Old West Ranger Badges

Texas Ranger Co. A

All badges have a heavy pin closure on the back

Texas Rangers
Company A Peso Badge

The Texas Rangers were often called cruel – but they were formed in cruel times and they had to police a cruel frontier.

Often incredibly outnumbered – companies of Rangers were victorious against Comanche warriors, Mexican Armies, rustlers, horse thieves, and assorted other bandits — including Bonnie and Clyde.

Old West Texas Ranger

Legendary Ranger Exploits

Captain Jack Hays and his company took on most of the Mexican Army to break the trap holding General Winfield Scott’s Army in Central Mexico. The year was 1847 and Scott had sent word to President Polk that it would take 50,000 troops to break the army free. But all he needed and all he got was Captain Hays and about 40 Rangers.

This old west ranger badges of Co. A from the early 20th century was actually pressed out of a silver Peso from Mexico. Badge is stamped on both sides – notice the Peso imprint on the back.

Territorial Rangers Badge

Territorial Rangers

The Arizona Territorial Rangers were first formed in April 1860. The first Headquarters was in Pinos Altos. When Arizona joined the Confederacy, the men that formed the Arizona Rangers joined the Confederate Army, disbanding the Rangers.

The Arizona Rangers were created by the Arizona Territorial Legislature in 1901, disbanded in 1909, and then reformed in 1957. They were created to deal with outlaws in the Territory of Arizona, especially along the Mexican border.

The rangers were an elite, well-trained, and secretive agency mounted on quality horses.  They were well equipped with modern weapons at the state’s expense. The rangers were very effective in arresting members of outlaw bands.

Texas Rangers Company D Badge

Texas Rangers
Company D – Frontier Battalion

Few will argue that the most violent Texan from the Old West was John Wesley Hardin. After killing Sheriff Charley Webb in 1874 Wes Hardin was on the run, until on August 23, 1877, Frontier Battalion Lieutenant, John Armstrong, caught up with him in Pensacola, Florida.

Ranger Armstrong with drawn Colt boarded the train and entered the car in which Wes Hardin and four companions were sitting. Upon seeing the Ranger with his drawn six-shooter and big-brimmed western hat, Hardin, is reported to have yelled, “Texas by God!” which prompted the outlaws to go for their pistols. When the smoke cleared, one of Hardin’s companions was dead, Wes was out cold from a blow to the head, and Armstrong was glaring at the other three with his smoking six gun.

Special Ranger

Special Ranger
Texas and Southwest Cattle Raisers Association

On February 15, 1877, in Graham, Texas, the Texas and Southwest Cattle Raisers Association was formed.

The original name was the Stock-Raisers’ Association of North-West Texas, and Cattlemen in Oklahoma, New Mexico, and the Indian Territory were invited to join.

This badge came about when the Association decided to take matters into their own hands and track down outlaws and protect themselves and their herds from the rampant rustling of the day.

California Ranger

On May 11, 1853, California Governor John Bigler signed a legislative act authorizing the organization of a band of California Rangers under the command of Captain Harry Love. Their purpose? To capture or kill the infamous bandito Joaquin Murieta, ringleader of a gang of men believed to be responsible for much of the cattle rustling, robberies, and murders taking place in the Mother Lode region.

In July of 1853, the Rangers came across the group of bandits near Arroyo Cantúa in San Benito County. After a confrontation, two of the bandito’s were killed by the Rangers. The Rangers cut off the hand of one and the head of the other. The Rangers claimed that the head belonged to the infamous Joaquin Murieta!

SHOP ALL BADGES

Thank-you for shopping the last best west ~ Complete Product Index