Frontier Battalion Ranger Equipment and Clothing

The Texas Ranger dress was typical of what you would see a cowboy or rancher of the period wearing. The large brim hat, the high top boots, usually a white shirt which had no pockets, vests of different colors which had pockets on the front.

His bandanna was worn around his neck and was used as a utility cloth as well up over his mouth and nose to filter the dust and such. If he carried a pocket watch it was usually worn on a length of chain attached to his vest and carried in his vest pocket. His spurs if he wore any were usually of the Mexican influence with large rowels and some Rangers preferred the smaller rowel. You will see Rangers wearing braces or suspenders to help keep up their pants. Wearing a pistol with holster, belt, knife, and extra ammunition had weight to them and to this end the suspenders helped keep their pants at waist level.

The weapons carried by the Ranger were usually a Winchester 73 .44 rifle and a Colt Single Action Revolver. They would carry 7 1/2, 5 1/2, or 4 3/4 inch barreled pistols….their choice but usually they carried the 5 1/2 or the 4 3/4 pistols. Many of the Rangers carried a rifle and pistol that shot the very same cal. ammunition so they did not have to carry two different calibers. The pistol was worn high on the waist usually a cross draw and not tied down at the knee level as seen in the movies. The Model 73 rifle was usually of the carbine type that was easier to carry on horseback and was it quicker to pull from its leather holster strapped on their side of his horse. Other Winchester rifles that were popular and used by the Rangers were the Winchester Model 92, Model 94, and Model 95. They all were very reliable. At the turn of the century the Winchester Model 95 became popular and it used a 30-40 or 30-06 cartridge.

In the earlier years the Ranger would rely on a large knife for defense also. However with the technical advancement of the rifle and side arm the knife became more of a utility tool. Photographs of Battalion Rangers will often depict the Ranger wearing a knife on his side.

Rangers were required to furnish their own pistol, rifle, and horse. If the horse died or was killed while in service of the Rangers the state would replace the horse at a comparable cost of the horse lost. The saddle was of the high back and slick pommel design and were well made as they were used daily and were used in all types of weather. The different styles are featured below in photographs. Saddlebags were carried by the Rangers on horseback to carry personal items and additional ammunition. Larger items were carried either on a pack mule such as old “Monk” pictured below or in a field chuck wagon.

When the Frontier Battalion and Special Force were formed in 1874, it was difficult for Texas Rangers to establish their authority. The State of Texas Adjutant General’s Office began issuing Warrants of Authority — impressive paper documents kept folded in their pockets — to officers but not to enlisted men. This practice continued, in one form or another, until 1935 when badges and credentials were specified for all Texas Rangers.

The first Texas Ranger badges were made for individual Rangers from Mexican coins at their request. Some were probably made by jewelers, others may have been made by gunsmiths or metalworkers. The legend of Rangers cutting them out These first badges were used as a means of identifying Rangers in the midst of feuds and disputes that might involve several law enforcement agencies, or where hired guns were introduced. Photographs taken in the 1870s through the 1920s show that there was a great variety of badges and that comparatively few Rangers wore badges. The main identification of the Battalion Texas Ranger was his “Descriptive List.” The state did not issue badges and his Descriptive List was his identification as a Texas Ranger. An example of Ranger Bass Outlaw’s Descriptive List is shown below.

Before the Frontier Battalion (1836-47) two prominent revolvers came upon the scene. The 1836 Texas Patterson Colt and the 1847 Colt Dragoon. The Patterson was the first revolver the Rangers used.

A Colt Paterson is a revolver. It was the first commercial repeating firearm employing a revolving cylinder with multiple chambers aligned with a single, stationary barrel. Its design was patented by Samuel Colt on February 25, 1836, in the United States, France, and England, and it derived its name from being produced in Paterson, New Jersey. Initially this 5-shot revolver was produced in .28 caliber, with a .36 caliber model following a year later. As originally designed and produced, no loading lever was included with the revolver; a user had to disassemble the revolver partially to re-load it. Starting in 1839, however, a reloading lever and a capping window was incorporated into the design, allowing reloading without requiring partial disassembly of the revolver. This loading lever and capping window design change was also incorporated after the fact into most Colt Paterson revolvers that had been produced from 1836 until 1839.¹ Unlike later revolvers, a folding trigger was incorporated into the Colt Paterson. The trigger only became visible upon cocking the hammer.

A subsequent patent renewal in 1849, and aggressive litigation against infringements, gave Colt a domestic monopoly on revolver development until the middle 1850s.

Texas Patterson Colt 1836 complete set

Texas Patterson Colt 1836 with ivory grips

Texas Patterson Colt 1836 with ivory grips

Paterson Colt conversion

Famous Walker Colt in .44 Cal. 1847

Frontier Battalion dress showing Texas Ranger Schmidt of Co. “D” Realitos, Texas 1887 and Co “D” Rangers in 1890’S stationed at Shafter, Texas.

Typical hats worn by a battalion Ranger

Rifles typically used by the Rangers

Pistols typically used by the Rangers

Variety of Colt Cap and Ball Pistols

Were the Rangers this fast with their
Colt Single Actions????….Don’t try this at
home or any where else!!!!!!

Typical pistol holsters and ammunition belts worn by the Rangers

Typical knives carried by early Rangers and Battalion

Typical chaps and legins worn by the Rangers .. Battalion and the early 1900’S

Tower Leg Irons and Handcuffs used during 1870’S through early 1900’s

typical high top boots worn by the Rangers

Typical spurs worn by the Rangers

Typical saddles and saddle bags used by the Texas Rangers Battalion

Typical Ranger horses and pack mule named “Monk”

Oath of Office and Descriptive List of Ranger Bass Outlaw.

During the Frontier Battalion period of time and prior to that the
Texas Rangers did not wear a state issued badge.

They were issued and carried their “Descriptive List” which was
the Rangers authority to perform his duties as a law enforcement officer for the State of Texas.

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Standard Issue Field Equipment For Today’s Rangers

Transport

In addition to their issued vehicles, Texas Rangers have access to Texas Department of Public Safety helicopters, airplanes, armored personnel carriers — and horses.
Motorola X900 Radio with siren
Red Light
Battery Cable
State-issued Sedan or 4-Wheel Drive

**

Sony Digital Camera
Motorola Saber III Portable Radio
Marantz PM0201 Tape Recorder
Sony Micro cassette Recorder
Cellular Phone & Charger
Video Camera
Copier
Dell Notebook Computer
Cameras, Optics & Illumination Canon F1 Camera
Camera Tripod
Bushnell Binoculars
Flashlight
Mela Beam Hand Spotlight

Firearms & Defensive Gear

Rangers are permitted to carry any sidearms they chose as long as they can qualify on a regular basis. Most favor the department issue .357 cal. Sig Sauer P226, or .45 cal. Colt Automatics.
Ruger Mini-14 Automatic Rifle
Remington 12 Ga. Shotgun
Gas Mask
Body Armor
ASP Baton
Kevlar Helmet

Restraints

Smith & Wesson Handcuffs
Leg Irons
Transport Belt
Belt Rig with Buckle

Kits & Tools

First Aid Kit
Tool Box
Evidence Kit
Webb Gear
Bolt Cutters
Fingerprint Kit

Clothing

Clothing is by personal discretion,
with Western-style preferred – white hats, western-style buckles and boots
are a tradition. Raid Jacket
Coveralls
Parka Jacket
BDUs (Fatigues)

Other

Service Badge, I.D. & Funds Gold badge for Captains
Silver badge for Lieutenants and Sergeants Department Credit Cards

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