Antique Photo - Unknown Russian Uniform from Constantinople

**poslete** · 10-28-2010, 10:56 PM

Please, I need help with the photo of soldier with unknown Russian uniform... This photo was taken in Constantinople. I was hoping someone would help me identify the uniform, or unit.

Thank you in advance.
Georg

Antique Photo - Unknown Russian Uniform from Constantinople

**Uberman** · 11-17-2010, 10:04 PM

Cossack. Doubtfully it was a photograph taken at "Constantinople".

**Aceton** · 11-21-2010, 06:54 AM

It is not a Cossack nd not Russian at all. It's a Bulgarian militia, dated 1880s - 1890s. It may happen that such uniforms lasted till Balkan wars 1912-1913, but I'm not sure.

**poslete** · 11-22-2010, 10:34 PM

Many thanks for info. Here is a revers of the photo. The black stamp is from a later period of Czech origin. And the Sabre? I thought this is a Russian cavalry model...

**RedArmyCollector** · 11-22-2010, 10:44 PM

It looks like a Cossack shashka

**poslete** · 11-22-2010, 10:54 PM

pfff... russian cavalry man? cossaks? bulgarian militia? I'm confused

**Aceton** · 11-23-2010, 02:37 AM

No confuse - he is Bulgarian 100% (if I recall correctly, East-Rumelian militia prior to the war with Serbs in 1885). They often used Russian weapons. In this particular case he is armed with Russian shashka of Caucasian model. Unfortunately, Bulgarians are often confused with Russians because they used alike uniforms since the Liberation war 1877-78. First Bulgarian regular troops were formed by their refugees in Russia in 1876-1877, and were armed, uniformed and trained by Russian government. Since that moment, Bulgarian uniforms always followed Russian models, repeating theirmajor changes in 1881-1908.

P.S. Here you can see similar guys, photo is dated 1887: OLD Bulgarian Royal Photo Solders with medal order 1887 - eBay (item 150512151804 end time Nov-26-10 02:26:55 PST)