Are there any archaic words in older strands of English that approximate the modern term "badass"?

I would suggest:

• rogue (from 1560s)
• rascal (from 1200s)
• bruiser (from 1540s)

Of the three, bruiser comes closest in meaning to badass, I think, as it suggests someone who is strong and capable, someone you don't want to mess with.

In the movie Patton, General George Patton tells Erwin Rommel how he defeated him. "Rommel, you magnificent bastard, I read your book."

I can't tell if the usage is actually from the WWII era, but the movie came out the 1970s, and the term has pretty much the same implications as badass when it's used as a term of admiration. (See Magnificent Bastard.)

However, examination of Patton's actual quotes suggests that he commonly used the term bastard, so it's plausible.

When used negatively, and as a noun, I would go for ruffian, rapscallion, rustler, or reaver.

In certain (slightly negative contexts) cocksure might work - it expresses the arrogance and overconfidence implied when badass is used to indicate someone who does not care. However, I'm not sure when this word came into existence.

Its doesn't work so well when its used positively though... (I'm feeling like a badass Mr Cool today)