ariel
13th November 2005, 03:34 PM
Recently, there was a proliferation of Russian Imperial swords on e-bay with an inscription "Za Khrabrost"(For gallantry) and an order of St. Anne 4th class attached somewhere to the handle. As compared to the same swords without the order, the decorated ones command double or triple prices.
I long wondered why were there so many of them? Did it mean that most Russian troops were exceptional heroes(kind of Lake Wobegon army where everybody is above average)?
Here is the story:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6575633460&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1
All looks very ordinary: the order is very intact and shiny and the inscription is deep. I do not know the pattern of this dagger, but it is kind of strange it does not bear any Imperial symbol such as double-headed eagle.
And then comes a clinch. The quillon is stamped with "Slava Moskva" (Glory Moscow). Slava is a name of a descendant of the 2nd Watch factory that was established in the 1940s. It was renamed Slava in the 1970s and manufactured parade daggers for the entire Soviet military as well as for the armies of the Warsaw Pact. At that time Russian empire was about 50 years gone.....
I sent a note to this effect to the seller when the auction was still active but got no reply. An anonymous buyer paid $1,400... End of story.
I long wondered why were there so many of them? Did it mean that most Russian troops were exceptional heroes(kind of Lake Wobegon army where everybody is above average)?
Here is the story:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6575633460&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1
All looks very ordinary: the order is very intact and shiny and the inscription is deep. I do not know the pattern of this dagger, but it is kind of strange it does not bear any Imperial symbol such as double-headed eagle.
And then comes a clinch. The quillon is stamped with "Slava Moskva" (Glory Moscow). Slava is a name of a descendant of the 2nd Watch factory that was established in the 1940s. It was renamed Slava in the 1970s and manufactured parade daggers for the entire Soviet military as well as for the armies of the Warsaw Pact. At that time Russian empire was about 50 years gone.....
I sent a note to this effect to the seller when the auction was still active but got no reply. An anonymous buyer paid $1,400... End of story.