Shields
Heritage Retirement Shield
A custom leather firefighter retirement shield with laser-engraved Western scroll tooling, the rank and name hand painted on the rockers, a gold years-of-service number, and the hire and retirement dates on a ribbon through the center. Comes with a Maltese cross display stand. Free shipping.
Description
The Heritage Retirement Shield is the shield I build for the end of a career. It's a custom leather fire helmet shield with the department in the crown, the rank and name on the rockers, the years of service in the center, and the day they started and the day they retired on a ribbon that runs right through the number. It comes with a Maltese cross display stand, so it's ready to set out the day it's presented.
The one in the photos is for a KCKFD captain who retired after 40 years: KCKFD, CAPTAIN, MAHONEY, 40, July 1st 1986 to June 30th 2026. Every one is made to order with your firefighter's own details.
What You Get
- The Heritage shield shape in two layers of vegetable-tanned leather, machine stitched
- Western scroll tooling laser engraved across the whole front
- Rank and name on rocker windows cut through the front, so the back leather shows behind the hand-painted lettering (red shown)
- Years of service as a big hand-painted center number (gold shown)
- Hire date and retirement date engraved on a ribbon through the center
- Department name engraved in the crown
- 6.25" and built just like a working duty shield, made to be displayed
- Maltese cross display stand included
- Free shipping within the US
The Display Stand
Every Heritage Retirement Shield comes with a Maltese cross stand I print here in the shop. The base is a Maltese cross with a lip across the front. The shield stands on the base and leans back against a backrest hidden behind it, so nothing covers the leather. There's a Maltese cross on the back of the backrest too. The base is about 6.3" across, made for a desk, a shelf, or a mantel.
What to Put on It
- Crown: department initials or a short name (KCKFD, FDNY, Station 7)
- Top rocker: rank at retirement (Captain, Chief, Engineer, Firefighter)
- Bottom rocker: last name
- Center: years of service (20, 25, 30, 40)
- Ribbon: hire date on the left, retirement date on the right
Want something different, like RETIRED on a rocker or the station or shift? Email me at firehelmetshields@gmail.com before you order and I'll tell you what fits.
Order Early for the Walkout
Standard production is about 28 days, plus shipping. If the last shift or the retirement party is coming up fast, rush production is available. Email me with the date and I'll tell you what I can do.
A Retirement Gift From the Crew
Most retirement shields are ordered by a crew, a shift, or the whole department, and presented at the walkout or the retirement party. Ship it to whoever is presenting it. For more retirement ideas see firefighter retirement shields, and for several shields at once see department orders.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Most retirement shields carry the department in the crown, the rank at retirement on the top rocker, the last name on the bottom rocker, the years of service in the center, and the hire date and retirement date on the ribbon. If you'd like something else, like RETIRED on a rocker or the station or shift, email us at firehelmetshields@gmail.com before ordering and we'll tell you what fits.
Yes. Every Heritage Retirement Shield comes with a Maltese cross display stand. The shield stands on the cross-shaped base behind a front lip and leans back against a hidden backrest, so the whole shield shows.
It's made to be displayed and comes ready to set out on its stand, but it's built just like our working duty shields: two layers of vegetable-tanned leather, machine stitched, 6.25" across.
Yes. The shield lifts off the stand and is the same size as a duty shield, so it fits a helmet-shield shadow box or plaque.
Standard production is about 28 days, plus 2-7 days of shipping, so order 5-6 weeks before the walkout or retirement party. If the date is closer than that, rush production is available. Email us with the date.
Yes. Most retirement shields are a gift from the crew or the department. Enter the address of whoever is presenting it at checkout, and put the walkout or party date in the order so we can plan around it.
Yes. The Heritage Retirement Shield ships free within the United States. We package every order carefully so it arrives in perfect condition. Canada is a flat $14.99.
