Russian Pin Puzzler

November 2, 2006 7:25 PM

Can anyone identify this (possibly) Russian pin?

link to picture

Can anybody translate the word on the pin at the link above, and/or tell me more about it? It may have something to do with the Russian space program. That's all I know.

posted by mikepop to writing & language (8 comments total)

Ha ha ha ha ha! *snort*

It's a hockey pin.
posted by nasreddin at 7:28 PM on November 2, 2006

ha :) thanks for clearing that up. It was given to me randomly so I really had no idea whatsoever
posted by mikepop at 7:45 PM on November 2, 2006

It's really dorky: it just says HOCKEY. The Soviets made lots of really weird pins.
posted by nasreddin at 7:53 PM on November 2, 2006

Yep. Definitely a russian hockey pin. I can't find one similar to it because there isn't much to go off of (like a date or whatever, but it'd be cool if someone could find a way to figure out what it's from...
posted by SpecialK at 7:56 PM on November 2, 2006

What does the back look like? Anything on the side rim?
posted by Pollomacho at 8:01 PM on November 2, 2006

Nothing on the side rim. The back is just textured gold-colored metal, with a safety-pin type attachment. there is a small symbol that looks like a leaf or flower enclosed in a horseshoe, but it doesn't stand out much so it would be tricky to grab a picture.
posted by mikepop at 8:15 PM on November 2, 2006

These things are apparently impossible to track down. I think it's because every town made them and most of them are probably in the sticks somewhere.
posted by nasreddin at 8:39 PM on November 2, 2006

i have a number of russian pins, including a few hockey ones. the only one of mine that has any marking at all is an olympic one. it has the olympic rings featured on it. no other markings.

occasionally they will feature the name of the factory that produced them or a price on the back (like 5k for 5 kopeks)

i seriously doubt it was made for a specific event, it was just a super-cheap pin for any hockey player. if it featured a face, a prominent year, or something else, it might have more meaning.

SADCOM has a ton of them for sale and is really cool to deal with. you might have luck finding a copy of this pin there.
posted by fake at 8:43 PM on November 2, 2006