Excellent Cook badge, by the NKPS Factory, mid-1940s.
Brass, enamels; 46.0 x 37.9 mm; weighs 15.3 g not including the screw plate. This is the first type of the Cook badge; its characteristic feature is a very tall top ornament consisting of five scrolls of varying width. This early version was manufactured by the NKPS Factory.
In excellent condition - outstanding for any Soviet "combat proficiency" badge of WW2 type and extremely rare for one as scarce as the Excellent Cook. The enamel shows beautiful luster throughout and is nearly perfect. There are only some light scuffs, a couple of minuscule flakes to the outer edge of the white band, and some tiny contact marks to the red enamel in the center - all of it practically invisible to the naked eye. There are none of the usual chips, significant flaking or noticeable scratches.
The details of the wreath and field kitchen are extremely well-preserved and crisp; some of the original gilt finish is still visible in their recessed areas. The silver finish on the reverse is practically perfect. The screw post is full length, over 12 mm, and comes with an original pre-1946 screw plate marked "ShMZ NKPS". This is a really superb piece - one of the best Excellent Cook badges we've handled in the past years.
/B. Airapetyan, Breast Badges of the Red Army, 1941-1945, p. 124, fig. 1/
Item# 38647
$280.00 Add to cart
![](/images/b/u0532.jpg)
![](/images/b/u0532i.jpg)
![](/images/b/u0532y.jpg)
![](/images/b/u0532yi.jpg)
![](/images/b/u0532yy.jpg)
![](/images/b/u0532yz.jpg)
![](/images/b/u0532z.jpg)
![](/images/b/u0532zi.jpg)