Types of Merit Badges
As of 2005 and as described in Merit Badge Field Guide, there are 10 major types of merit badges: Types A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, and J.
Type A
| Front/Reverse (Gardening) | Essential facts | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Nickname: square
Years of Issue: 1911–1933 |
Background | Type A merit badges were manufactured in rolls and then cut into squares approximately 2″ (5 cm) square, hence its nickname square. |
| Front | The early “Gardening” badge shown here is often confused with “Corn Farming”, which had three corn husks. Creases were created when these square badges were folded under by hand before being sewn onto a merit badge sash, which is worn over the right shoulder. Type A badges came from the manufacturer without the crease. Some people removed excess cloth before creasing them to make the merit badge round on the merit badge sash. These cut–down squares look similar to a Type C, but usually end up with straighter, yet uneven edges; whereas unaltered Type B, C, D, and E badges have a smooth circular edge. Also, Type A merit badges usually have lighter tan khaki cloth than a Type C badge. | ||
| Reverse | Some Type A, B, and C badges bear black watermarks or partial watermarks of the BSA emblem on the back as these were printed on the back of the rolls at certain intervals | ||
Type B
| Front/Reverse (Public Health) | Essential facts | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Nickname: wide border
Years of Issue: 1934–1935 Unusually large size |
Background | Some Type B and C badges retained the same cloth color as Type A, but most came in a darker tan/brown cloth. |
| Front | Type B merit badges were the first badges to be manufactured with a smooth, round shape, which the manufacturer produced by folding the badge’s edge under the back and crimping it. Type C, D, and E badges were also manufactured in this manner, hence Types B–E are referred to as crimped. Type B badges have a diameter of 1¾” (44 mm) after crimping. Type B has a margin of 3/16″ to 1/4″ (5–6 mm) between the edge of the badge and the embroidered green ring; because this margin is wider than in the Type C badge, Type B is nicknamed wide border. | ||
| Reverse | As with Type A, some Type B badges bear watermarks on the back. | ||
Type C
| Front/Reverse (Civics) | Essential facts | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Nickname: narrow border, narrow tan
Years of Issue: 1936–1946 |
Background | Type C merit badges were made from the same type of cloth as Type B badges, but were a little smaller in width. |
| Front | The diameter of a Type C badge from outer edge to outer edge is about 1½” (38 mm), with the distance from the crimp to the outer edge of the green ring being 1/8″ (3 mm). Size is the only difference in a Types B and C; hence the nicknames narrow border and narrow tan. In fact, all Type C, D and E badges are the same size. Compare Types B and C side-by-side; the difference in the distance from the outer crimp edges to the green rings is obvious. Beginning with Type C, all merit badges have been made with a diameter of 1½” (38 mm), except for a few Type I designs (see below). Most Type C badges were not made after 1942 (see Type D section below); only the Air Scout aviation blues, which came in four designs, were made in Type C from 1942–46. These had the standard Type C cloth, but were fully embroidered with blue backgrounds inside a blue ring. This is the only time badges were made with blue rings. | ||
| Reverse | As with Type A, some Type C badges bear watermarks on the back. Type C, D, and E merit badges all have sizing on the back, which serves as a stiffener to help the badge retain its crimp. | ||
Type D
| Front/Reverse (Camping) | Essential facts | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Nickname: fine twill, sand twill
Years of Issue: 1942–1946 |
Background | Type D merit badges were made from a lighter weight cloth with a much finer weave and lighter tan color than Type C badges because the heavier, thicker weave material that Type C badges were made from was needed to make uniforms needed during World War II. This is the only difference in a Type C and Type D. |
| Front | Because of its finer weave twill material, Type D badges are called fine twill. Another name for them is sand twill because of their sandy color. The only Type C badges made during this era were the afore–mentioned Type C aviation–blues. Because sand twills were made for such a short time many decades ago; they are rather rare. | ||
| Reverse | As with Type C, Type D badges have sizing on the back. | ||
Type E
| Front/Reverse (Dog Care) | Essential facts | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Nickname: khaki green, khaki
Years of Issue: 1947–1960 Last type with crimped edges |
Background | Type E merit badges were made from the same material as Type C badges, but the color is a decidedly darker green, hence the nickname khaki green. This is the only difference in a Type C and Type E. |
| Front | Serious collectors have Type B, C, D, and E merit badges recrimped to restore their original appearance as many badges lose their neat appearance over the years if the merit badge is not cared for properly. If a Type E badge has had significant washings or sun exposure it can be hard to tell from a Type C. | ||
| Reverse | As with Type C, Type E badges have sizing on the back. | ||
