Distinguished service - complete fake?

[deValcourt]

I found this one and actually have one I got really cheap quite some time back. It isn't listed in any of the books I have on post-Soviet awards (or at least not with the RF flag suspension). I have the Soviet versions and there is no comparison (no mint mark I can find, mirror reverse stamped look to it). Since suddenly I see we now have an awarding document with this one, I was just wondering if anybody knew anything about it. (And yeah I know documents are about as easy to make as taking a picture.)

[EricFG]

I think I remember seeing some discussion about these somewheres here a year or two ago. Lemme go look....

[Nack]

I know it's been discussed before...maybe it's one of those unofficial awards....the name of which I cannot recall.

[EricFG]

Medals for Distinguished Military Service - Genuine or fantasy?

I could have sworn there was another, more detailed posting but I can't find it!

[deValcourt]

Thanks guys. I have the book Danny mentions in the posts about the medal. In the beginning of the book there are the several pages devoted to the original Distinguished Service Medal that continued to be awarded in its original version until as late as 1993 with RF ID cards for them (they had no hammer and sickle or other overtly Soviet symbols on them to begin with). However, in no book or website have I ever seen one with the tri-colored ribbon and the tri-colored (gold, red and blue) medal. I know the one I have is a fake/fantasy piece - cheap aluminum and stamped look to it. I was just wondering if there was a "real" version out there. I am now of the opinion that this "myth is busted" and it's a complete fake IMHO.

However - lest you think I would just let this issue go away, I have another brain twister for you. Yet another variation on the Distinguished Service Medal, only this one was allegedly awarded in Afghanistan. Like its bretheren in the CCCP, it is a heavy, well-made piece with the exact same reverse as the original 1974 only without the MMD mark. Every other detail of the medal itself - weight, dimensions even stippled texture - are exactly the same. The hanger was obviously manufactured separately and probably attached (if the legend is true) in Afghanistan. The face of the medal has variations on the original with medical, airforce and signals? symbols in place of Soviet army, navy and airforce symbols. The tanks, however, are identical. The writing is obviously not Russian, but precision details in the faces and uniforms of the three figures are far beyond the fantasy piece we were discussing above (which thankfully only cost me .99 cents with the purchase of some other stuff).

Like the fantasy piece, I have seen nothing anywhere to indicate that it is a real piece produced by the MMD other than my hands, eyes and gut. But, all of those have been wrong before. Besides, I certainly won't claim to be an expert on items produced by Soviet mints for other countries other than the ones I've seen from Mongolia (and I trust Alexei's word about their manufacture). Sooo, the question is again: Distinguished Service (Afghanistan style) or complete fake?

Phillip

[deValcourt]

And the reverse. Please note the pin is also a classic Soviet style with the curved safety catch.

[Greg Collins]

Phillip,

Go to Soviet Bloc Awards-Afghanistan-Medal for Combat Service in this forum. You'll find this award there. Now, how well yours compares with the one Taz features... to me it looks fine at a glance, but I'm no expert on Afghan awards.

Greg

[deValcourt]

I really should learn to look up things better before I go off on a big long explanation and defense of what others have already addressed. So it is a real medal - right down to the odd texture on the back of the suspension.
Thanks Greg

Art, if you want to save some space, you can just delete all of the above text and photos that I put in.

Phillip

[deValcourt]

They're back... I couldn't find a better place to post this for anybody even thinking about this one on the auction site.

As you can see, there is a new variation to this type of fake - a quill instead of a star in the suspension.

You would think with all the really high quality fakes of these (original variations) that no one would stoop this low.

Phillip