CIB - Foreign-made or not?

[double canister]

I've had this one for years, and I've always felt it was Japanese-made during VN years. The enamel looks too strong for such. Opinions? Thanks.

 

 

[double canister]

[Sivart]

I've never seen this variation conclusively attributed to either a timeframe or location. I would tend to agree, VN era and perhaps Japanese made, could also be US made for sale in the PX, need to find one in original packaging to be sure.

[Wake1941]

Looks VN Made to me the Japanese Made are a little different

[triplecanopy]

When I departed Vietnam on the "freedom bird", we landed in OSAKA, Japan at an air base that had a PX facility that catered to returning service personnel. If I recall correctly, they had every badge and ribbon you can imagine and would make up a custom ribbon set for your uniform while you waited. They had CIB's that looked a lot like the one in question. Almost all of the Vietnam made CIB's I have encountered have been sand cast and cheaply made. I would question why anyone would have ever worn one on a uniform. They were that bad. I suppose if you could not get a real issue one and were hard pressed, you might settle for a sand cast badge. Little did I realize at the time that those cheap looking badges and 'mama-san' sewing shop patches would ever be worth something. Just my 2¢, I'd say the CIB above is most likely made in Japan (or Hong Kong).

[BMc]

i agree w triple canopy. Japanese made. Generally, Japanese and Brits used enamel and Viets used paint. As noted, Viet made very crude and the pins are generally brads or nails and rarely straight or true.