Varieties of Official BSA Square Knots

Varieties of Official BSA Square Knots

George Crowl and Gary Whitman with

Shay Lelegren, Bruce Noonan, and Arnold Traupman

D R A F T

Part 2 – Distinguished Service

Distinguished Service is a category identified by those awards given to Scouters on the basis of nomination, usually by their peers, or by selection by a governing body of some kind.

K-B01 Silver World. The line widths vary in the 1st (B01a) and 2nd (B01b) examples. Newest is the computer design starting with B01e which has a smaller world.

Nmbr / Insignia / Program / Bkgd / Fab / Emb / Tp / Right / Left / Border / CB / GB / PB / GP / LO / LG / WP /

Misc

K-B01a / Silver World / International / R/W / FE / Sw / 0a / Stars & Stripes / NBL / [ ] / Thick RED BM-MTL
K-B01b / Silver World / International / R/W / FE / Sw / 0a / Stars & Stripes / NBL / [ ] / Thick RED BM-MTR
K-B01c / Silver World / International / R/W / FE / Sw / 0a / Stars & Stripes / NBL / [ ] / Thick WHT BM-MTL
K-B01d / Silver World / International / R/W / FE / Sw / 0a / Stars & Stripes / NBL / [ ] / Thick WHT BM-MTR
K-B01e / Silver World / International / R/W / FE / CD / 0b / Stars & Stripes / NBL / [ ] / [ ] / Thick WHT BM-FTR
K-B01f / Silver World / International / R/W / FE / CD / 0b / Stars & Stripes / NBL / [ ] / Thick WHT BM-FPW
K-B01g / Silver World / International / R/W / FE / CD / 0b / Stars & Stripes / NBL / [ ] / [ ] / Thick RED BM-FTR

B01a (Thick red MTL) B01b (Thick red MTR) B01c (Thick white MTL) B01d (Thick white MTR)

B01e (Thick white FTR) B-01f (Thick white FPW) B-01g (Thick red FTR)

K-B02 Silver Buffalo. We believe the beige background with brown border, normally the third in the series, was never made. Because of low demand, this knot should have fewer varieties.

Nmbr / Insignia / Program / Bkgd / Fab / Emb / Tp / Right / Left / Border / CB / GB / PB / GP / LO / LG / WP /

Misc

K-B02a / Silver Buffalo / National / KHA / CTL / Sw / 1 / RED / WHT / BRN / [ ]
K-B02b / Silver Buffalo / National / LKH / FTR / Sw / 1 / RED / WHT / BRN / [ ]
K-B02c / Silver Buffalo / National / LKH / FTR / Sw / 1 / LRD / WHT / BRN / [ ]
K-B02d / Silver Buffalo / National / LKH / FTL / Sw / 1 / RED / WHT / BRN / [ ]
K-B02e / Silver Buffalo / National / LKH / FTL / Sw / 1 / LRD / WHT / BRN / [ ]
K-B02f / Silver Buffalo / National / BGE / CPW / Sw / 1 / LRD / WHT / BGE / [ ]
K-B02g / Silver Buffalo / National / BGE / CPW / Sw / 1 / RED / WHT / BGE / [ ]
K-B02h / Silver Buffalo / National / BGE / FTR / CD / 3 / LRD / WHT / LBG / [ ]
K-B02i / Silver Buffalo / National / BGE / MTR / CD / 3 / LRD / WHT / BGE / [ ] / [ ]
K-B02j / Silver Buffalo / National / BGE / MTR / CD / 3 / LRD / WHT / BGE / [ ] / Wide border
K-B02k / Silver Buffalo / National / BGE / CPW / CD / 3 / LRD / WHT / BGE / [ ]
K-B02l / Silver Buffalo / National / BGE / MTL / CD / 3 / RED / WHT / BGE / [ ] PLG

B02a (Coarse twill) B02b (FTR, Red) B02c (FTR, LRD) B02d (FTL, Red)

B02e (FTL, LRD) B02f (CPW, LRD) B02g (CPW, Red) B02h (Type 3, FTR, LRD)

B02i (MTR, LRD) (B02j, wide border) B02k (CPW, LRD) B02l (MTL, Red)

K-B03 Silver Antelope. A white plastic back has also been found on some B03j knots.

