In general, old soviet chess sets are very cheap so I don't see why someone would make a fake soviet set.
Fake Soviet Sets?
Sort:
Yes I've seen some cheap sets, but many of the sets I am interested in on Etsy are from $80 and up plus $20 to $30 in shipping, and some of the more "rare" sets are from $250 to over $400 plus shipping. It's the rare sets I want to be careful with.
I'm not saying I think they are fake, I would like to know if anyone has heard stories or seen fake sets and what to watch out for if they have, because I'd like to find authentic vintage Soviet sets
some examples:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/469076896/chess-ussr-soviet-chess-wooden-chess?ref=shop_home_active_31
https://www.etsy.com/listing/484203969/chess-ussr-soviet-chess-wooden-chess?ref=shop_home_active_17
https://www.etsy.com/listing/485720403/tournament-soviet-chess-set-1986-made?ref=shop_home_active_12
https://www.etsy.com/listing/501442083/big-soviet-wooden-chess-set-vintage?ref=shop_home_active_7
https://www.etsy.com/listing/514170921/chess-ussr-soviet-chess-wooden-chess?ref=shop_home_active_23
I checked out the sets you linked. They are advertised as 80's soviet sets but I don't see any patina at all. So they look suspicious to me.
http://kadun.ru/chess/Chess_kadun_retro_70
Check this out, they make new retro looking sets.
Also chessbazaar makes a few retro soviet sets.
In my experience I have never seen any genuine soviet sets that are $200. Soviet sets were mass produced so there are no "rare" sets.
Maybe I should buy a few of these sets for $40-$50 and sell them for $200.
Also, if you haven't already, check out this post on soviet chess sets.
https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/my-excursion-into-russiansoviet-chess-sets?page=1
I also look at the design of some of those linked sets and some I have never seen in older photos. The key as always is buy the seller not the item. I only have a couple sets that were basically New Old Stock from the USSR circa 1980's. But the age of the varnish is pretty tell tale. Remember chess was HUGE in the former USSR and there were reserves of these sets no doubt. Definitely massed produced for the public and not tournament stuff.
I have a lot to learn about Soviet sets before I commit to anything.
Black_Knight_Tango... if you know where I can find some truly authentic vintage Soviet sets please let me know. We can discuss a finders fee 
Ronbo... thanks for the good advice!
The set I posted pics of in the soviet sets post, I bought for $20. It is really worth only $5 but the guy I bought from knew how bad I wanted it hence the high price.
I see people playing chess on these kind of sets on the streets all the time.
Sure, if I see one for sale I'll keep you in mind.
Apr 8, 2017
0
#8
All the sets you posted are authentic. There is photographic evidence of all but the last two types being used in tournaments. I'm confident that the sets come from the periods claimed, notwithstanding the patina comments above.
As to rarity, the last one I've never seen before. The others are pretty ubiquitous and regularly can be found on Ebay or Etsy. This means you can shop for price. $200 seems a bit pricey for those sets, and I certainly paid less for mine of those types, but prices have increased as demand has definitely picked up. And keep in mind, while these sets might be all over the former USSR, they are not here. So they necessarily will fetch far higher prices than off the streets of Kiev or Moscow.
One important caveat, nearly all of what are called "tournament sets" actually are Soviet reproductions of tournament sets manufactured for street sale. Actually tournament sets are extremely rare there as well as here. I've only ever seen one offered on Ebay or Etsy and I now own it. It is two or three cuts above the other sets in quality of carving and finish, and are much heavier rated. I paid nearly $400 for that set a couple months ago. If you check out my forum topics, it's the Flohr-Botvinnik set. One of the gems of my collection, Soviet or otherwise. I also have posts about my overall Soviet collection and various Soviet sets I've acquired.
Finally, anyone interested in Soviet sets should watch Arlindo Vieria's magnificent video on the topic. Just Google his name and Soviet Chess. It'll be # 1. And deservedly. He also has excellent blog posts on the topic in Xadrez Memoria.
Message me if you like.
Some eye candy.
Here is an actual tournament set...
Lol, I can't imagine paying more than $50 for a soviet set. It goes against everything communism stood for.
But then again there is the supply and demand factor. Also, while these sets may have been mass produced everywhere in the USSR, and some years ago you could have found hundreds at flea markets. They are becoming harder to find.
MADE IN CHINA.
Probably several weeks old.
Black_Knight_Tango... thanks
cgrau.... eye candy indeed! Thanks for your insight. Your Flohr-Botvinnik post is what re-started my search for Soviet sets! That is the "rare" set that I've been messaging etsy sellers to find for me. I am in awe of your collection! I have to learn more about these sets before I feel "comfortable" purchasing them... they can be expensive, but they are, in my opinion, magnificent. Also, Tal's favorite set... I'm looking for that. Chess Bazaar has a reproduction (Latvian set), but the original looks more elegant to me.
