The first badge of the Bureau of Investigation was issued shortly after the organization was established in 1908. In 1915, there were 219 agents who carried this badge as their only weapon against federal criminals, for they had not been authorized to carry firearms. Associated with this badge were the circular emblem of the "American Protective League, Auxillary of the Department of Justice" and the similar badge of the "American Protective League".

Shortly after Mr. Hoover was named director of the Bureau in 1924, the decision was made to adopt a new pattern for the special agent badge. many designs were considered, and the pattern of the miniature shield crested by an eagle was the final selection. These badges were first issued in May, 1927, and were carried by the agent who died at the Kansas City Massacre and those who later cracked the infamous Lindbergh Kidnap case.

In 1933, the Bureau's title was changed to the Division of Investigation. That same year, a conference of Special Agents in Charge was held in Washington, and they voted unanimously to retain the same style of badge but to increase its size and have it cast with a slight curvature. The badges modeled in this fashion were first issued in April, 1934, but they were in use for less than two years.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation was officially designated in 1935, and in July of that year, Special Agents throughout the Bureau exchanged their badges for the new issue. The original FBI badges were numbered from 1 to 1,000. Many of these original badges are still in use today.