Nmbr / Insignia / Program / Bkgd / Fab / Emb / Tp / Right / Left / Border / CB / GB / PB / GP / LO / LG / WP /

Misc

K-B03a / Silver Antelope / Region / KHA / CTL / Sw / 1 / ORG / WHT / BRN / [ ] / [ ]
K-B03b / Silver Antelope / Region / LKH / FTR / Sw / 1 / ORG / WHT / MBN / [ ]
K-B03c / Silver Antelope / Region / LKH / FTR / Sw / 1 / ORG / WHT / BRN / [ ]
K-B03d / Silver Antelope / Region / LKH / FTL / Sw / 1 / ORG / WHT / BRN / [ ] / [ ] / [ ] MLK PB
K-B03e / Silver Antelope / Region / LKH / FTL / Sw / 1 / ORG / WHT / MBN / [ ] / [ ] MLK PB
K-B03f / Silver Antelope / Region / BGE / FPW / Sw / 1 / ORG / WHT / MBN / [ ] / [ ]
K-B03g / Silver Antelope / Region / BGE / FPW / Sw / 1 / GLD / WHT / MBN / [ ] / [ ]
K-B03h / Silver Antelope / Region / BGE / FPW / Sw / 1 / GLD / WHT / LBN / [ ]
K-B03i / Silver Antelope / Region / BGE / CPW / Sw / 1 / ORG / WHT / MBN / [ ]
K-B03j / Silver Antelope / Region / BGE / CPW / Sw / 1 / GLD / WHT / MBN / [ ]
K-B03k / Silver Antelope / Region / BGE / FPW / Sw / 1 / DOR / WHT / DBG / [ ]
K-B03l / Silver Antelope / Region / BGE / CPW / CD / 1 / GLD / WHT / BGE / [ ]
K-B03m / Silver Antelope / Region / BGE / FPW / CD / 1 / GLD / WHT / LBG / [ ]
K-B03n / Silver Antelope / Region / BGE / FPW / CD / 3 / GLD / WHT / BGE / [ ] / [ ]
K-B03o / Silver Antelope / Region / BGE / FTL / CD / 3 / GLD / WHT / BGE / [ ]

B03a (Coarse twill) B03b (FTR MBN border) B03c (FTR brown border) B03d (FTL brown border)

B03e (FTL MBN border) B03f (FPW orange) B03g (FPW gold) B03h (FPW LBN border)

B03i (CPW MBN border) B03j (CPW gold MBN) B03k (FPW DOR DBG) B03l (CD CPW GLD)

B03m (FPW CD Type 1) B03n (FPW CD Type 3) B03o (FTL CD Type 3

Done to here. The B04 need current tables, the illustrations are not complete for B04. Need to delete yellow, and format page breaks.

K-B04 Silver Beaver. The Silver Beaver has a large number of basic varieties. B04f is the first error knot released. It was probably issued before 1950. Some can find as many as four varieties of B04bPB – there are differences in the plastic backing.

Nmbr / Insignia / Program / Bkgd / Fab / Emb / Tp / Right / Left / Border / CB / GB / PB / GP / LO / LG / WP /

Misc

K-B04a / Silver Beaver / Council / KHA / CTL / Sw / 1 / LBL / WHT / BRN / [ ] / [ ]
K-B04b / Silver Beaver / Council / KHA / CTL / Sw / 1 / BLU / WHT / BRN / [ ] / [ ]
K-B04c / Silver Beaver / Council / LKH / FTR / Sw / 1 / LBL / WHT / BRN / [ ] / [ ] / [ ] / BLU PB/GP
K-B04d / Silver Beaver / Council / LKH / FTL / Sw / 1 / LBL / WHT / BRN / [ ] / [ ] / [ ]
K-B04e / Silver Beaver / Council / LKH / FTL / Sw / 1 / DBL / WHT / BRN / [ ]
K-B04f / Silver Beaver / Council / LKH / FTL / Sw / 1 / BLU / WHT / BRN / [ ]
K-B04g / Silver Beaver / Council / LKH / FTL / Sw / 1 / LBL / WHT / DBN / [ ]
K-B04h / Silver Beaver / Council / NBL / FL / Sw / 1 / LBL / WHT / BLK / [ ]
K-B04i / Silver Beaver / Council / NBL / FL / Sw / 1 / WHT / LBL / BLU / [ ] / Reverse error
K-B04j / Silver Beaver / Council / NBL / FL / Sw / 1 / LBL / WHT / BLU / [ ] / [ ]
K-B04k / Silver Beaver / Council / WHT / MTL / Sw / 1 / LBL / WHT / WHT / [ ] / [ ]
K-B04l / Silver Beaver / Council / FGR / MTL / Sw / 1 / LBL / WHT / FGR / [ ]
K-B04m / Silver Beaver / Council / FGR / FTL / Sw / 1 / LBL / WHT / FGR / [ ]
K-B04n / Silver Beaver / Council / FGR / FTL / Sw / 1 / PBL / WHT / FGR / [ ]
K-B04o / Silver Beaver / Council / FGR / FTR / Sw / 1 / LBL / WHT / FGR / [ ] / [ ]
K-B04p / Silver Beaver / Council / BGE / FPW / Sw / 1 / LBL / WHT / BRN / [ ]
K-B04q / Silver Beaver / Council / BGE / FPW / Sw / 1 / LBL / WHT / MBN / [ ] / [ ]
K-B04r / Silver Beaver / Council / BGE / CPW / Sw / 1 / BLU / WHT / BGE / [ ]
K-B04s / Silver Beaver / Council / BGE / CPW / Sw / 1 / LBL / WHT / BGE / [ ] / [ ] / [ ] / [ ] Pelon
K-B04t / Silver Beaver / Council / DBG / MTR / Sw / 1 / LBL / WHT / DBG / [ ]
K-B04u / Silver Beaver / Council / BGE / FPW / CD / 1 / LBL / WHT / LBG / [ ] / [ ]
K-B04v / Silver Beaver / Council / BGE / FPW / CD / 1 / LBL / WHT / TAN / [ ] / [ ]
K-B04w / Silver Beaver / Council / BGE / FPW / CD / 1 / BLU / WHT / TAN / [ ]
K-B04x / This is a new one!

