Like the Robbins Company, the Stange Company created several Eagle Scout Badge types with many sub-types. Following are the different examples:

In 1968 the Boy Scouts contracted with a second manufacturer to make the Eagle medals along with the Robbins Company. This type is somewhat rare and is actively sought among collectors.

Identification: The Stange 1 resembled, and is easily mistaken for, the Robbins 4. No BSA, the beak is closed but it has a few subtle distinctions that make it easy to spot. There is a hallmark with a stylized ‘S’ in script form in a small box on the back of the tail feathers with the word ‘STERLING’ stamped below.It still retained the flat back but the Eagles chest is flatter and the scroll was modified into a new more angular design. Ribbon colors may be deep red or rose colored.

Availability: Somewhat rare. Actively sought after.

For Sale: We occasionally have medals for sale. Please inquire. THANKS!

Both Robbins and Stange were still making the Eagle Badge at this time and both companies changed their front and back designs in 1970.

Identification: The pendant adds BSA and a ‘fully feathered’ back to the Eagle. Stange also tried to add more detail to the Eagle pendant. They were not entirely satisfactory. In the past pendants had been ‘die struck’ using a die and then striking it to form the image. The Stange 2 was cast into a mold. Although many details on the feathers are visible the pendant just fell short of appearing very good. The tail feathers vary in length as the excess metal from the mold had to be ground down by hand. All in all, the Stg2 was not Stange at its best. The Stange 2 retains the angular scroll and wire knot.

The script-like S hallmark with ‘STER’ or ‘STERLING’ can be found on the back of the scroll in a tiny square box. There are both raised and stamped hallmarks, and occasionally, no hallmark at all.

Availability: Relatively common.

The Stg3 was the most radical design change in the Eagle Badge since its creation. There is no mistaking this type. Columbia space shuttle pilot Willie McCool was awarded this Eagle type.

Identification: The Stg3 still retains the angular scroll of the Stg 1 and 2, but the pendant now resembles the National Eagle Scout Association (NESA) logo. This type is also called the ‘Gooseneck’ design because the Eagle has such a narrow neck. It is made of sterling silver. The ribbons are generally much longer than most of the earlier Eagles. You can find a Stange ‘S’ hallmark on the backside of the scroll. It is stamped ‘STERLING’ vertically on the tail feathers.

Availability: Generally available.

This type has been considered a prototype for the Stange 3 badge and was never issued as a distinct type. There are perhaps three known examples. This pendant appears in the book, A Comprehensive Guide to the Eagle Scout Award, by Terry Grove. The Guide says, "A prototype pendant exists. It is larger than the pendant eventually used." This particular medal appears to be attached to a Robbins 4 ribbon and scroll with the prototype pendant attached. This is called a 'make-up' with Eagle Scout Badge collectors. This is almost impossible to come by making it by far the rarest of the Eagle Badges. The type that eventually became the Stange 3 did not have the aesthetic beauty that this pendant had.

Identification: In any case, this pendant stands out amoung all the Eagle types. The medal itself has a soft silver patina that appears to have a contrasting gray color that has been rubbed into the recesses of the pendant. It has further been treated with a clear coat finish. The BSA letters on the chest are bolder than the standard issue pendant and the pendant ring above the eagles head is larger. The pendant does not have knuckles on its talons, while the standard pendant does. The protected sterling silver color shines out compared to the dark oxidized patina of the Stg3.

By 1978 Robbins had ceased making the Eagle Scout Badge and Stange was now the sole provider. Stange produced an attractive medal with the Stange 4. It was once again die struck instead of molded.

Identification: BSA on the chest, beak closed, white edging on the ribbon, ‘S’ scroll, Stange ‘S’ hallmark on the back of the scroll. The tail feathers are stamped with a vertical ‘STER’.

Availability: Relatively common.

The Stange 5 series introduced yet another new pendant design with plenty of tweaks to an otherwise pleasing design. The Stange 5 would be the last really attractive pendant design. Most of the Stg5a’s were made of a copper base with a silver plate and oxidized. Then they received a clear coat to prevent oxidizing. A sterling version was available from the National Office.

Identification: BSA on chest, beak is closed, white edging on the ribbon. The back of the pendant is nearly flat but ‘full feathered’ and stamped with the Stange hallmark script ‘S’ on the back of the tail feathers. ‘STER’ also appears on the sterling varieties. The pendant will either be oxidized to nearly black or a soft silver, buffed and clear coated. The black medal has a shorter ribbon than the silver pendant.

