Question about different backs

[Elliott R]

Hey ya'll, I have some army GCMs and I know the pin back one is ww2 but I was just wondering if there was an age difference between the pin backs and the other backs. Did they use the pin back/other back exclusively during ww2 or did they use both? I have an American campaign medal that has the 2 point back and Im 99.5% sure that one is not a repro. 

[Bruce Linz]

Crimped brooches with clutch back fasteners were never used on Army Good Conduct medals during and immediately after WWII.  Medals, including Good Conduct medals, produced after WWII normally had a crimped brooch with a folding pin and roller catch.

[Elliott R]

So what Im getting here is that the one on the left is post ww2?

[Bruce Linz]

Yes, at the very least you can say that the ribbon and the crimped brooch are not WWII vintage.

[Bruce Linz]

Please read through this thread on Army Good Conduct Medals.  It should answer some of your questions.

 

 

[Elliott R]

That did help a lot. Thanks

[CNY Militaria]

The one posted on the left with the clutch backs was made from about the 1980s till now.

[Elliott R]

So were any medals from ww2 made with the clutch back? I have what I thought was an army of occupation (germany clasp) and an american campaign medal but they have clutch backs. Does that mean they are repros or were some kinds of medals made with clutch backs

 

[Bruce Linz]

During WWII and immediately afterwards no U. S. medals were produced with clutch backs.  However, in later years there were probably many WWII medals that were reribboned using ribbon assemblies made with clutch back brooches.

[Elliott R]

That makes a lot of sense. I have a strange example because the box of my Army of Occupation is dated 45 but has a clutch back

 

[Bruce Linz]

Lots of empty medal boxes out there waiting to be filled.  It is very common to have dealers and collectors make up sets of medals and ribbons and then find a box.  Learn all you can so you don’t end up paying a premium price for something that isn’t right

[MMcollector]

On 11/30/2021 at 6:26 AM, Elliott R said:

So were any medals from ww2 made with the clutch back? I have what I thought was an army of occupation (germany clasp) and an american campaign medal but they have clutch backs. Does that mean they are repros or were some kinds of medals made with clutch backs

 

 

my brooch guide may also help:

 

http://www.medalmulisha.com/medal-brooch-guide.html

[Elliott R]

53 minutes ago, MMcollector said:

 

my brooch guide may also help:

 

http://www.medalmulisha.com/medal-brooch-guide.html

Thanks, that was interesting to look through. Also, I think I have bought from you on Ebay