It has gone on for as long as I can remember among collectors clutch back fasteners dating them back to there first use and patent. We will, in the guide and it is fact here no here say or speculation. We will put this issue to rest once and for all to every collector. Most collectors prefer pinbacks to the clutchback for which their is no real valid reason except they believe they are getting a period item especially thru WWII. After which The pinback fell or faded slowly away from the insignia market in a large way. Except for one fact history quells this debate dead in its tracks. Take a piece of paper and write down the date when you belive clutch backs were first made for Military use. fold it in half and forget about it for the next few minutes. It actually took the clutchback a war to come into its on as a fast  less expensive subsitute for a secure way to make insignia fasteners come into their own in large numbers and for the Military to begin using it them in large numbers. And it is still that way  now  for over 60 years. 60 years ?  Yes there are a few exceptions later on but very few. One has only to go back to number one supplier of military insignia in the USA and also other countires as well. The Firm of N.S. Meyer. Their place in history is forever sealed for making  many innovations available for the serviceman wear per regulation of all services.. And the clutchback is forever linked to them as they sought out a patent for this fastener in 1923. And you could order  insignia using there superb jewelery quality fasteners. These were a push pull two part fastener to the clutch for a firm grip Even though the market was decades from formal adoption and these facts are widely over looked and deserve the respect as it nears 100 years of use to so many other items today not just miltary. But it is still where it belongs according to a very innovative military insignia maker where it still resides firmly in place on every uniform of every serviceman. Thank you N.S. Meyer you made a change few could ever imagine would make such a profound foot print in history with such a small idea. No content cannot be copied without permission of author by any means.