Bearmon Posted January 3, 2018 Share #1 Posted January 3, 2018 Costal River Division 16 and River Division 535 both Japanese manufacture I believe. This is the first Coastal River Division patch I have seen which doesn't have COSRIVDIV on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bearmon Posted January 3, 2018 Author Share #2 Posted January 3, 2018 The reverse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefighter Posted January 4, 2018 Share #3 Posted January 4, 2018 The 535 sure look Japanese made.I’m not a 100% sure about the other. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PBRrunner Posted February 12, 2019 Share #4 Posted February 12, 2019 I was with the 535 and that is a repo , It has the threads of a repo , But that is whats out there right now, If the real patch shows up I would grab it first then ask questions later, We had some made up on leave in Saigon before it was shut down and take a blue light to it is the only way to make sure . I have mine and it is at the VFW on View with the 534 and TF-116 patches I donated to the Post. Most of the Patches were made in Nam and they do not look very good but we were allowed to use them on our shoulder as the Patch of the unit we were with. The TF-116 and the TF-117 were all the same. Blankenship before he passed away got the Gov to authorize our Patch as the official patch we could wear. But it just was never made in a quantity that we all got it. But if someone has one keep it safe it is a memorial to all Brown Water Sailors who died and to the ones that were missing. We have the circle tag and it is not the same. But the Patch that was remade is out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bearmon Posted February 12, 2019 Author Share #5 Posted February 12, 2019 PBR Runner thanks for your post, if that patch is a fake as you say I believe you just put the collecting world upside down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wake1941 Posted February 12, 2019 Share #6 Posted February 12, 2019 The patch might be a fake for the period but it definitely looks old. Maybe made a few years later for collectors or vets? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airborne-Hunter Posted February 12, 2019 Share #7 Posted February 12, 2019 For future reference, the best way to approach this thread is to remember that a lot of patches were made during the period, but certain manufacturing styles can, at times, be attributed to "team worn" insignia. WW2 insignia collectors know this quite well with patch king, hobby guild and the like. The Vietnam conflict is no different. Patches with the right characteristics can be attributed to the period, but we may never know to what extent they were worn because there were plenty of patches sold in shops for collectors. Any tenured ASMIC member can attest to being able to buy patches fresh from Vietnam at the time. Several collectors/dealers here have bought these collections over the years, including myself. Best ABN Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonomachi Posted February 12, 2019 Share #8 Posted February 12, 2019 Since we are all here to learn I've pulled some photos I've kept over the years of different River Division 535 patches and I think forum members would like to know which ones are considered "team worn" and which are copies made in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. I don't own any of these patches and didn't realize the number of variations that exist of this specific patch. The first one looks period Vietnamese to me with that tan cotton rear backing material (FRONT) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonomachi Posted February 12, 2019 Share #9 Posted February 12, 2019 Back Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonomachi Posted February 12, 2019 Share #10 Posted February 12, 2019 Here is a similar patch with the same tan cotton rear backing material except the 535 is below the bow of the boat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonomachi Posted February 12, 2019 Share #11 Posted February 12, 2019 Here is another that has that thin thread rear backing mesh (FRONT). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonomachi Posted February 12, 2019 Share #12 Posted February 12, 2019 BACK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonomachi Posted February 12, 2019 Share #13 Posted February 12, 2019 Here is another which has a purple colored backing material. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonomachi Posted February 12, 2019 Share #14 Posted February 12, 2019 The last one looks like the patch in Post #8 but it has a green border. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonomachi Posted February 12, 2019 Share #15 Posted February 12, 2019 Here is a picture of this patch being worn in Vietnam and you can see that the number 535 is embroidered on the front of the boat and not below it as the patch in Post #10. So from the above variations of the 535th River Division patch which one was "team worn" and which ones are considered copies? Are they all copies? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vintageproductions Posted February 12, 2019 Share #16 Posted February 12, 2019 The first two patches posted are Japanese made. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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