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Texas Rangers and their Badges 
 Notes by Verne R. Walrafen November 2000 − Updated: July 13, 2002
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 Link:Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum -- Waco, Texas What would you expect to purchase if you responded to either of the following two advertisements?
If your answer was "An original genuine Texas Ranger Badge" then all I can say is "Welcome to the club!" If you gave any other answer then you most likely have more experience than I did and you don't need to read any further. First off you should know that I am not a ___Badge Collector___. My interest in this area came about because I am interested in Mexican Numismatics and some Texas Ranger badges were made from Mexican coins. Before I responded to either of the above two advertisements I should have read Historic Badges of the Texas Rangers. The badge shown in this WebPage's header seems to be one of the recently made (genuine) Texas Ranger badges (see information below in first box). It carries the hallmark CHAS A. SIMMANS and is made from a 1947 or 1948 (probably 1948 as there were many more of that date) 5 Peso coin. These coins have a beautiful bust of the Aztec chieftain Cuauhtemoc. If this had been the badge I purchased I would have been pleased. There are older badges made from older Mexican Coins but they are certainly priced beyond my casual interest. What I did not know then, that I know now, is that there are uncountable reproduction badges "circulating" in the general public's hands. One of these reproduction badges is what you WILL end up with in virtually ALL cases if you do not purchase badges from an honest and knowlegeable dealer. These are not like coins. There are no nationwide laws about creating or owning reproduction badges. You will not find "COPY" stamped on reproduction badges...no hobby protection acts to be found here! There are local laws about specific badges but even the citizens of those jurisdictions seem generally unaware that they are breaking any law by owning or selling certain badges.
Well, that is all I have to tell you at the moment. For further information you might visit some of the WebSites whose links I have provided below. If you would like to discuss this further please contact me, Verne R. Walrafen, at Verne R. Walrafen |
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 The Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum This website has an extensive number of SUPER pages. Texas Ranger Hall of Fame & Museum (City of Waco)  Texas Ranger Hall of Fame & Museum / Fort Fisher Return to top | |||
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Silver Stars and Sixguns: the Texas Rangers Historic Badges of the Texas Rangers Lone on the Range They Rode for the Lone Star The Texas Rangers The Twilight of the Texas Rangers Robert Draper Feb94 This article is the best summary of the recent (up to 1994) history of the Texas Rangers that I have read so far. Texas Lawmen of Lore: Interview with Mike Cox Jesse Sublett Return to top | |||
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 Bob's Badges (generally under $65) #39 State Ranger, Texas 1890's Price: $64 Star in center is brass. #221 Texas Ranger 1900's Price: $69 Sun Badge Co. L.A. County on back. Copy of badge produced for use in the movie "Lone Ranger". #240 Texas Ranger 1900's Price: $59 #273 Texas Rangers* 1930-1940 Price: $59 *Frontier Batallion, Company D. Reeded edge w/Peso back. San Antonio Area. #43 Texas Rangers, Round 1935 Price: $59 Mexican Peso, Eagle, and Snake. Same design is used today. Adopted state-wide in 1962. #6 Texas Ranger 1940's Price: $59 Eagle and snake on back, as struck from Mexican Peso. #54 Texas Rangers, Co. A 1940's Price: $59 Mexican Peso with reeded edge. Also used today. Our Reproductions "About 10 years ago, a friend of mine who is also a large badge collector asked me if I could copy a badge from his collection. He stated that a friend wanted a copy for his collection. Within a short time, I had reproduced the badge which is now pictured as Badge #1. This started us on making fine reproduction badges for the collectors of Western memorabilia. We have never intended these badges to be offered as originals, or given approval for anyone to do so. We believe everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy old style Badges Of The Past at an affordable price. This is our sole purpose." - Bob's Badges Construction And Options "Each Badge is custom cast from an old original using bronze or brass, and plated with Nickel or Silver as most of the old originals were. We are proud to offer these fine Badges Of The Past, done by a professional Father & Sons Team who excel in custom casting of Gold, Silver, and Bronze. Texas Ranger Badges #6, 43, & 54 were originally struck from the Mexican Peso. These badges are such authentic copies that the Mexican wording and the Eagle & Snake are present on the reverse of the badge. These three badges are Sterling Silver Plated, and all the badges in our Catalog are equally as exact. Most can be cast in Solid Sterling Silver for $25 to $40 extra per badge." - Bob's Badges | ||||
 Old West Law Badges (generally under $30) |
"Old West Law Badges offers a variety of authentic, replica badges of the old west. These badges are quality made and have the look and feel of the old west." - Old West Law Badges OLD WEST LAW BADGES ARE STRUCK FROM HEAVY GAUGE COPPER SILVER PLATED WITH ANTIQUE FINISHING MADE IN THE USA. | |||
 Lawman Badges (generally under $20) "These badges are reproductions of original badges used throughout the early west. They are cast in pewter and make a great addition to any western collection." - Lawman Badges Return to top | ||||
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Jeweler Troubled by Republic of Texas order 12/25/96 From: Alumline@aol.com, 27 Dec 1996, 21:26:49 "Republic of Texas Ranger" Badges, original, numbered pieces created in Sterling Silver for the new "Republic of Texas Defense Forces". Featured on the front page of the Austin American Statesman December 24, 1996 and Dallas, San Antonio, Houston, etc. on December 25, 1996. Donated items soon available for viewing at the Texas Ranger Museum in Waco, Texas and the Alamo Museum in San Antonio, Texas. From: "Byron Johnson" bjohnson@eramp.net Subject: Republic of Texas Ranger Badges Date: Fri, 16 Jan 98 22:39:00 PST The badges were made, but never delivered, to the Republic of Texas militia group. The artist declined to deliver them once he found out what the group really was and what shenanigans they were involved in. He wound up selling many of them to law enforcement officers who wanted them as souvenirs. The artist generously made a gift of one of them to us and we have placed it in our case of "fake" and "fantasy" badges. His intention was not to replicate a real Texas Ranger badge for purposes of deception or misrepresentation. He withdrew the delivery to avoid having the militia members represent themselves as "(Republic of) Texas Rangers". We neither recommend their purchase nor make any representation as to their value or collectibility. The artist does have a respectable sense of honor as he refused to deliver them to the group and risked a substantial loss on the production. We do not have an e-mail address; last we heard they moved from Austin here to Waco. You might check directory assistance for the Waco area. Byron A. Johnson, Director Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum Official State Hall of Fame and Museum for the Texas Rangers P.O. Box 2570, Waco, Texas 76702-2570 ------------------------------ "...Unless a people are educated and enlightened it is idle to expect the continuance of civil liberty or the capacity for self-government." Texas Declaration of Independence, March 2, 1836 ------------------------------ Return to top | ||
 Back to: WalraFen Website Coming to you from Verne R. Walrafen at GMMnut BS'63-CivilEngineering MS'76-ComputerScience ANA-LM553 NI-LM7 MEPSI-LM1154 SNdeM-C246 USMexNA-4 | |||||||||||||||
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