B04a (Coarse twill, LBL) B04b (CTL BLU) B04c (Fine twill right) B04d (Fine twill left, LBL)

B04e (FTL DBL) B04f (FTL BLU ) B04g (FTL, LBL, DBN) B04h (Blue, Black border CB)

B04i (Reversed, error) B04j (Blue border) B04k (White) B04l (Green MTL)

B04m (Green FTL) B04n (FTL, PBL) B04o (Green FTR) B04p (FPW, brown border)

B04q (FPW, MBN border) B04r (CPW, BLU, beige border) B04s (CPW, LBL, BGE) B04t (Medium twill right)

B04u (CD LBL, LBG border) (B04v (Tan border) B04w (BLU, tan border) B04x (Dark Blue

Beginning here, updated and complete until noted, still need page breaks.

K-B05 District Award of Merit. This knot is the only overhand knot It has had navy blue, blue and royal blue backgrounds come and go during its lifetime. Color variations in the blue are common, and the authors were unable to completely agree about varieties. The lead author has chosen the fewest varieties. You may see several color variations, particularly in the B05e.

Nmbr / Insignia / Program / Bkgd / Fab / Emb / Tp / Overhand / Border / CB / GB / PB / GP / LO / LG / WP /

Misc

K-B05a / Award of Merit / District / NBL / MTL / Sw / 10 / SMY / SMY / [ ] / [ ]
K-B05b / Award of Merit / District / NBL / FTR / Sw / 10 / SMY / SMY / [ ] / [ ]
K-B05c / Award of Merit / District / BLU / FTL / Sw / 10 / SMY / SMY / [ ] / [ ] / [ ] WHT Gum
K-B05d / Award of Merit / District / BLU / FTR / Sw / 10 / SMY / SMY / [ ] / [ ]
K-B05e / Award of Merit / District / BLU / FPW / Sw / 10 / SMY / SMY / [ ] / [ ] / [ ]
K-B05f / Award of Merit / District / RBL / FPW / Sw / 10 / SMY / SMY / [ ] / [ ]
K-B05g / Award of Merit / District / BLU / FPW / CD / 10 / MSV / MSV / [ ] / [ ]
K-B05h / Award of Merit / District / BLU / FPW / CD / 10 / MSV / MSV / [ ] / Wide Border/Knot

B05a (NBL MTL) B05b (NBL FTR) B05c (Blue FTL) B05d (Blue FTR)

B05e (Blue FPW) B05f (Royal blue) B05g (Computer design) B05h (Wide border/knot)

K-B06 Order of the Arrow Distinguished Service. .