Type F
| Front/Reverse (Swimming) | Essential facts | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Nickname: khaki twill, rolled edge twill
Years of Issue: 1961–1968 Not all badges appeared in this type |
Background | Type F badges replaced the earlier crimped edge badges with a “rolled” edge, which is stitched around the outside to prevent unraveling. |
| Front | Type F was introduced concurrently with Type G (see below), and both types were manufactured together for several years. The difference in the motif is that whereas Type F badges had a plain background, Type G badges were completely embroidered inside the green ring. Some badge motifs had been made this way since Type A; they moved directly to Type G and never appeared in Type F. | ||
| Reverse | The BSA introduced an extra layer of cloth backing underneath the khaki cloth. Type F used gauze or cheese cloth and subsequent badge types used a fuller solid cloth backing. | ||
Type G
| Front/Reverse (Forage Crops) | Essential facts | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Nickname: cloth back
Years of Issue: 1961–1971 |
Background | While all Type G badges have full embroidery inside the green ring, there were a few Type A, B, C, D, and E merit badges with full embroidery and hence do not exist as Type F merit badges; examples are: “Foundry Practice”, “Grasses, Legumes, and Forage Crops” (later shortened to “Forage Crops”), “Farm Layout and Building Arrangement”, and “Farm Home and its Planning”. |
| Front | In 1969, the BSA started issuing silver-bordered badges for those badges that were on the mandatory list for Eagle rank. Silver–bordered badges appear in Type G, H, and J. Consequently, the border color of a badge will change when it goes on and off the mandatory list. A good example is “Camping” Type H, which had a green border from 1973–1977, yet silver border before and after that; so this particular green border “Camping” variety is fairly rare. | ||
| Reverse | Type G badges were the first to appear with a full cloth backing hence the nickname cloth back. | ||
Type H
| Front/Reverse (Collections) | Essential facts | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Nickname: plastic back
Years of Issue: 1972–2002 |
Background | Type H merit badges were the first badges made with a plastic–coated backing, hence the nickname plastic back. The plastic coating is most commonly clear, but is also found in a milky white color and from 1972 until about 1977 blue plastic–coated merit badges were often issued. The blue–coated badges are fairly rare since they were only made for a few years. On merit badges that have a blue embroidered background, it is extremely difficult to tell if the plastic coating is blue or clear. |
| Front | Type G, H, I and J badges are all fully embroidered. As they were made for 30 years, Type H merit badges are by far the most common. | ||
| Reverse | Type H and all subsequent badges have both the full cloth back of a Type G and a plastic coated backing as a stiffener. | ||
Type I
| Front/Reverse (White Water) | Essential facts | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Nickname: computer design
Years of Issue: 1993–1995 |
Background | Type I merit badges were designed using computers, hence the nickname computer design. The background stitching is flatter from that of Type G, H, and J badges and has the appearance of having punched holes, but the most obvious difference is in the green border––it is no longer rolled, but flat. |
| Front | The BSA decided to phase in these badges beginning in 1993, but they were not very popular and were discontinued in 1995. Consequently, the BSA reverted to the Type H design for an additional seven years. Since Type I was never fully adopted, not all merit badges appear in Type I. In fact, only 30 varieties appear as Type I. So while not that old, they are also not that common. Another oddity is that some Type I badges were made in two sizes: 38 mm and 42 mm. Two different sizes of merit badges can not be lined up neatly on the same sash. Some merit badges that did appear as Type I only appear in 38 mm, some as only 42 mm, and some appeared in both sizes. None of the merit badges on the mandatory list for Eagle rank appeared as Type I. | ||
| Reverse | There is a lockstitch and a brown ring stitched just inside the green ring on the obverse side of a Type I badge. | ||
Type J
| Front/Reverse (Fish and Wildlife Management) | Essential facts | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Nickname: Scout Stuff
Years of Issue: 2002–present |
Background | The BSA started putting its supply division logo on all patches (ranks, position, numerals, etc.) in 2002 to reduce counterfeiting and show support for the American labor force.[19] |
| Front | The front of a Type J looks just like the front of Type H badges. | ||
| Reverse | The only difference in a Type J merit badge and a Type H badge is that a Type J has some variation of the BSA Supply Division’s Scout Stuff logo stamped on the back; hence the nickname “Scout Stuff”. In the first few years the logo stamped on the back was not consistent in design. One of the early stamps was just a blue rectangle with the word Scout and a circular blue design inside it. The “Scout Stuff” design shown in the sample photo is now the standard. On a good specimen, a label reading BSA Supply Division and Scout Stuff is legible. | ||
