In brass; measures 38.8 mm in height, 47.1 mm in width; weighs 17.4 g excluding the wing nut. A nicely designed badge of multi-piece construction. The Russian heraldic shield topped by the imperial crown, wings, and swords are separate parts superimposed on the wreath of oak and laurel leaves. Due to its "layered" design, the badge has a very high 3-d profile, measuring approx. 10.5 mm thick from the highest point of the shield to the reverse of the wreath (not including the screw post.)

The badge is in outstanding, excellent condition. There is only a minimal wear to the

In brass; measures 38.8 mm in height, 47.1 mm in width; weighs 17.4 g excluding the wing nut. A nicely designed badge of multi-piece construction. The Russian heraldic shield topped by the imperial crown, wings, and swords are separate parts superimposed on the wreath of oak and laurel leaves. Due to its "layered" design, the badge has a very high 3-d profile, measuring approx. 10.5 mm thick from the highest point of the shield to the reverse of the wreath (not including the screw post.)

The badge is in outstanding, excellent condition. There is only a minimal wear to the most exposed portion of the double-headed eagle emblem, while the details of the crown, wings and wreath are perfect and exceptionally crisp. All parts of the badge are tightly attached. The brass exhibits a very attractive even patina, while some of the original silver finish is clearly visible in recessed areas.

The screw post is full length, approx. 13 mm, and includes the original wing nut weighing 7.1 g and measuring approx. 33 mm in diameter. One of the "wing" loops is broken, but the other one is completely intact. The wing nut has an engraved serial number 114 and stamped Cyrillic acronym С.О.В.Ш. ("SOVSh"). The latter is probably the abbreviated name of the school where the original owner of the badge got his commission as a military aviator (the last three letters likely stand for Ofitserskaya Vozdukhoplavatelnaya Shkola or "Aeronautical Officer School"; whereas the first character may indicate the location).

Overall, a superb and very rare piece! During WWI, the fledgling Russian military aviation branch was left far behind in its development compared with its Entente or Central Powers counterparts. On paper, at the beginning of the war Russia boasted a total of 263 airplanes in its air forces, a larger number than any other country in the world. Many of these however were already worn out at the time or defective; moreover, there were only 129 pilots qualified to fly them. To make matters worse, Russian industry never managed to build its own newer fighter planes for the duration of the war and was forced to settle instead for obsolete models licensed by Russia's allies. Nor was it able to fully start the production of aircraft engines or other essential equipment. The aviation park gradually expanded, but although Russian pilots performed some stunning feats - including the history's first aerial ramming - they were facing ever worsening odds against the more and more numerous and technologically superior enemy. Many of those who did survive the unforgiving battlefields of the Great War would later perish in the Russian Civil War. Thus, original badges of WW1 Russian aviators are exceedingly rare.

/Patrikeev, Boynovich, Badges of Russia, Vol. 1, fig. 1.1.55./

Please note, penny in our photo is for size reference.
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