Nmbr / Insignia / Program / Bkgd / Fab / Emb / Tp / Right / Left / Border / CB / GB / PB / GP / LO / LG / WP /

Misc

K-B06a / OA Dist Service / OA / DRD / MTL / Sw / 1 / WHT / WHT / DRD / [ ]
K-B06b / OA Dist Service / OA / RED / MTL / Sw / 1 / WHT / WHT / RED / [ ] / [ ] / [ ]
K-B06c / OA Dist Service / OA / RED / FPW / Sw / 1 / WHT / WHT / RED / [ ]
K-B06d / OA Dist Service / OA / RED / FPW / CD / 1 / WHT / WHT / RED / [ ]
K-B06e / OA Dist Service / OA / RED / FTR / CD / 3 / WHT / WHT / RED / [ ]
K-B06f / OA Dist Service / OA / DRD / FTL / CD / 3 / WHT / WHT / RED / [ ]
K-B06g / OA Dist Service / OA / DRD / FPW / CD / 3 / WHT / WHT / RED / [ ]
K-B06h / OA Dist Service / OA / DRD / FPW / CD / 1 / WHT / WHT / DRD / [ ]

B06a (MTL dark red) B06b (MTL red) B06c (FPW Swiss) B06d (Computer design)

missing B06h

B06e (CD, Type 3, FTR) B06f (Type 3 FTL) B06g (Type 3 FPW)

K-B07 George Meany Award. George Meany was one of the key leaders of the American labor movement. This knot started out with an error knot, we understand, with the white on the observer’s left. The main run has been Swiss embroidery, with computer design more recent. The CD knot embroidery runs in the same direction. This is a relatively scarce knot.

Nmbr / Insignia / Program / Bkgd / Fab / Emb / Tp / Right / Left / Border / CB / GB / PB / GP / LO / LG / WP /

Misc

K-B07a / George Meany / Relationships / W/R / FE / Sw / 4 / DBL / DBL / W/R / [ ] / BM-MTL Reverse error
K-B07b / George Meany / Relationships / R/W / FE / Sw / 4 / DBL / DBL / R/W / [ ] / BM-MTL
K-B07c / George Meany / Relationships / R/W / FE / Sw / 4 / DBL / DBL / R/W / [ ] / BM-FPW
K-B07d / George Meany / Relationships / R/W / FE / CD / 4 / DBL / DBL / R/W / [ ] / BM-FPW

B07a (Error, reversed) B07b (Correct, Swiss, MTL base) B07c (Swiss FPW base) B07d (CD, cut oversize)

K-B08 Spurgeon Award. William F. Spurgeon III was a West Coast businessman who made the idea of specialty Exploring work, contributing greatly to the growth of the Exploring program. This knot also started out with an off-size and different type knot. K-B08a is acknowledged to be the first Spurgeon knot. We were told that two were sent to every council office, some were sold before they asked to send them back. Shay provided a scan with the price sticker on. It is the only non-standard knot in the BSA series. B08c changed the background color from dark green to black about 2001, though that is not easy to spot without care. B08d and B08e surfaced in 2005 in West LA County Council, the same color but different weaves. Thanks to Tanadet Itsarakpadetam for spotting them.

Nmbr / Insignia / Program / Bkgd / Fab / Emb / Tp / Right / Left / Border / CB / GB / PB / GP / LO / LG / WP /

Misc

K-B08a / Spurgeon Award / Exploring / DOL / FPW / Sw / 5 / GLD / GLD / GLD / [ ] / Oversize
K-B08b / Spurgeon Award / Exploring / DOL / FPW / Sw / 1 / GLD / GLD / GLD / [ ]
K-B08c / Spurgeon Award / Exploring / BLK / FPW / Sw / 1 / GLD / GLD / GLD / [ ]
K-B08d / Spurgeon Award / Exploring / OLV / FTR / CD / 3 / GLD / GLD / GLD / []
K-B08e / Spurgeon Award / Exploring / OLV / FPW / CD / 3 / GLD / GLD / GLD / []

B08a (Type 5) B08a (Reverse) B08b (Swiss) B08c (Black)

B08d (Olive, twill) B08e (FPW)

K-B09 Whitney Young Award. Whitney Young was a man famous for his positive approach to race relations, making a major contribution to American society during the Civil Rights Era.

Nmbr / Insignia / Program / Bkgd / Fab / Emb / Tp / Right / Left / Border / CB / GB / PB / GP / LO / LG / WP /

Misc

K-B09a / Whitney M Young / Council / BGE / CPW / Sw / 1 / BLK / WHT / RED / [ ] / [ ]
K-B09b / Whitney M Young / Council / BGE / FPW / Sw / 1 / BLK / WHT / RED / [ ] / [ ]
K-B09c / Whitney M Young / Council / BGE / CPW / CD / 3 / BLK / WHT / RED / [ ]
K-B09d / Whitney M Young / Council / BGE / FPW / CD / 1 / BLK / WHT / RED / [ ]

B09a (Swiss, CPW) B09b (FPW) B09c (CD, type 3, CPW) B09d (Type 1, FPW)

K-B10 James E. West Award. James E. West was the first Chief Scout Executive of the BSA (for 32 years). The first JEW knots were the first computer design knots that I know of, in 1992. They were also cut oversize, and had to be trimmed to fit in with other knots on the uniform. They reverted to more traditional size later.

