Brass, enamels. Measures 45.3 mm x 36.3 mm; weighs 19.1 g without the screw plate. This is one of the relatively early Pobeda Factory variations. It features extended lower portion of the shield, medium-length gun barrels (approx. 22.5 mm) and a very high domed center medallion. The ornament above the medallion consists of seven scrolls without a well-defined top border. There is a star pattern under the red enamel on the center medallion and a pattern of vertical dashes in the lower portion.

In excellent condition - outstanding for a proficiency badge of WW2 era. The enamel is w

Brass, enamels. Measures 45.3 mm x 36.3 mm; weighs 19.1 g without the screw plate. This is one of the relatively early Pobeda Factory variations. It features extended lower portion of the shield, medium-length gun barrels (approx. 22.5 mm) and a very high domed center medallion. The ornament above the medallion consists of seven scrolls without a well-defined top border. There is a star pattern under the red enamel on the center medallion and a pattern of vertical dashes in the lower portion.

In excellent condition - outstanding for a proficiency badge of WW2 era. The enamel is well preserved and shows an attractive luster; there is only a very minor amount of rubbing and a couple of minuscule, nearly unnoticeable flakes to the apex of the medallion, while the white band has only a few tiny contact marks. The red enamel in the lower portion of the badge is perfect. The details of the cannon and wreath are perfect and crisp. The original gilt finish on the wreath is extremely well preserved; practically all of the grey finish along the edge of the shield is intact. The screw post is of full length, approx. 13 mm; note that the black tar-like substance on the reverse around it was applied by the original manufacturer, not a sign of repair.

A very interesting feature of this badge is that instead of the usual Pobeda Factory screw plate it comes with a screw plate made of a recycled proficiency badge, Excellent Mortar Man, that apparently did not pass quality inspection at the factory. Parts of the Russian words Отличник - i.e. "Excellent" and Минометчик ("Mortarman"_ - are clearly legible on the screw plate. The screw plate fits the badge perfectly and is believed to be original to it. (Although they are quite scarce, we have seen similar recycled screw plates on other early badges of the WW2 Proficiency Series; the same practice was also used at the time to manufacture silver screw plates out of recycled medals at the mint).

/Airapetyan, Breast Badges of the Red Army, 1941-1945, p. 90, fig. 9; Khlamkin, Red Army Breast Badges of Excellence (1942-1957), Type 12/.
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