As many of you know, I currently maintain a no reproduction page on my website. At the bottom of that page, I stated that I wished that there would be a collaborative effort among reputable federal patch collectors to help prevent the reproduction of federal patches. I believe there has been some success in doing so, as many of the peddlers of these goods are dropping out of the reproduction business because their reproductions are not drawing high prices on many auction sites due to the education of the patch collecting public.
In an ongoing effort to undermine the efforts of people who sell federal patch reproductions, I was contacted by federal collector David Kolberson in July 2010. David is a friend of mine and has manufactured patches/coins for many years for the FBI El Paso Field Office as well as several federal, State and Local agencies in West Texas. He also served on the El Paso FBI MST team. Dave asked me to put a list on my site of the FBI patches he has manufactured, the quantities made, and the identifying marks on the authentic patch versions. The majority of the patches on various auctions sites are reproductions. The updated list below is for your reference. Please support our efforts by not purchasing reproductions patches.
FBI FORENSIC EPIDEMIOLOGY PATCH
Variations: (1) Full Color. Only 30 made.
RHS: N/A
Manufactured: 2009
Notes: Made by David Kolberson. Originals have manufacturer sticker on back. They were manufactured in 2009. There is a patch and coin set which was given out to FBI WMD Coordinators and other federal investigators who were instructors for the FBI Forensic Epidemiology Training Course. The course was developed for law enforcement and public health officials who investigate and/or respond to WMD/Bio-Terrorism events. These courses were conducted in Houston, Austin, Dallas and El Paso, Texas.
FBI-DEA STRIKE TEAM OCDETF OVAL PATCH
Variations: (3) Three different oval variations, all with OD green backgrounds. 60 total made
RHS: N/A
Manufactured: 2009
Notes: Made by David Kolberson. Oval patches have either black letters (FBI Team - 25 made) or white letters (DEA Team - 20 made). Third oval has OCDETF-EL PASO TX on bottom. Only 15 of this variation were made. Original patches have manufacturer sticker on back.
FBI-DEA STRIKE TEAM OCDETF ROUND PATCH
Variations: (1) OD Background - 20 made
RHS: N/A
Manufactured: 2009
Notes: Made by David Kolberson. Made for tactical vests. Original patches have manufacturer sticker on back.
FBI 100TH ANNIVERSARY BADGE
Variations: (2) Two color variations - 25 made of each.
RHS: N/A
Manufactured: 2008
Notes: Made by David Kolberson. Originals have sticker on back.
FBI 100TH ANNIVERSARY SWAT BADGE PATCH
Variations: (2) Two subdued variations – Only 30 total made.
RHS: N/A
Manufactured: 2008
Notes: Made by David Kolberson. 15 patches Subdued and 15 OD versions made. Made for SWAT team members with a matching pin. Originals have manufacturer sticker on back.
FBI El PASO SWAT COIN PATCH
Variations: (1) Full Color version – 10 sets made.
RHS: N/A
Manufactured: 2012
Notes: Made by David Kolberson. Made for FBI El PASO SWAT challenge coin/patch sets. Given to the original SWAT team members. Limited number of subdued coins made only for original team members. Patch matches back of swat coin. Design is SWAT team with state of Texas. Originals have initials/stamp on back.
FBI EL PASO EVIDENCE RESPONSE TEAM PATCH
Variations: (1) color version, 100 made
RHS: N/A
Manufactured: 2016
Notes: Original design has tan twill background, 3.5 inch. Originals have no sticker on back. Fully embroidered subdued/gray color versions are reproductions. Design also made on various shirts and jacket.
FBI WMD COORDINATOR EL PASO
Variations: (2) Two variations with a total of 40 patches made.
RHS: N/A
Manufactured: 2006
Notes: Made by David Kolberson. Made for WMD Coordinator. 3.5 Inch round patch. 30- black 10 - OD Green. Originals have manufacturer sticker on back.
FBI WMD JTTF EL PASO PATCH
Variations: (1) color version, 50 made
RHS: N/A
Manufactured: 2006
Notes: Made by David Kolberson. Rectangle design with WMD. Originals have initials on back.
FBI BIOTERRORISM RESPONSE TEAM
Variations: (4) 50 made.
RHS: N/A
Manufactured: 2003
Notes: Made by David Kolberson. 3 inch round. Color - 15, OD - 15, Gray Subdued - 10, Desert - 10. Used by various FBI WMD coordinators in different Texas field offices as well as coordinators from various federal agencies. Originals have manufacturer sticker on back.
FBI BIOTERRORISM RESPONSE TEAM (WHITE)
Variations: (1) One white colored version; 30 made.
