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Where can I find a Soviet chess set with very ferocious/vicious knight?

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WandelKoningin

I really love a ferocious knight that looks foaming-at-the-mouth angry and deranged, such as the one below from a 1920s–1930s set from the Vsekokhudozhnik artel. I would love to get this set, but it’s way beyond my budget. Any idea where I can find other sets with a knight like this—either original Soviet sets or reproductions?

GrandPatzerDave

Act quickly, the auction ends today: https://www.ebay.com/itm/226378196301?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D777008%26algo%3DPERSONAL.TOPIC%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D272992%26meid%3D1a987201893041bb92c698a33086206a%26pid%3D101949%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26itm%3D226378196301%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D4375194%26algv%3DRecentlyViewedItemsV2WithMLRV6RankerPricelessTop30Features_BP&_trksid=p4375194.c101949.m162918&_trkparms=parentrq%3A66d0745c1920a8d790ce8f38ffff241c%7Cpageci%3A4251a502-84a2-11ef-807c-bead18447d59%7Ciid%3A1%7Cvlpname%3Avlp_homepage

WandelKoningin

Awesome design! I’m looking for non-lacquer sets, however. Curious that Chessbazaar discontinued this design though.

mjeman

HoS Odessa

WandelKoningin
mjeman wrote:

HoS Odessa

Yeah I saw it on clearance, and considered getting it based on those cool finials on the kings, and the droplet terminals on the bishops. But in this case, the knights actually kept me from getting the set. That, and the lack of historical reference. At least, there are some Soviet sets with droplet bishops—most prominently the set I have below, and variations on this set; but the Odessa set doesn’t seem to be a reproduction of any particular set.

mjeman

I think you're probably right that it's not a proper reproduction. I like it's combination of nice design features.

WandelKoningin

Royal Chess Mall offers basically the same set, except with different king finials.

I just learned that apparently the set is loosely based on a Mordovian set with unusual knights.

Speaking of sets that use elements from various Soviet sets, Violet Crown Chess has a set called the Modern Soviet which features Botvinnik-Flohr II panther knights. I’m more focused on original sets and would prefer to get an original BFII, but I have to admit it’s a beautiful set.

mjeman

I noticed the similarity with the RCM set and decided I like the HoS finials better, as well as the clearance price. Between this and the ICC Averbakh, I think i have enough sets with similarity to the RCM '33 Botvinnik Flohr that i don't need to get it, at least for now. I already also have a Mordovian fka Latvian repro. Good quality originals a certainly another avenue.