Anitique photo of the second company of the Infantry of the Argentine Federal Police from the beginning of 20th Century. The police infantry served in the role of riot police during civil manifestations. They worked with the mounted police. In the photo you see a version of the black spike helmet but with a plume instead of the spike made of white horse mane. The shoulder boards or epaulettes are white. The uniforms are dark blue and the closed collar are a slightly lighter blue. They use a grenade as the symbol of the police force which is on the belt buckle. The metal buttons have an image of a rooster which is the symbol of the police in the capital. On the far left is the cornet of the first battalion which consisted of the 1st and 2nd companies. On the far right is the drum that keeps cadence during shift changes. Binnerbini Collection
Gendarmerie Nationale. Gendarmeria Nacional
Gendarme (First Class), Escalafon General (Command), Region 1 (BSAS). When the shoulderboards have a dark red, it is for a Command-Troops. When it is blue it is for an administrator. Yellow is for communications.
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Above right: Uniform model 1938 for Argentine Gendarmerie. It has a visor hat with a region 1 insignia (Buenos Aires), the hat is in sand grey color (the same as the britches) and the hat band olive green. On the rectangular collar patch background, the shoulder board border and the piping are red, a variant of red color was the branch of cavalry between the 30s and 50s, but in Gendarmerie it is the color of 'general escalafon' or 'comando' in a green jacket, and crossed strap. The strap sustains a 1911 holster. The other strap sustains the scabbard. It also has tall boots and a cavalry sabre.
Above: This photo is from 1950 showing a parade celebrating August 17, the Day of San Martin. The group is carrying the Halcon M/943 calibre .45ACP. Photo is from a government publication of the time.
The Argentine Gendarmerie (a kind of national guard) was created in 1938 by decree from the Argentine congress to replace the military unitiies that had, up to that point, protected the country's borders. In order to form the first squadrons, volunteers were solicited from different cavarly ranks. That is the origin of the symbol of the crossed sabres and the historic uniform that bears a cavalry sabre as we see in the photo. In the 1930s the horses in the pampas and the mules in the mountains were found to be a fundamental tactical element for the gendarmerie's patrols, although they were also equipped with vehicles from the military stock. The hierarchy and chevron ranks are the same configuration as the army. Namely, there were NCOs (non-commissioned officers) but the officers adopted the titles Ensign and Commander. Photo from the Binnerbini Collection.
Photo from 1980s of gendarmes which shows various cap types (ridgeway on left, hot weather on right, and green beret lower right).
Argentine Gendarmerie kepi from 1980s in the style of an American Ridgeway Cap in olive green. Binnerbini Collection
Argentine National Gendarmerie circa 1980. Observe the half-moon like patch on the soldiers' left arms. It said "Gendarmeria Nacional" in a white plastic over a green felt. The second version of this patch appeared in the 1990s and included the Argentine flag.
Images from the Gendarmeria Nacional (Museum).
Aeronautical Police
Plastic liner from the Natioanl Aeronautic Police (PAN Policia Aeronautica Nacional). Binnerbini Collection
Provincial Police
Great site: El Gallo Azul. History and images of the Early Argentine Police: http://www.galloazul2007.com/Galeria%20de%20fotos/GALERÍA%201.htm
http://www.galloazul2007.com/correos%20recibidos/CORREOS%20ENERO%202011.htm
Federal Police
Cadets of the Argentine Federal Police with SAFN-49 rifle with FN bayonet (the magazine of the rifle appears to be from an FN FAL 7.62 x 51mm NATO{?}). Binnerbini Collection
Infantry of the Argentine Federal Police with submachine gun FMK-3 (Argentine Industry). Photo from an Argentine police magazine from the 1990s.
A Mounted Police cap (birrete) from the 1970s. It is basically an overseas cap or garrison with visor in blue color. Binnerbini Collection
Eva Peron and Paraguayan President Federico Chavez in 1950.
An police officer in presidential motorcade escort from 1947. Observe the leather helmet.
Presidencial motorcade escort from 1954.
Coast Guard
 Rare visor hat with shield from the Coast Guard (Prefectura). Binnerbini Collection
|  Hot weather visor cap from the Coast Guard. Binnerbini Collection.
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