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  #1  
Old 01-03-20, 04:55 PM
Harry Katyn Harry Katyn is offline
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Default US Special Forces Theatre Made Insignia?

I know some of our forum members have an extensive knowledge of USSF insignia and would appreciate your comments/any info you can share on these items.

I believe (or hope) that the standard A/B tab and the SSI may be "theatre made" - possibly in Japan as opposed to the usual Vietnam era fakes.

Having never handled or even seen a worn/washed out teal blue A/B tab I'm not sure if this one is of US manufacture (although I believe it is as I have seen examples with a similar thin "I") or theatre made if such tabs were ever produced.

All came from separate sources.

Thanking you in anticipation.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg USSF AB Tab Front.jpg (38.2 KB, 46 views)
File Type: jpg USSF AB Tab Rear.jpg (38.0 KB, 31 views)
File Type: jpg USSF SSI Front.jpg (59.1 KB, 48 views)
File Type: jpg USSF SSI Rear.jpg (66.7 KB, 27 views)
File Type: jpg USSF Teal Blue AB Tab Front.jpg (45.4 KB, 39 views)
File Type: jpg USSF Teal Blue AB Tab Rear.jpg (45.9 KB, 16 views)
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  #2  
Old 02-03-20, 01:51 AM
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3battalion 3battalion is offline
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Hi Harry,

First tab looks US made and I agree that the patch and last tab look Japenese made.

Nice insignia.

Paul
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  #3  
Old 02-03-20, 07:35 PM
Harry Katyn Harry Katyn is offline
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Thanks for that Paul - although I thought the first tab (yellow on black) was more likely to be the theatre made one given its paper backing and the style of stitching in the lettering.
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Old 30-03-20, 07:12 PM
Phill Lockett's Avatar
Phill Lockett Phill Lockett is offline
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Hi Harry

None of the insignia shown is of US made.

Official US made authorized SSI and Tabs are Schiffli fully embroidered with an exact stitch count as per then OQMC-Heraldic Section drawings.

The Teal Blue Airborne tab was unauthorized however it was used for 77th SF Group 1955-1958. The only known use is US made, have not seen any other to date.

The letter I has not been embroidered in the Teal Blue Airborne Tab.

They are not Japanese made as Japanese embroiderers were very skilled and produced detailed high quality patches.

I believe these are modern day reproductions out of Vietnam.

Note the backing on the reverse of these samples below

https://www.ebay.com/itm/PATCH-F-111...kAAOSwkfVefi~M

https://www.ebay.com/itm/PATCH-12TH-...wAAOSwwz9efjAH

Phill

Last edited by Phill Lockett; 30-03-20 at 07:33 PM.
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  #5  
Old 26-05-20, 04:47 PM
Harry Katyn Harry Katyn is offline
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Sorry Phill - missed your post and have been away for a while and only getting to catch up now.
Thanks for your comments and pointers which I will look into - particularly your point about the "I" in the airborne tab which I completely missed. (I had been told by a collector in the US it was the genuine article but he never mentioned if it was theatre made or not. When/If I get the chance I was going to do some research and possibly upload the images onto the US Military Forum to see what that generates.
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Old 26-05-20, 07:33 PM
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Phill Lockett Phill Lockett is offline
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Hi Harry

Always get second opinions when dealing with "theatre made" Vietnam era special forces /Ranger /Airborne patches, its a minefield as you know.

The below patch and tab were standard US made SSI re below for 77th SFG/SF from mid 1950's to late 58. The teal blue Airborne tab was not authorized but worn until the gold on black authorized c1958.

Phill
Attached Images
File Type: jpg 2. 77SFG(A)-2.JPG (45.2 KB, 10 views)
File Type: jpg 2. 77SFG(A)-2 Reverse.JPG (69.3 KB, 8 views)
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  #7  
Old 28-05-20, 02:28 PM
Harry Katyn Harry Katyn is offline
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Hi Phill
Thanks for uploading the photos. Your teal blue tab is the same as a mint one I have in my collection. (Although I have been away from collecting US items for a good few years now it wasn’t until your post that I learnt that this variant was only produced in the US and also means I’m a bit behind on what fakes are out there.) I have being searching for the past few days to see where I came across the other teal blue tabs with the thin “I” without success but if these tabs were never “theatre made” no official US manufacturer would produce such a poor quality badge.
Many thanks for your input.
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