Sheriff Badge

Description of the Product

The term Sheriff is a contraction of "shire reeve". Originally in Anglo-Saxon England the reeve was a senior official with local responsibilities under the Crown. After the Norman conquest, it was an office held by a man of lower rank, appointed as manager of a manor and overseer of the peasants, i.e. the person responsible for imparting justice in a county or a shire. Currently the term is still in use in several Anglo-Saxon countries, or countries with colonial ties to Great Britain.

The first English settlers brought the office of the Sheriff to the American continent. As the colonies grew the presence of law enforcement became more and more necessary. To distinguish who had the authority of the law behind them, a badge on the chest was used, as an easily recognizable symbol of rank and authority.

At first most badges were oval or shield shaped. Later a 5 pointed star, a symbol associated with the flag of the United States, was widely adopted. Since then, the sheriff's badge has evolved to include 5, 6 or 7-pointed stars.
Today, most sheriffs use a star shape badge, while police officers use a shield or an oval badge. Federal agencies often use plaques with an eagle on the shield.

Texas Rangers Badge

Texas Rangers were founded in 1823, and formally constituted in 1835 after the Texas revolution, when Texas declared its independence from Mexico. At first the militia protected the settlers from cattle and horse robberies, fought against the Comanche and other Native American tribes, and later patrolled the Mexican border. The Rangers were disbanded on many occasions, depending on whether Texas was part of Mexico, Texas was a sovereign state or when Texas was annexed to the United States. The Civil War naturally continued the dissolve/recommission tug-of-war. The breakdown of law and order, coupled with the lack of federal military forces, meant the Rangers were often called upon to restore and maintain law and order, by any necessary means, which often led to excesses. The Rangers became legendary.

The characteristic weapon of the Ranger was the six-shot revolver. They also used rifles, bows and curved knives, and trained in tracking and fighting.
After the Civil War the number of Rangers grew and they played an important role in the frontier wars of the 1870’s, fighting the Native Americans, Mexican outlaws, as well as homegrown bandits.

A Ranger's pay was so meager that the money required for a fancy badge was rarely available. The first badges were locally made and varied considerably, but they invariably represented a Lone Star cut from a Mexican five-peso silver coin.
Nowadays the Rangers serve as a support force in emergency situations under the control of the local police or sheriffs.

US Marshall Badge

The United States Marshals Service (USMS) is an agency that is part of the Justice Department. They are responsible for the protection of court officials, judicial buildings and the effective functioning of the US judicial system. The service also helps with the transport of prisoners, serves arrest warrants and seeks fugitives.

The US Marshals Service is the oldest federal agency and its origin dates back to a law issued by George Washington on September 24, 1789. Two years later, the first 16 agents were chosen for each one of the judicial districts of the young nation. Over the years the agents have been in charge of running the federal courts properly: from ensuring the presence of witnesses, to executing orders for death sentences.

The US Marshals Service has been involved in most of the major historical episodes in US history. Before the American Civil War (1861-1865) they had the function of catching fugitive slaves and returning them to their owners. During the civil war they confiscated properties used as support for the cause of the Confederate States. In the following years they played an important role in the expansion of the American West.

Among the representative names of the time is Wyatt Earp (March 19, 1848 - January 13, 1929), a very famous marshal in the American West. He was incorruptible, and known for his extreme harshness in dealing with those who broke the law. In Tombstone, Arizona, he was one of the protagonists of the shooting at the O.K. Corral, along with Doc Holliday, Virgil Earp, and Morgan Earp. He is part of the legendary figures of the American West and has inspired numerous westerns.

• Made of cast metal, brass finish
• Perfect for historical re-enactment, on a theater stage, in film productions, for collectors of historical memorabilia, and as decoration
• Manufacturer: Denix, Spain