u/r4veman

Found a Rockstead HIGO II X-CF-ZDP (SG) for around $700 at a confiscated goods store. They also have another HIGO X from the same kind of stock.

The HIGO II is 1000% authentic and looks mint / unused. It comes with everything except the paperwork: original wooden box, sheath and the key/tool. The original cardboard packaging is also there, although one piece is torn.

The only thing that makes me hesitate is the missing paperwork. Since it came through a confiscated goods store, I assume the paperwork was simply lost somewhere along the way.

I'm buying it mainly as a collector piece to keep on the shelf, not as an EDC.

At around $700, would you consider the missing paperwork a significant issue for a Rockstead HIGO II? Would you still buy one in mint condition with the full physical set but no papers?

Vintage Yves Saint Laurent suit made by Zegna. Wool and silk mix.

Will classic penny loafers work with this one?

Hello dear snake lovers! I live far from the US and I am getting my first snake. The seller says it is an Abbott's Okeetee and it looks great. However, it has a black bridge between two saddles in the middle of the body. Is this normal, or does it mean it is not a true Okeetee?

2008 citadel

2008 Citadel

Hey everyone, just wanted to share a unique piece of military aviation history that I recently found in my family archives.
My great-grandfather, Captain Dmitry Mazilov, started his aviation career right before WWII in 1939. He spent the war years as a flight instructor, pushing rookies through training in non-stop sorties. Right after the war, due to his massive flight experience, he was among the first group of Soviet pilots selected to convert to the early jet fighters.
In May 1951, his unit (the 523rd Fighter Aviation Regiment) was covertly deployed to the Myaogou airfield on the Chinese-Korean border. He flew the MiG-15bis for almost a year against United Nations forces in Mig Alley.
According to his monthly combat summaries stamped by the military staff, he completed 142 combat missions and participated in 51 large-scale group dogfights. His flight log officially confirms 5 personal jet kills:
1 x F-80 Shooting Star
3 x F-84 Thunderjet
1 x F-86 Sabre
The logbook also records direct engagements with American B-29 Superfortresses and Australian Gloster Meteors. Many of these interceptions happened at extreme altitudes, with specific log entries showing combat missions at 10,000 meters, 11,000 meters, 12,000 meters, and even up to 13,200 meters (over 43,000 feet), which was basically the practical ceiling for early jets.
Over his entire career, he flew 20 different aircraft types. His log lists them all:
Props: Po-2 (U-2), UT-2, UTI-1, UTI-4, R-5, I-16, Yak-1, Yak-3, Yak-7, Yak-9 (including T, V, M mods), Yak-11, and even the American P-63 Kingcobra from the Lend-Lease program.
Early Jets: Yak-15, Yak-17, Yak-17U, MiG-9, MiG-15bis, and supersonic MiG-17 later in the 1950s.
He survived the war, retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1961, and spent the rest of his life in a small southern town. His logbook shows that he accumulated over 2,200 flight hours by 1951 alone, with more than 5,300 total flights throughout his career, which was an incredible number for a frontline fighter pilot of that era.
I also found his medals, which include the Soviet Order of the Red Banner, Three orders of the Red Star, and a rare early Sino-Soviet Friendship Medal awarded by China in 1951.
Just thought the aviation community here would appreciate seeing the actual stats and the crazy variety of planes one pilot flew during the transition from biplanes to supersonic jets

Hi everyone!
I found a Citadel katana from 2009 for sale locally in my city. The price is incredible — it is more than 2.5 times cheaper than a brand-new one. However, it has two major issues:
A chip on the blade (edge).
A crack on the mouth of the saya (koiguchi).
Considering the very low price, are these defects deal-breakers? Can a professional bladesmith/restorer fix a chipped Citadel blade without ruining its geometry or heat treat? And how difficult is it to repair a cracked koiguchi?
Should I go ahead with the deal or walk away? Thanks for your advice!

Help please!

The master sent me some progress pics of my upcoming knife. This ray skin handle looks absolutely gorgeous!

Found this beautiful cap but I’ve never seen this series before

Decided to use P3 because emerald spots match the gloves better than black