United States Boy Scouts: Major Uniform Styles


Figure 1.--This hand tinted black and white photograph shows the second U.S. Scout uniform, adopted in 1922. Note a short has replaced the jacket. This boy appears to be wearing riding breeches rather than knickers. Also notice the high boots. The photograph was proably taken in the mid 1920s. Note that there are no badges on the uniform.

American Scouts have worn four different uniforms. A variety of minor changes were made in these uniforms annually, but there have been only four basic uniforms. The first American Scout uniforms were based on U.S. Army uniforms and included a rather long jacket with pockets rather than a shirt and knickers with a Smoket the Bear hat. American Scouts were the only ones to wear knickers rather than shorts. Many early Scouts did not wear kerchiefs. The second American Scout uniform was adopted in 1922 and had a shirt rather than a jacket. Kerchiefs were almost always worn with this uniform which continued to include knickers and the Smokey the Bear hat. Boys sometimes wore shorts rather than knickers at camps and jamborees. The third uniform was adopted in 1943? A new campaign cap was adopted and knickers were dropped. Boys could wear short or long pants. The fourth and current uniform was styled by Oscar de Lorent and adopted in 1981. The campaign cap was replaced woth a baseball cap. It was a two tone uniform with a light tan shirt and brown pants. Boys could wear either short or long pants. The kneesocks were changed to althetic socks and were green with red tops.

First Uniform (1910-1922)

The first American Scout uniforms were based on U.S. Army uniforms and included a rather long jacket with pockets rather than a shirt and knickers with a Smokey the Bear hat. American Scouts were the only ones to wear knickers rather than shorts. Many early Scouts did not wear kerchiefs. This early uniform was the most short lasting uniform style. We assume that the BSA must have assessed how practical the uniform was in the early years of Scouting and then decided to make changes after 12 years. Presumably there are records of these assessments, but HBU has not yet been able to find them. The uniform does seem to be more appropriate for cold weather than wam weather. Th U.S. uniform appears to be quite different than the uniform of British and other European Scouts. The most obvious is that the American uniform has knickers rather han short pants, but the jacket-like tunic rather than a shirt is another major difference. We also note that the Smokey the Bear hats worn by early American couts re quite often rather shpless.

Second Uniform (1922-43?)

The second American Scout uniform was adopted in 1922 and had a shirt rather than a jacket. Many early photographs show the boys with no or very few badges oin their shirt--quite different from modern Scuts. Kerchiefs were almost always worn with this uniform which continued to include knickers and the Smokey the Bear hat. The hats are much more sapely than worn by early couts in he 1910s. Some boys in the 1920s wore what look like riding breeches more than knickers. Boys sometimes wore shorts rather than knickers at camps and jamborees. We do not notice boys wearing long pants during the 1920s or 30s with this uniform.

Third Uniform (1943-81)

The third uniform was worn for the longest period--nearly 40 years. It was adopted in 1943? during World War II. A new campaign cap was adopted and knickers were dropped. Boys could wear short or long pants.

Fourth Uniform (1981- )

The fourth and current uniform was styled by Oscar de Lorent and adopted in 1981. The campaign cap was replaced woth a baseball cap. It was a two tone uniform with a light tan shirt and brown pants. Boys could wear either short or long pants. The kneesocks were changed to althetic socks and were green with red tops.









Christopher Wagner






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Created: March 29, 2002
Last updated: March 30, 2002