Availability: Relatively common.

For Sale: We have a Stange5a, mint in the presentation kit available at $125.00. This is the non-sterling variety.

Identification: Same as the 5a but with a more contoured appearance to the back. On sterling versions you can find a tiny ‘STER’ stamped near the ‘S’ hallmark on the back of the tail feathers.

Availability: Relatively common.

Identification: This version has, for some reason, a very bold ‘S’ on the ‘BSA’ on the chest. It has been suggested that the die wore down and just developed a bolder image. If true this is the only medal in the nearly 100 year history of the award that this phenomena occurred. And why there are no versions that slowly become more bold has never been suggested. The back, once again, goes flat with ‘full feathers’.

Availability: Somewhat common. Relatively easy to acquire.

Identification: BSA on the chest, no white edging on the ribbon. The pendant is again altered by bringing the wing tips forward a bit. There is a plated and a sterling version available. Sterling versions are stamped ‘STERLING’ on the back of the tail feathers. The Stange ‘S’ hallmark is on the tail feathers in a small box.

Availability: Somewhat common. Readily found.

This is the last of the attractive Eagle pendants. It comes in sterling only. This type was short lived and is very difficult to find. Because of the scarcity of this type it is sought among advanced collectors.

Identification: BSA on the chest, no white edging on the ribbon. Stange introduced the ‘two-pole and clutch’ holder sytem on the back of the scroll. The image above shows both the pole with and without the clutch holder. There is a tiny horizontal ‘STER’ across the top of the ‘S’ hallmark on the back of the tail feathers. The author cannot define it yet but there is something different to the look of the Stg 5e over all the other Stg5 types. The pendant seems slightly larger and heavier.

Availability: Scarce. Relatively difficult to acquire.

Stange’s redesigned pendant is introduced in 1993.

Identification: BSA on the chest, beak is closed, large ‘S’ hallmark on the tailfeathers. The pendant is now made of pewter. This is a big pendant, fully 32mm from wingtip to wingtip. The scroll once again has the traditional long pin and spinlock clasp. The medal may or may not have white edging on the ribbon.

Availability: Somewhat common. Relatively easy to acquire.

Identification: Same pendant as the 6a but the scroll has the two-pole system again. The ribbon can be either white edged or plain. There is a sterling version with a huge ‘STERLING’ cast in raised letters on the back of the tail feathers. A very tiny ‘STERLING’ can also be found stamped on the pendant ring above the eagle’s head. This was the last Stange type to be offered until 2007.

Availability: Somewhat common.

Identification: The Stange Company once again began producing the Eagle medal in 2007. The ‘BSA’ is now arranged in an arc. The knot is cast and not a wire. The detail work on the pendant is very good, crisp and clear. However the design still remains somewhat cartoonish and lacks real sophistication in the craft of medal making. There is no hallmark on the back of the tail feathers although a sterling version exists with ‘926’ in raised letters on the back. Note on the 7b Type: Stange switched back to a wire knot and put their familier 'S" hallmark on the back of the tail feathers. Photo coming.

Availability: Readily found.

 

Eagle Scout Palms To qualify for Eagle Scout a boy must earn a certain number of merit badges. Earning extra merit badges qualifies you to wear ‘Palms'. A bronze palm means five merit badges over the required twenty-one. Gold means ten over and silver is fifteen over the requirements. The ribbon above shows all three palms, bronze, gold and silver. It is the authors opinion that this scout earned fifteen additional merit badges, qualifying for the silver palm, but the scout continued to display all three palms. If a scout had earned 30 merit badges over the requirement he should wear two silver palms.

The Stange Company redesigned the scroll to have a more angular or ‘Z’ shape (above, left) to the ends on their first medals, but would later change it to the ‘S’ ends (above, right). The lettering on ‘BE PREPARED’ is also thinner than the ‘S’ type scrolls. Note the thin font on the ‘Z’ scroll.

Did you know that the scroll bears the official Scout Motto: "BE PREPARED" and that the knot is a reminder of the official scout slogan to "DO A GOOD TURN DAILY"? And according to the scout handbook the scroll is upturned as in a smile to remind scouts to be cheerful, one of the twelve points of the Scout Law.