Tonomachi Posted August 28, 2012 Share #1 Posted August 28, 2012 Does anyone know if the Vanguard Military Equipment Company is having their insignia made in China? I came across these USMC/Naval paratrooper wings hallmarked V-21-N being sold on ebay by a company out of China with the seller name of youchunhe2008 (see link). They (photo below) are made slightly differently then the ones I'm assuming are US made (see photo #2 post). http://www.ebay.com/itm/US-U-S-NAVY-PARACH...=item35be9aa020 Possible Chinese made USMC/Naval paratrooper wing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonomachi Posted August 28, 2012 Author Share #2 Posted August 28, 2012 US made USMC/Naval paratrooper wing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonomachi Posted August 28, 2012 Author Share #3 Posted August 28, 2012 The seller has a number of things for sale hallmarked V-21-N (see links) US Navy Pilot Wing http://www.ebay.com/itm/WW2-US-NAVAL-AVIAT...=item3378089763 Combat Action Badge http://www.ebay.com/itm/U-S-ARMY-MILITARY-...=item35be2d5579 Joint Chiefs of Staff badge http://www.ebay.com/itm/US-OFFICE-OF-THE-J...=item3378ba5dc2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonomachi Posted August 28, 2012 Author Share #4 Posted August 28, 2012 I didn't go through everything this seller had for bid but I noticed a pair of enlisted Special Forces crests which are hallmarked G23 (see link). Does this mean that the Ira Green Company is also contracting out with China for their insignia as well? The seller has multiple pieces of the same V-21-N insignia for sale as if they were getting the stuff from the factory or they are the factory. http://www.ebay.com/itm/PAIR-US-SPECIAL-FO...=item3378ba5e25 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hink441 Posted May 12, 2016 Share #5 Posted May 12, 2016 I realize this is a four year old un-answered question. I contacted Vanguard and asked them directly if their insignia was made in China? They replied by email and stated that all their insignia, and other uniform items, are made in the USA per Government specifications. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefighter Posted May 12, 2016 Share #6 Posted May 12, 2016 They don't look like typical Chinese made stuff, cheap. The seem thicker, from the image, than the 'U.S. made' ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonomachi Posted May 13, 2016 Author Share #7 Posted May 13, 2016 I realize this is a four year old un-answered question. I contacted Vanguard and asked them directly if their insignia was made in China? They replied by email and stated that all their insignia, and other uniform items, are made in the USA per Government specifications. Chris I wonder if Vanguard can explain this Navy Seal Trident that I purchased directly from China (see photos). They were sealed in clear plastic and came from China per the envelope they came in. The hallmark of V-21-N in a rectangle is used by Vanguard. I can't see a Chinese Company buying the Tridents from the US to ship back to the US. They are or were being manufactured in China. They make them in a shinny silver finish as well as a subdued finish. Now Vanguard may have stopped having them produced in China recently because of what collectors have brought to everyone's attention. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonomachi Posted May 13, 2016 Author Share #8 Posted May 13, 2016 Here is another variant of the Navy Seal Trident again manufactured in China with the hallmark of V-21-N CH. I purchased this directly from someone in China (see envelope). This is a more recent Trident being sold on eBay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonomachi Posted May 13, 2016 Author Share #9 Posted May 13, 2016 Photo of the envelope that the V-21-N CH came in. The CH in this hallmark probably refers to China. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonomachi Posted May 13, 2016 Author Share #10 Posted May 13, 2016 Here are clearer photos of the hallmarks on these Tridents that were made in Communist China. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted May 13, 2016 Share #11 Posted May 13, 2016 Everything is made in China except Chinese food (and that's made in Mexico). These look like counterfeits: modern day insignia made to US Mil Specs are so bad that it's not hard for the Chinese to produce a passable copy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
12A54 Posted May 13, 2016 Share #12 Posted May 13, 2016 OK, I'll explain this. Vanguard and a large number of other US (and other country) manufacturers will tell you that China is the main source of totally counterfeit products. They copy the product, instructions, packaging, patent numbers, hallmarks, trademarks, advertising and imagery. I have worked for multiple US (military product) manufacturers and we constantly battle this problem with utterly no support from either the US or Chinese governments. These criminals, and that is what they are, even sell fake products (not even resembling a real offered product) with the original manufacturer's copied packaging that lists their web site, phone numbers, etc. just to steal the brand's demand. We often get complaints about product failures only to discover that the product is a counterfeit. We lose millions of dollars in business because of this problem. Vanguard is just another victim of it and those who ignorantly buy the counterfeits just feed the problem. As was verified by hink441, these are illegal counterfeits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikie Posted May 13, 2016 Share #13 Posted May 13, 2016 12A54 is absolutely correct. At an old job, an engineer came back from China with a case of knock-off name-brand multimeters he bought from a street vendor for a few bucks each. Packaging, etc was exactly the same as the real thing. Only difference was that they worked like carp. Mikie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonomachi Posted May 14, 2016 Author Share #14 Posted May 14, 2016 Boy was I wrong as I thought Vanguard was having their stuff made in China to save on labor costs. Here are photos for comparisons between the real one (top) that you can buy at the PX on those red cards in clear hard plastic and the bottom counterfeit ones from China. