User blog:LB&SCR/Unknown Tales of Private Investigations: Pinkerton National Detective Agency vs. Baldwin-Felts Detective Agency



When the regular lawkeepers come up against so much red tape that they can't continue without causing a stupid national or international incident or two, the Private Detective and Security Agencies were born, and cause they didn't really have to adhear by the same rules, they could easily go into another country to hunt someone down when the normal law couldn't. Today we have two of the most famous examples of Private Detective and Security companies ready to face off. In one corner, we have the Pinkerton National Detective Agency, the 'original' US Secret Service until the official Secret Service was founded in 1865. In the other corner we have the Baldwin-Felts Detective Agency, an agency who started off as guards on trains, mine payrolls, and investigators of robberies on the aformentioned objects. When the rounds are let loose and the bullets finish flying, which group of Detectives will emerge as the victor!?

Pinkerton National Detective Agency


"In my service you will serve your country better than on the field."

- Allan Pinkerton

The Pinkerton National Detective Agency was founded in 1850 by Allan Pinkerton after consultations with six midwestern railroads, and opened the first office in Chicago. It's first few years were rather uneventful, until Pinkerton and his agency supposedly 'foiled' a plot to kill Abe Lincoln, which led to them being hired as the first Presidently Bodyguards. The first big case was when they were hired to infiltrate the 'Molly MacGuires,' a labor organization of mostly Irish Coal Miners, which led to it's downfall years later.

Things were great for the Pinkertons. By the 1890's, there were so many armed Pinkerton Detectives, that they outnumbered the US Army at the time (which led the Agency to be banned from Ohio). Pinkertons had a generally good name, having chased outlaws such as the James Gang, the Reno Gang, and Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch. In 1892, their name was slandered when they were hired to break the Homestead Strike, which resulted in gunfire, killing several steelworkers and Pinkerton Agents. Their were then several other bad cases of Pinkertons opening fire on strikers.

Baldwin-Felts Detective Agency


"Send troops to the County of Carroll at once. Mob violence, the court. Commonwealth's Attorney, Sheriff, some jurors and others shot on the conviction of Floyd Allen for a felony. Sheriff and Commonwealth's Attorney dead, court serious. Look after this now."

- A telegram to the Baldwin-Felts Agency

The Baldwin-Felts Detective Agency was founded in the early 1890's by William Baldwin as the Baldwin Detective Agency. It was originally in the Virginia area, created to supervise security in the Norfolk & Western Railroads coalfield districts. In 1910, Baldwin was joined by lawyer Thomas Felts, who had his named added in that year to the company name.

Originally just guarding trains and mine payrolls, and then turned to detective work. They became known for crime busting after they tracked down the Allen family, who had been involved in a fire fight that had left several dead and wounded at the Carroll County Courthouse. After the decline of train banditry, they turned to other fields. One was strike-busting, where they were known to take part in the Paint Creek-Cabin Creek strike that left 50+ dead, and also the Ludlow Massacre which left 25 miners dead and 4 Baldwin-Felts agents dead. It was these events that left the people of the Labor Unions to regard the Detectives as nothing better than armed thugs.

Weapons of the Pinkertons
These are the weapons that the Pinkerton Agents will be using in the ensuing Firefight.

Melee: Clip Point Knife (a general group of knives including the Bowie and other similiary designed knives).
 * Overall Length: 20 inches
 * Blade Length: 12 inches
 * Weight: between 1 lb 4 oz. and 2 lbs

Primary Sidearm: Colt Model 1851 Navy Revolver
 * Overall Length: 13 inches
 * Weight: 2.6 lbs
 * Action: Single-Action Revolver
 * Cartridge: .38 Rimfire
 * Feed system: 6-round cylinder

Primary Rifle: Henry Repeating Rifle
 * Overall Length: 44.75 inches
 * Barrel Length: 24 inches
 * Weight: 9 lbs 4 oz.
 * Cartridge: .44 Henry Rimfire
 * Action: Breech-loading Lever-Action
 * Feed system: 16 round Tubular Magazine

Secondary Rifle: Spencer Rifle
 * Overall Length: 47 inches
 * Barrel Length: 30 inches
 * Weight: 10 lbs
 * Cartridge: .56-56 Spencer
 * Action: Manually cocked, lever-action
 * Feed system: 7 round Tubular Magazine

Shotgun: Coach Gun
 * Overall Length: 39 inches
 * Barrel(s) Length: 18 inches
 * Caliber: 10 Gauge
 * Action: Break Action
 * Feed system: 2 rounds, one per barrel

Weapons of the Baldwin-Felts
These are the weapons that the Baldwin-Felts Detectives will be packing for heat.

Melee: Maxam Knife
 * Overall Length: 16.5 inches
 * Weight: 2 lbs

Primary Sidearm: Smith & Wesson Model 3
 * Overall Length: 12 inches
 * Barrel Length: 6.5 inches
 * Weight: 2.9 lbs
 * Cartridge: .44 Smith & Wesson American
 * Action: Single-Action Revolver
 * Feed system: 6 round cylinder

Primary Rifle: Winchester Model 1886
 * Overall Length: 44.5 inches
 * Barrel Length: 26 inches
 * Weight: 9 lbs
 * Cartridge: .45-70
 * Action: Lever Action
 * Feed System: 9-round tube magazine

Secondary Rifle: Sharps Rifle
 * Overall Length: 47 inches
 * Weight: 9.5 lbs
 * Cartridge: .45-70
 * Action: Falling Block

Shotgun: Colt Model 1878
 * Barrel Length: 28 inches
 * Gauge: 10