[Nick]

I have been waiting for years for this book and it was finaly released a few weeks back! This is the ultimate study of the Bulgarian military uniforms for the 1879-1945 period.

The author, Mr. Alexander Vachkov, worked for many years on it. He is a graduate of the Bulgarian Academy of Fine Arts and an officer with the Bulgarian Army. He is the biggest authority on uniforms and designed the current uniforms for the Bulgarian Guards units. Mr. Vachkov had access to military and state archives closed to normal people. The book includes rare photos, detailed descriptions from contemporary manuals and orders, as well as paintings, which the author created himself. There are detailed sketches, drawings and photos of the uniforms themselves, as well as their shoulder boards, chevrons, epaulets, patches, badges, cockades and other insignia and accessories. This topic is (was) very difficult for me. Even though I had many archive photos, they show a huge variety of newer and older uniforms and without a structured work like this book it's impossible to establish which uniforms are correct for a given period. Now everything is sorted out!

 

[Nick]

Here are a few more pictures.

The book is large size, 8.5"x11", glossy paper, hard cover, 230 pages. Heck, I liked it so much that I bought more than one!

 

[Nick]

Now my friend, how does one go about obtaining a copy of this excellent work?

Hi John!

Check out the last picture - it shows three copies. One is yours, I bought it for you.

 

[Nick]

Gustaf,

Check your PM.

 

[Nick]

Devo,

I asked the author, he will check with the publisher. The book was printed in 500 copies only, I received some of the author's copies.

 

[Nick]

Darrell,

I will ask him, but it would be a good idea if you find a few other buyers to share the shipping and Western Union transfer fees. With a single book you will end up with a high price.

 

[Nick]

Could you buy a few more from the author?

dg13

Darrell,

If you are still interested, I got two more copies of this monograph from the author. These were the last copies (out of 500 printed), which I just brought from Bulgaria.

 

[Nick]

... This is an excellent work on a subject that is rather obscure in terms of English language sources..

John,

I highly value your rating of this book! The copies I offered are still available, let me know if you or anyone else wants the book.

 

[Nick]

Gentlemen,

I have two spare copies of this unique monograph, which is extremely well illustrated and easy to understand even without knowing the language. Please, contact me if you are interested in one.

 

[Nick]

John,

Bulgarian stick grenades were developed after WWI. Before that the Bulgarian-made grenades were all spheres, egg-shaped and even cubes. Yours is a "Offensive Hand Grenade RB" (RB = ръчна бомба, hand bomb). This one was made sometime between 1920 and 1950; sometimes the mfg date was stamped on the handle. See respective scans, the text is in both English & Bulgarian:

(And you have a PM)

 

[Nick]

Thanks for your kind words, John!

Did you see my reply to your question on the Bulgarian canteen?

 

[Nick]

John,

Sorry for the late reply! I will try to translate that section today.

 

[Nick]

Nick, the book came is Saturday's mail. I have only inferred one word of Bulgarian so far, what looks like KACKA is helmet, pronounced similar to casca, I presume. I envy people who can function in more than one language, I'm pretty well stuck in this one.

I do have a question. These large and presumably brightly colored chevrons on the sleeve; are they rank, or service hashes?


John

John,

The picture is of a Feldwebel from 1st Infantry Regiment. The chevrons are for years in service. They were introduced in 1899 and are shown in color on page 107.

The Bulgarian word for helmet is indeed "каска" (kaska).