RHS: N/A
Manufactured: 2002 after Amerithrax event
Notes: Made by David Kolberson. 3.5-inch white twill version. Used on Response bags/jackets and by various FBI WMD coordinators in different Texas field offices as well as coordinators from various federal agencies. Originals have manufacturer sticker on back.
EL PASO JOINT TERRORISM TASK FORCE
Variations: (1) 40 made.
RHS: N/A
Manufactured: 2003
Notes: Made by David Kolberson. Originals have designer's initials on back. Reproduction has USCS instead of USC in lower right.
TACTICAL MEDICAL RESPONSE TEAM
Variations: (1) 40 made.
RHS: N/A
Manufactured: 2004
Notes: Made by David Kolberson. Originals have sticker on back. 3 inch OD, Used by various FBI medics in different offices.
EL PASO TRIDENT
Variations: (1) 40 made.
RHS: N/A
Manufactured: 1995
Notes: Made by David Kolberson. Multi-agency task force led by FBI and USMS. Originals have designer's initials on back.
FBI EL PASO SWAT SNIPER MEMORIAL
Variations: (1) 30 made.
RHS: N/A
Manufactured: 2007
Notes: Made by David Kolberson. Has initials of team member who passed away on patch. Originals have sticker on back.
FBI EL PASO SWAT FIREARMS INSTRUCTOR PATCH
Variations: (1) 10 made.
RHS: N/A
Manufactured: 2007
Notes: Made by David Kolberson. OD Patch with Dark Maroon letters. Issued to firearm instructors on SWAT team. Used on caps and BDU. Originals have manufacturer sticker on back.
FBI EL PASO MEDICAL STRIKE TEAM STARBURST VERSION
Variations: (1) 40 made.
RHS: N/A
Manufactured: 2004
Notes: Made by David Kolberson. Originals have manufacturer sticker on back. Starburst subdued version. Used on Jackets, Medical bags and Flight suits.
FBI EL PASO SWAT MEDICAL STRIKE TEAM
Variations: (2) Two subdued variations - 20 made of each.
RHS: N/A
Manufactured: 2007
Notes: Made by David Kolberson. 3-inch round. Originals have manufacturer sticker on back. Used on Flight suits/jackets, Medical bags and BDU.
FBI EL PASO SWAT TEAM LEATHER/CLOTH PATCH
Variations: (1) 20 made
RHS: N/A
Manufactured: 2008
Notes: Made by David Kolberson. Leather rectangle design with embossed FBI badge and letters FBI SWAT. Velcro backing. Cloth OD rectangle Velcro version have agents name with FBI SWAT and small badge. There are JTTF versions also. Used on jackets and flight suits. Made for FBI SWAT, MST, and JTTF members.
TEXAS DISASTER MEDICAL STRIKE TEAM
Variations: (1) 50 made.
RHS: N/A
Manufactured: 2003
Notes: Made by David Kolberson. Original FBI Medics were trained and served as members of this federal response team.
FBI TEXAS CRISIS NEGOTIATION TRAINING PROGRAM
Variations: (1) 40 made
RHS: N/A
Manufactured: 2003
Notes: Made by David Kolberson. Original color design has initials on back of patch.
FBI EL PASO SWAT TEAM
Variations: (6) One color and five subdued versions.
RHS: 2130 and 2131
Manufactured: Several different runs - see notes. 1999- Present
Notes: One authentic color version and five authentic subdued versions. All original color versions have a red star on top, blue star on bottom. There are significant differences from the authentic versions and reproductions that set them apart. First run was made in 1999 and all have the designer's initials on the back. The second run was made in 2004 and has a sticker on the back. New versions are Velcro backed. Original versions done in full color, Subdued, OD/Black, Black/OD, Light OD/Black and a one time Desert version (20 made). All made by David Kolberson.
FBI SALT LAKE CITY VIOLENT CRIME TASK FORCE
Variations: (1) 40 made.
RHS: N/A
Manufactured: 2002
Notes: Jointly made by David Kolberson and David Flores. Authentic versions have a sticker and both manufacturers' initials on the back.
FBI SWAT OPERATOR PATCH
Variations: (4) Subdued versions- 50 patches made.
RHS: N/A
Manufactured: 2013
Notes: There are four authentic versions. 20 Black on OD Green, 10 OD green on black, 10 Desert and 10 Gray and Black versions. Design matches last team-issued challenge coin. All patches are Velcro backed with initials.
FBI SWAT TEAM FLAG PATCH
Variations: (3) versions- 40 patches made.
RHS: N/A
Manufactured: 2013
Notes: There are three authentic versions. Flag patches have FBI SWAT on the bottom of US flag. 20 OD green/black, 10 Desert and 10 Full color (Color version for Team leaders). All patches are Velcro backed with initials.