I remember seeing Soviet sets years ago on ebay and etsy... they could be had for $20 to $30. Unfortunately, I was not interested back then and didn't pull the trigger on any of them. Ah if I could just go back
Black_Knight_Tango wrote:
... I bought for $20. It is really worth only $5 ...
Oh, it starts from you, why the price goes up 
Reproduction or real vintage? Trouble is understandable.
10 years ago we did not have many CNC machines. Now, multi-axis processing does everything that you draw in the graphics program.
zhaboed wrote:
Black_Knight_Tango wrote:
... I bought for $20. It is really worth only $5 ...
Oh, it starts from you, why the price goes up
Reproduction or real vintage? Trouble is understandable.
10 years ago we did not have many CNC machines. Now, multi-axis processing does everything that you draw in the graphics program.
Ya, blame it all on me 
. Meanwhile there's people paying $400 for a soviet set. We'll, what can I say when you gotta have something, you just gotta have it no matter what the cost.
zhaboed... you're from the Ukraine... do you know if there are people who try to pass off new, cheap reproductions as expensive, authentic, vintage Soviet sets?
Hello. I was interested in your conversation. I have been selling Soviet chess for a long time and many of you here have bought Soviet chess sets from me and have done it more than once on Etsy.
Forgeries are certainly in Ukraine and it is sometimes difficult to distinguish a fake from the Soviet set, but knowing some details it can be done with a 99% guarantee.
I do not know how things are in Armenia, but in Ukraine there is a queue for Soviet sets, the prices are very rising more and more.
Patina is not always is indication of the age of chess. You need to know how people lived in the USSR for understanding why some of the chess sets did not practically lose the paint. Chess were not always bought for the game like many other things in the USSR. Some sets cost 10 rubles USSR or more, when an engineer's salary was 80 rubles. So the chess sets were bought as a dowry, for status, as an expensive gift and not necessarily for the game. So many sets have a very good state and this does not mean that they are made at present time and are forgeries.
cageyOne No, I have not seen these. Look on the photos from cgrau and follow an advice.
GM chess is really comfortable, players are reluctant to part with the sets.
My opinion, accurate reproduction is not cheap. 400 is the value with which the benefit begins. The same applies to restoration, but in this case the seller will truthfully write about.
OlexandrKh wrote:
Hello. I was interested in your conversation. I have been selling Soviet chess for a long time and many of you here have bought Soviet chess sets from me and have done it more than once on Etsy.
Forgeries are certainly in Ukraine and it is sometimes difficult to distinguish a fake from the Soviet set, but knowing some details it can be done with a 99% guarantee.
I do not know how things are in Armenia, but in Ukraine there is a queue for Soviet sets, the prices are very rising more and more.
Patina is not always is indication of the age of chess. You need to know how people lived in the USSR for understanding why some of the chess sets did not practically lose the paint. Chess were not always bought for the game like many other things in the USSR. Some sets cost 10 rubles USSR or more, when an engineer's salary was 80 rubles. So the chess sets were bought as a dowry, for status, as an expensive gift and not necessarily for the game. So many sets have a very good state and this does not mean that they are made at present time and are forgeries.
Excellent points Olexandr , I wish more of the tournament used sets were available from the former USSR countries (Republics) . I know they must be very desired by the people that own them there.
OlexandrKh wrote:
Hello. I was interested in your conversation. I have been selling Soviet chess for a long time and many of you here have bought Soviet chess sets from me and have done it more than once on Etsy.
Forgeries are certainly in Ukraine and it is sometimes difficult to distinguish a fake from the Soviet set, but knowing some details it can be done with a 99% guarantee.
I do not know how things are in Armenia, but in Ukraine there is a queue for Soviet sets, the prices are very rising more and more.
Patina is not always is indication of the age of chess. You need to know how people lived in the USSR for understanding why some of the chess sets did not practically lose the paint. Chess were not always bought for the game like many other things in the USSR. Some sets cost 10 rubles USSR or more, when an engineer's salary was 80 rubles. So the chess sets were bought as a dowry, for status, as an expensive gift and not necessarily for the game. So many sets have a very good state and this does not mean that they are made at present time and are forgeries.
It would be nice if you could post some pics of your sets. Everyone here likes pics of chess sets.
Hi everyone,
I've seen the posts about the old, vintage Russian/Soviet sets and I'm interested in getting one or a few. I know they can be found on Etsy and ebay, but how do you know if a set is authentic? There are a few sellers on Etsy that are selling vintage Soviet sets, but they look new and the finish and color look the same. Are there many fakes out there, and if so, how do you differentiate between a fake and original?