Here is some brief information about the current issue Texas Ranger badge.

In October of 1962 Colonel Homer Garrison, Director of the Texas Department of Public Safety and Chief of the Texas Rangers, ordered that the Texas Rangers are going back to the tradition steeped Mexican silver badge worn by their predecessors during frontier days.

Each badge is made from a Mexican five Peso silver coin. The oak leaves on the left side represent strength and the olive branch on the right signifies peace. These are taken from the Texas Great Seal. The cutout center star has engraving on it and the center of the star is reserved for the rank of Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, or Senior Captain. The Sergeant and Lieutenant badges are silver in color while the Captain and Senior Captain ranks are gold in color. The edges still have the coin lines and the coin is still highly visible on the reverse of the badge. The five point "Lone Star" with a "wheel" around it is common in Ranger and other Texas badges from the late 1800's.

Ranger badges have been made by several companies based in Texas over the years. Simangs, Halstoms, Nielson-Silva, and Star Engraving to name a few of the better known companies. One contract was awarded many years ago to a company which was not based in the State of Texas. The problems that arose from that contract made the Rangers decide to keep all badge making within the State of Texas.

I have been actively collecting badges since 1978. I have owned over the years several different Ranger badges of various ranks. One of my prize possessions is an early Texas Ranger badge that comes with a old clipped out newspaper article describing the badge and it's history. Based upon all of the above I know what a current issue Ranger badge should look and feel like. I know how it should be made and the marks that are left on the inside of the star after it is cut out of the coin.

Another interesting feature of authentic Ranger badges is that the outer edge of the badge is flat and only the star itself is dapped. Almost all of the fakes are either all flat or all dapped. The process to make the just the star dapped requires an expensive press machine which only legitimate badge companies would own.

Below is a current issue Texas Ranger badge with the correct hallmark. The image is cloudy by ebay design, not mine. I hope this helps you gain some insight to Texas Ranger badges.

Mark