Pinkerton badges?

[Ray Earle]

Esteemed gentlemen, and ladies,

I'm in the process of converting some figures to use as Pinkertons and I was wondering if anyone knew if they used badges? Something along the lines of a lawmans tin star.

If so, what did they look like?

Thanks folks. 

[bulldogger2000]

Just google Old West Pinkerton badges and you will find photos of badges used.  They are not the "Star" type but a "Shield" design.

[Ray Earle]

Thanks.

Should have thought of that first.

[Bugsda]

Ace idea Ray, I'll be nicking that if you don't mind 

[bandit86]

2 seconds on google

http://www.oldwestbadges.com/item/125_pinkerton_detective_agency_badge

[HerbyF]

Pinkertons seldom if ever displayed their badges. Prefering to work 'undercover', no matter how upfront & confrontational they were.

[Cory]

HerbyF's right the badges were rare in the west, usually being broken out for strike breaking and not something a Pinkerton detective would routinely carry ouitside of the large cities.  Still a LotOW Pinkerton posse is about exactly when those badges would appear - when there were several Pinkertons on the scene.

[Ray Earle]

Ace idea Ray, I'll be nicking that if you don't mind 

Nick away mate. 

Thanks Cory, HerbyF that's more of the information I was after. I assume if a lone Pinkerton was to break out a badge he was in more danger of being lynched rather than helped.

[pinny]

I see they also had hat badges, i wonder how often they would have been worn? The hat badges do look kinda cool

[HerbyF]

The hat badges would have been worn when there were acting as the police or enforcers for a company or other entity. Some where they were in force, a railroad or mining camp. Where a group of them wanted to impress or intimidate by their pressence & numbers. Some where they felt they were established or in control already.