By Police1 Staff
CLARENDON, Texas — An artist repurposes old items to create something useful and meaningful for the Texas Rangers.
One of Kevin Johnson’s favorite projects is spending up to 14 hours a day crafting custom badges for the Texas Rangers from old Mexican coins, NBC DFW reported.
“Now, for every one of these badges I do I have to have authorization from the chief of the Texas Rangers himself. And I receive a letter to say that I can do each one,” Johnson said.
He takes the coins and cuts a minimum of 72 characters into the metal to make a badge.
“To me it’s very important to be historically correct with what it’s supposed to look like,” Johnson told the news station. “It’s not only important to me, it’s important to the guy that’s getting their badge because they wear it every day and it shows their authority.”
Besides badges, Johnson has hand-crafted everything from rings to weapons for the Texas Rangers.
He is currently working on a sterling silver mounted pistol that has around 8,000 cuts in its design.
“Five Rangers have used it over time and carried it. About the only one like it in the world,” he said.
Johnson was recognized by the Rangers for his craftsmanship when the Former Texas Rangers Foundation Association made him an honorary captain.
“When they called me up there to get that certificate and a badge, you know, I felt the blood leave my face,” he said.
Johnson said he’s happy to do it and honor a nearly 200-year-old tradition.