Nmbr / Insignia / Program / Bkgd / Fab / Emb / Tp / Right / Left / Border / CB / GB / PB / GP / LO / LG / WP /

Misc

K-B10a / James E West / Council / BGE / FPW / CD / 3 / LGN / GLD / RED / [ ] / Cut oversize
K-B10b / James E West / Council / BGE / FPW / Sw / 1 / GRN / GLD / RED / [ ] / [ ] / [ ] Pelon
K-B10c / James E West / Council / BGE / FPW / CD / 1 / GRN / GLD / RED / [ ] / [ ]
K-B10d / James E West / Council / BGE / FTR / CD / 3 / GRN / GLD / RED / [ ] / Cut oversize

B10a(CD, Type 3) B10b (Swiss, 1) B10c (CD, Type 1) B10d (CD, FTR, 3)

K-B11 Community Organization Award. This recent knot is only a few years old, and has only two major varieties at this time (2005). The border on the Logo version is different from the plastic back version. Logo comes in both versions.

Nmbr / Insignia / Program / Bkgd / Fab / Emb / Tp / Right / Left / Border / CB / GB / PB / GP / LO / LG / WP /

Misc

K-B11a / Community Org / Relationships / PUR / FPW / Sw / 1 / GLD / GLD / GLD / [ ] / [ ]
K-B11b / Community Org / Relationships / PUR / FPW / CD / 1 / GLD / GLD / GLD / [ ]

B11a (Swiss) B11b (CD)

K-B12 Asian American Spirit of Scouting Award. Announced in late 2003 and produced in 2004. The first loom run was made with the ropes reversed. Initially very few knots were released and the rest destroyed. Supply reordered the knot, but it was manufactured the same. National then issued this knot.

Nmbr / Insignia / Program / Bkgd / Fab / Emb / Tp / Right / Left / Border / CB / GB / PB / GP / LO / LG / WP /

Misc

K-B12 / Asian / Scoutreach / VIO / FPW / CD / 1 / WHT / DGN / PUR / [ ] / Reverse error

B12a (Reversed) B12 (As originally illustrated)

K-B13 ¡Scouting…Vale la Pena! Service Award. Announced in late 2003 and produced in 2004. The first loom run was made with the ropes reversed and the wrong color, and very few were released, the rest destroyed. The second run also came out reversed, and National has issued that variety. This is a supply problem in not being able to run quality control on orders.

Nmbr / Insignia / Program / Bkgd / Fab / Emb / Tp / Right / Left / Border / CB / GB / PB / GP / LO / LG / WP /

Misc

K-B13a / Vale La Pena / Scoutreach / RED / FPW / CD / 1 / YEL / LBL / RED / [ ] / Reverse / Color error
K-B13b / Vale La Pena / Scoutreach / RED / FPW / CD / 1 / YEL / SBL / RED / [ ] / Reverse error

B13a (Reversed, color error) B13b (Reversed) B13 (As originally illustrated)

K-B14 Venturing Leadership Award. In May 2003 a knot for the Venturing Leadership Award was approved. The action was announced at the Philmont Venturing conference in June. Design and production took over a year, with release of the actual knot in fall 2004.

Nmbr / Insignia / Program / Bkgd / Fab / Emb / Tp / Right / Left / Border / CB / GB / PB / GP / LO / LG / WP /

Misc

K-B14a / Venturing Ldrship / Venturing / GRB / FE / CD / 2 / MSV / MSV / MSV / [ ] / [ ] / BM-MTR
K-B14b / Venturing Ldrship / Venturing / GRB / FE / CD / 2 / MSV / MSV / MSV / [ ] / [ ] / BM-FPW
K-B14c / Venturing Ldrship / Venturing / GRB / FE / CD / 2 / MSV / MSV / MSV / [ ] / BM-MTL

B14a (FTR base) B14b (FPW base) B14c (FTL base)

This concludes Part 2, Distinguished Service. Part 1 contains Bravery. Part 3 contains Achievement and Religious. Part 4 contains Leadership. Part 5 contains Knot Devices. Part 6 is a complete chart.

You may contact the authors at: (George), (Gary), (Shay), (Bruce) or (Arnold). We welcome your comments and corrections.

End of updated material.