In the text of Reglamento para el servicio de la Policía Rural (Mexico, Imprenta del Gobierno 1880) there are mentioned following ranks of Policía Rural: Inspector general de Policía Rural, Oficial primero, Oficial segundo, Commandante, Jefe del Detall, Pagador, Cabo primero, Cabo segundo, Sargento and Guarda. But Reglamento provides rank insignia only for ranks from Commandante to Sargento:
Commandante - 4 rows of silver lace 10mm wide, spaced 2mm apart on the jacket sleeves
Jefe del Detall - 3 rows
Pagador - 2 row
Cabo primero - 2 row
Cabo segundo - 1 row
Sargento - 1 "espiguilla"
I recently found a photo of rural policeman´s jacket from about 1890 ( https://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/more- ... f_1019796/ ), which bears traces of seven rows of lace (embroidery correspond to that of mexican army generals).
Thus, my theory about rank insignia of Rurales is following:
Inspector general de Policía Rural - 7 rows of silver lace 10mm wide, spaced 2mm apart on the jacket sleeves
Oficial primero - 6 rows
Oficial segundo - 5 row
Commandante - 4 rows
Jefe del Detall - 3 row
Pagador - 2 rows
Cabo primero - 2 rows
Cabo segundo - 1 row
Sargento - 1 "espiguilla"
Guarda - no rank insignia
Any ideas?