WW2 USMC MAW patches "red back" ?

[oddmod]

I am not much of patch collector, and subsequently don't have much information on them stored away in the old grey matter.

 

I thought these two (MAW HQ & MAW 4) red back patches were interesting... could someone enlighten me as to their rarity and value.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

JC

[36-tex]

JC, they are not variations or rare (sorry). They simple have less of the white cotton thread showing on the backs.

[patches]

JC, they are not variations or rare (sorry). They simple have less of the white cotton thread showing on the backs.

 

Thats right tex, now if we would see no white threads at all and the back was a seemingly sold mass of all red threads then you can say you've got something differant.

[oddmod]

Thanks Guys for the fast and informative responses.

 

 

 

So what does a proper "red back" patch look like / mean anyway (I mean, besides having a red back) ?

 

Thanks,

JC

[patches]

Thanks Guys for the fast and informative responses.

So what does a proper "red back" patch look like / mean anyway (I mean, besides having a red back) ?

 

Thanks,

JC

 

There's never been to my knowlege a patch thats been catogorized as a RED BACK, there are, Green Backs, White Backs, these I gather you have heard of, but I do believe I never heard of one as being a Red Back, on these there will always be at least a hint of White bobbin threads. There are also more uncommon backed thread ones from the WWII period and post War/1950s, these would be Black Backs, these are usualy of foreign make, British, German, maybe japanese I gather, some British fully embroidered WWII ones even used a dark pink bobbin thread. A few U.S. patches coluld have Black Backs, I have seen two at least, a 27th Infantry Division, and a 101st Airborne Division/ without tab, this lead me to believe that the Black Backs that are on U.S. made patches may have been these two only, as they have an all black background on the front.

[vostoktrading]

JC, they are not variations or rare (sorry). They simple have less of the white cotton thread showing on the backs.

Just like Tex said.

How many different color "backs" are there?

Here's what I would call heavy green and white backs:

[vostoktrading]

Pink

[vostoktrading]

Purple

[vostoktrading]

Brown

[vostoktrading]

The amount of "color" can vary as you can see with these three 29ths.

I've never seen a red back yet. I wouldn't be surprised if there was such a thing.

The most common is "regular" of course (various shades of white).

Next comes greenback with a bunch of people (like me) who actively collect that sort of thing.

Finally there's all the other freak colors, probably the manufacturers trying to use up unwanted surplus thread they had on hand.

Anyone have any other color backs not shown here?

Jon.

[patches]

Brown

 

Nice array of differant colour backs, come to think of it I do remember seeing that brown backed 13th Air Force in the distent past, it would seem that even some U.S. made ones used the pink threads, I seen the British ones, those purple ones are unsual, cool. Now as to a Red backed one, I sure I,ve have not seen one, have you ?

[oddmod]

Patches & Vostoktrading, thanks for detailed answer and pictures.

 

Not surprisingly it never occurred to me that patches might have pink or purple backs... very interesting.

 

 

I actually found the term "red back" up in the pinned section of the SSI & P forum.

 

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/ind...showtopic=28997

 

In post number 6 a member mentions Red Backed Paramarine patches. Later on in the thread (no pun intended) two other members, including Vintageproductions talk about Red back 1st Div. patches... but the example they sight is clearly different than the two patches I have ( correction, had).

 

Thanks again,

JC

[vostoktrading]

I think when they talk about red back they mean the Australian made USMC bevo type that has been mounted on a red wool or felt backing.

Not US made fully embroidered patches.

Jon.

[gap]

Here is my brown/gold back 8th ID patch. Hard to capture the color with my camera, but it is definitely not green back.

[gap]

Reverse side.

[patches]

Just a thought. The patch looks a bit used, washed more than once when sewed to a uniform ( a Khaki shirt maybe ), perhaps a Green Back that's had it's threads faded???

[gap]

Patches, definitely well worn and previously sewn on a uniform. However, it does not glow at all. Also, the return threads are a much different shade than the OD border or any of the greenbacks in my collection. Unfortunately, the camera does not pick up the color. Interesting though.

[Teamski]

There are going to be variations. I wouldn't think anything of a greenback with a different hue. Remember, the manufacturer is going to use whatever he has on hand.

 

-Ski

[Insigina Hunter]

Colored backs I have come across from most commonly seen to least (at least from my experience).

 

White, green, black, brown, purple, yellow, and pink.

 

I have heard of blue and red backs but have not actually come across either of these colors yet.