevsky here now that I am holding until I drive it down to a client (he won't let me send it!) next month. I also have a Guards Tank Corps unit standard thumbtacked to my wall!

I have written some articles for Benders "Military Collector" and wrote a guide last year to Soviet WWII unit flags.

So, if someone can explain to me how to post pics, I can post some very unique photos of items that I don't think you will see in other places. I have over 2000 photos of every uniform i have ever owned or sold. Anyone care to help? I really don't know how to do this, as I am still new to the forums ( they are great though!)

DougD
ps- i did not toally get out of collecting, I now collect russian civil war unit standards.