Reproduction Career Sleeve Patches

[vacollector]

I was wondering anyone could explain how you would be able to identify reproduction service patches verius the real ones???

[uscob]

experience

[olivyaya]

What exact patches are you talking about ?

[ehrentitle]

I think this may be a follow on to a discussion that Chris and I had yesterday about NVA Fallschirmjäger career service ovals at the Fort Belvoir Military Collectors Show. I had for sale or trade an enlisted Fallschirmdienste (Air Force Parachute Service) career service oval that was clearly a copy and a orange NVA Fallschirmjäger career service oval that because of it's rarity I was sure was a copy.

He asked me how I know they were copies. I told him I had numerous examples of original career service ovals at home that I could compare them to. And when I come across an oval as rare as the orange NVA Fallschirmjäger career service oval that was only worn for about a year it's best to assume that it's a copy until it can be proven to be an original.

I'll try to post some examples of original and copy NVA Fallschirmdienste and Fallschirmjäger career service ovals tonight.

Kevin

[ehrentitle]

Here are some scans of career service ovals that I promised. First is the Fallschirmdienste officer career service oval. The seven parachute line version was worn from 1968-1986. Here are the three examples in my collection.



The one on the left is original, the one in the middle is questionable, the one on the right is a clear copy. If you look at them you can see subtle differences in color, the shape of the oval and the width of the silver grey oval at the edge.

And here are the backs of these respective ovals:



And here are known copies of the Fallschirmdienste and Fallschirmjäger ovals. According to Walther these were produced in late 1990, early 1991.



Notice how they are almost all uniform in color with the exception of the one on the far right.

And here are the backs, note the light grey color that is the same as the center oval in my photo of the Fallschirmdienste officer career service oval.

[uscob]

Kevin, the right white one with the net backing is a Copy too. I know them from the late 90's on.

[ehrentitle]

Originally Posted by uscob

Kevin, the right white one with the net backing is a Copy too. I know them from the late 90's on.

Yup, I thought I'd said that, but English is an imperfect language. I've picked up three of those over the years in various collections I've bought out. When you look closely the parachute is actually wider and the oval is almost circular when compared with originals.

[Gordon Craig]

Kevin,

Thanks for the education. Without a "known" original to hand I would never by one of these badges. But then, with an original in my collection I wouldn't need (?) to buy another one.

Regards,

Gordon

[vacollector]

Great explaination.

[ehrentitle]

Friede was kind enough to send me photos of his career service ovals to post on this thread:

Hi Kevin, here are the scans from my patches.

The red framed are later copies.

The blue framed, I believe they are also copies from the 1990´s, they looking as originals in all details, but the Filz (felt) is the material and color of the late 1980´s Uniform - and at this time Fallschirmjäger did not used patches, because they have had her own sign on the collar tabs.

The other are 100 % original. Also the orange oval, this one I have gotten from the user himself.

best regards and I hope you can use the scans for you and for the WAF.

Friede