History

Beginning in 1966 with the Eagle and Silver Beaver square knots, BSA began making square knots with dark green backgrounds to match the Explorer uniform.  Shortly after, they also included with the dark green backgrounds, the Scouter's Key and Scouter's Training Award knots.  These knots were in addition to the khaki background knots that they continued to make.  They made these four knots with this background until 1979.  BSA also had been making square knots with a navy blue and a white background for the Sea Scout uniforms for a number of years.  They also discontinued these in 1979.  It is worth noting here that all four of these awards could be earned in each of the various scouting programs.

The Girl Scout Gold Award knot has no history, is unofficial and is only included to recognize girl's who have earned that award and are involved in today's Venturing program.  However, I received this statement in an e-mail:  "I have some good news for you.  I did what you said about getting permission from my Scout Executive before wearing an unofficial knot on the uniform. The knot in question is the Girl Scout Gold Award Knot.  My Scout Executive told me he could not give me permission to wear it, but he would take it to national and see what their take on it was.  I am happy to say that National gave approval to the wearing of the Girl Scout Gold Award Knot."  I doubled checked with the Scout Executive and he confirmed the story.  That definitely was a surprise.

Use this link for my web page on an "Illustrated History of BSA Square Knot Evolution and Private Issues."

Keeping Tradition

When the Venturing program begin in 1998, there was a large demand for knots with dark green backgrounds.  In keeping with tradition and because of the encouragement of my Venturing friends, I am making available reproductions of the four original dark green background knots, the original Ranger award knot and adding other common knots with tan backgrounds that have been issued since 1979.  Please go to the Ordering page for the order form and postage costs.

Wearing the Venturing Square Knots

If you intend to wear any of these knots, they should be worn in place of your equivalent knots with tan background, not in addition to those knots.

Please understand that these square knots are not official and technically need your council's scout executive approval to wear them.

Comments From Others

I have had a number of nice comments made to me about my patches and a couple in particular I felt were worth sharing:

Just a note to say thanks for offering the excellent Venturing square knots of very high quality.  Your knots are the real McCoy!!!

I ordered a couple oddball knots from another provider.  The quality just is not there -- they are flimsy with no attempt of a backing and the colors are not true to original.

Your knots are just like the ones BSA would have authorized via the uniform and insignia committee back in 1970 or thereabouts!!!

Thanks for offering a quality product!!!!!

John W Weaver

I received the knots yesterday, and I now know why the BSA has asked you not to make them available anymore.  They are better quality than the "official" knots I bought at the Scout store.  Besides that, they look much nicer on the spruce green uniform shirts than the tan knots that the BSA seems to think we should all be wearing.

Thank you very much for making them available.

YIV,

Tim Raven

The patches (square knots) came and they are awesome!.  The pictures don't do them justice. ... Again - Thanks for such a fabulous, high quality product.

Yours in Venturing,

Jim Goldrup

Thank you John, Tim and Jim.

Yours in Venturing, Craig Murray