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hink441 Posted May 14, 2016 Share #15 Posted May 14, 2016 That is a great comparison shot! Look at the China made Trident. It actually has nails or spikes soldered on the back side instead of the finely soldered pins on the American made pin. The bottom two pics show the huge nails with cups soldered on the backside of the China junk. Thanks for highlighting the differences. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thisisme Posted May 14, 2016 Share #16 Posted May 14, 2016 These are illegal products made in China. I have been reporting these sellers on ebay for years with no results. Have even called Vanguard to tell them about it. Nothing has changed. The fakers are still faking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted May 14, 2016 Share #17 Posted May 14, 2016 After being stationed in Japan and traveling all over westpac myself, I think most Sailors can probably show you a closet full of knock-offs from Korea, Thailand, etc., laden with Nike, Polo, IWC, Rolex...whatever other brand you can think of. All totally counterfeit. (And much of it well made...my fake IWC watch I bought in 2000 in Thailand for $20 is actually titanium with a Seiko automatic movement...the materials alone were worth far more than I paid, and it's a beautiful watch to boot!) I see no reason they wouldn't start making military insignia, just as they're already churning out every variation of the Medal of Honor. If they can make a buck...they will, and sadly, many companies here either complain to no avail, or just let it all slide. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L11-VELASCO Posted May 17, 2018 Share #18 Posted May 17, 2018 Boy was I wrong as I thought Vanguard was having their stuff made in China to save on labor costs. Here are photos for comparisons between the real one (top) that you can buy at the PX on those red cards in clear hard plastic and the bottom counterfeit ones from China. Hi Dennis I found this interesting thread to learn about it and so I wonder if only we could see difference on back pins beetween US trident and this Chinese horrible copy ????? Fernando Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L11-VELASCO Posted May 28, 2018 Share #19 Posted May 28, 2018 That is a great comparison shot! Look at the China made Trident. It actually has nails or spikes soldered on the back side instead of the finely soldered pins on the American made pin. The bottom two pics show the huge nails with cups soldered on the backside of the China junk. Thanks for highlighting the differences. image.jpeg image.jpeg image.jpeg Dear Gents I purchased this Trident from ebay USA https://www.ebay.com/itm/US-NAVAL-OFFICERS-SEAL-TRIDENT-BREAST-BADGE-GENUINE-ISSUE-/112776163453?_ul=ES This is seller description:This is a gem of a find. It is a genuine US Navy issue Trident Seal Officers breast badge. New condition and sealed in the original wrap. Full size with gold gilt finish. Heavy duty construction. Hard to find. All items sold are 100% guaranteed I refused one from those Chinese copies and was advoice from another Us forum member to purchase this one from ebay and I don't like to be wrong again because I wanted a original one and I passed away from one I had because was Chinese copy for sure but now???? Well it arrived to me and it looks very good (hard construction)but the wrap paper(it was into a plastic envelope) is the one I show in pic and is not like the red Vanguards envelopes and so what happens...is seller buying these Tridents directly from Vanguard and it is the explanation to this paper or is not a genuine badge like those Chinese copies? Over the roundel pins appears:MADE IN USA Could you see this back Trident as the Real ones? Thanks for your help Fernando Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L11-VELASCO Posted May 28, 2018 Share #20 Posted May 28, 2018 I forgot said before than It actually has nails or spikes soldered on the back side instead of the finely soldered pins on the American made pin and so It would be a problem the wrap hard paper to be genuine? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L11-VELASCO Posted May 28, 2018 Share #21 Posted May 28, 2018 Well here I have a great explanation from seller about this paper wrap: Hello Fernando, thanks for the recent purchase. I read your e-mail with much interest. I personally purchased these at the North Island Naval Air Station in San Diego. Generally when purchased directly from the government, they do not have the red envelopes or other style items that are private purchase. Government issue items come in plain wrappers. There is an Army Navy store in San Diego that sells the packaged items that come in the special boxes, etc. The cost is about double. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now