Excellent Road Builder Badge, by the YuKhA factory, circa mid-1940s.
Brass, enamels; 45.9 x 35.4 mm; weighs 15.4 g without the screw plate. This is one of the early versions of the badge almost for sure manufactured and issued during the war. It features a highly domed center medallion, nicely detailed artwork of the wreath, and very distinctive tall ornament above the shield with five "incomplete" scrolls and a "dimple" at the base. There is a pattern of vertical lines under the red enamel on the center medallion and in the lower portion of the badge. The reference guide Red Army Breast Badges of Excellence (1942-1957) by Khlamkin classif
Brass, enamels; 45.9 x 35.4 mm; weighs 15.4 g without the screw plate. This is one of the early versions of the badge almost for sure manufactured and issued during the war. It features a highly domed center medallion, nicely detailed artwork of the wreath, and very distinctive tall ornament above the shield with five "incomplete" scrolls and a "dimple" at the base. There is a pattern of vertical lines under the red enamel on the center medallion and in the lower portion of the badge. The reference guide Red Army Breast Badges of Excellence (1942-1957) by Khlamkin classifies this badge as Type 3 and mentions that it was made by YuKhA, while the Airapetyan's catalog refers to it as the 2nd version and states - apparently erroneously - that it was produced by the NKPS. Both reference guides give this version of the Road Builder's badge a very high 4 out of 5 rarity rating.
In outstanding, excellent condition. The enamel is exceptionally well-preserved, essentially perfect, and exhibits a beautiful luster; it has only a few barely noticeable contact marks but is completely free of flaking, scratches, rubbing or any other significant wear. Details of the artwork are perfect and exceptionally crisp. A good amount of the original gilt finish on the wreath and bridge is still present. The screw post is full-length, over 14 mm, and includes an original screw plate maker-marked "UPK YuKhA".
To summarize, a beautiful wartime example of the Road Builder Badge by a very uncommon maker.
/Airapetyan, Breast Badges of the Red Army, 1941-1945, p. 122, fig. 2/.
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