I am trying to find out some information about badges and thought that this would be a good spot.
I have narrowed down the field to the following companies. I am looking for quality and workmanship, something that is going to hold up for a long time. I have the following under consideration.
Ed Jones Company
Smith and Warren Company
CW Nielson Company
Sun Badge Company
Entenmann - Rovin Company
Does anyone have any experience with the above badge makers. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

I've had experience with Ed Jones, Entenmann-Rovin, and Sun Badge. These three companies are of the highest quality and reputation.

I sell Smith & Warren badges. Excellent quality.
What type of badge are you looking for?

Stu

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NRA Benefactor/Cert Instructor

Thank you for that reply. From several searches and your input, I am leaning toward those companies.

We are setting up several security companies and we need good quality badges.

Sun does the LAPD badges, Federal Badges, and some other badges that are considered by many to be "higher-end".

Entenmann-Rovin makes very nice stuff, but in my experience, their prices are equally high...

I hadn't even heard of Ed Jones, but looked them up real quick. They have some interesting/different designs, depending on what your looking for, that you may not get many other places (those carved two-tone designs are unique from that company).

If I had to pick my favorite companies off your list, it would be Smith-Warren and Nielson. (Smith-Warren makes the NYPD badges.) They make really good stuff for the money you're paying. If I absolutely had to pick one or the other, it would be Nielson.

To me, for the quality range your in, the biggest choice-point would be which company had the particular design you like the best. There are many designs that cross-over from one company to another, but even then, little details are often different. That is what would guide me. It would help if we knew what you were looking for in particular. (Star - how many points, Shield, etc.?)

Here is my dads Ed Jones Badge which he special ordered in the 40's Solid Sterling Silver with hand cut solid gold numbers he carried it until 1976 when he retired and the chief issued the number to me. He was knocked off his M/C a few times in 22years on the Harleys. I wore it from 76 to 86 when I retired My original # was 137.





Here is the issue badge also Ed Jones Sterling Silver

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20 years Mil, 18 yrs Sac P.D.

Entenmann-Rovin is good IMO. Recently sent a very used one back for clasp pin repair, which wasn't ER's fault but was covered under warranty. Badge came back repaired and looking new.
No experience or cost comparison with the others mentioned.

Entenmann Rovin always did a good job for me, including a new agency start-up in 1982 and a complete police department overhaul in 1988. Excellent quality and delivery when promised.

I had to order a new one for work and used V.H. Blackington, had the first one for 10 years with no problems. Good quality, good coloration. Had to order the new one because of a title change, took about 3 weeks,

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Stan

We used Blackington's for years and they stood by their lifetime warranty. My regular uniform badge and my jacket badge got pretty worn and scratched after 8 or 9 years so I sent them back to Blackington. They refirbished and polished polished them up at no charge. They came back looking brand new.

With the election of our new sheriff, he naturally wanted to change badge designs. He went with a Smith & Warren badge and I am unimpressed with the looks and quality. I sent pictures of our new badge off to Blackington and they can make the same design, but they are about 20% more expensive . . . which explains why the sheriff must have decided to go with Smith & Warren.

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My new one cost about $120.00, it couls have been cheaper but I got the colored state seal I will take a pictue of both asap.

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Stan

I am a badge collector and I don't believe that you could go wrong with any of the badges made by companies on your list. My PD always issued badges made by Blackinton. I have several because of promotions, in my 35 years of service. No problems with any of them, and the one in my wallet now has been there for at least 20 years and it still looks like new!
John Murphy Detective Retired

I have wondered when a new chief or sheriff takes office why do they change shoulder patch and badge designs?

The police department I retired from did a complete badge replacement and redesign as a result of a community name change. It was an identity thing as result of several communities in Ohio having the same name, one less than 30 miles away.
I have had very good experiences with Sun Badge. Very good quality and easy folks to work with. They also have an in-house leather badge case facility that makes cases that fit the badges perfectly and they wear well.
I dealt with the wife of the owner and was treated very well, but it was a fairly large order of about 200+ badges.
We had Blackington Badges prior to the change and I think the Sun Badges are nicer, jewelry quality, but very durable.
gaf

In 16 years with the department I have been through three sheriff administrations. All three changed uniforms, patches, badges, and patrol car markings within the first few months of taking office. Big waste of money if you ask me.

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I am really glad that I started this thread. I have learned very much reading the replies.

armsmaster270 - That is a very interesting reply. The fact that Ed Jones used silver is really interesting. It must have been really durable.

I have it down to 3 companies, and they all sound as if they make excellent products.

In my career I was employed by six different agencies. Each agency issued the badge. In 1962 the badge and ID were issued and the officer bought everything else. Starting in 1964 the uniforms were issued. Starting in 1976 everything was issued. Some of the smaller agencies required the officer to purchase the weapon.
I never realize that the badge was expensive. My first Training Officer stated that the badge was just a formed piece of metal that good people respected and bad people feared.

Blackington and Smith & Warren are the only ones I've had. It really depends what design you want as each manufacturer has it's own. My current badge for a state agency is the outline of the state, and it's only produced by Blackington.

Bad news -- THEY don't fear it anymore

In fact - When some idiot goes to jail it's the guy with the badge's fault.

Y'all really should be more careful - Getting these poor misguided folks in trouble when they are just about to turn their lives around.

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In dog years I'm dead.

I have an old Blackinton that I've had for about thirty years. Carried it daily in my offside hip pocket (sat on it, sweated, etc) for more than twenty years. It's worn out several badge wallets, & still looks new, even the intricate state seal, & colors. Pretty good service life, I'd say!

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I had to order fresh Duty Master At Arms badges for the Chief MAA to issue. Our old badges were looking pretty bad. I chose Blackington and I thought they were very professional to deal with and the quality of the badges was very good. It's not like I spent a career around badges though, but they were about as far from low quality as my eye could tell. There was nothing stamped potmetal quality about them and they held up well to the sea air environment in shich they were worn. They were still using them when I transfered.

Blackington seem to be very good. I've had mine for 5 years, and it was used when I got it and it looks great yet.

Here is a better shot of the badge my bad bought in the 40's rumor is that he bought it for 40 bucks.

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20 years Mil, 18 yrs Sac P.D.