Soviet material culture · 1917–1991

Soviet Surplus Collector Glossary

Use precise language so uncertainty and later assembly do not disappear behind seller shorthand.

Collector terms

Assembly
An object or group created from parts that did not originally belong together.
Confidence level
A stated degree of certainty such as confirmed, probable, possible or unidentified.
Ghosting
Fading, holes or outlines left after an insignia or component is removed.
Issue mark
A mark connected to inventory, acceptance or distribution rather than necessarily manufacture.
Period repair
A repair believed to have been made during the object’s service life.
Provenance
The documented ownership and custody history of an object.
Put-together
Collector shorthand for a later assembly using original, reproduction or mixed parts.
Reproduction
A later copy made to resemble an earlier object, whether disclosed or deceptive.
Unissued
Claim that an item was never distributed or used; it still requires evidence.