Order of the Arrow Patch Definitions

A Note to Users' of this Page

These pages have been compiled from information gathered thru personal collections and other web sites. Every effort has been made to provide accurate and complete information, however,  we can only work with what we have. If you have additional information or corrections, please contact the webmaster.

General Definitions & Rules

There are two major distributors of Order of the Arrow patch listings, "The Blue Book" and "Arapaho 2000", each with their own abbreviations ( in some instances), both abbreviations and definitions have been listed: The first instance listed is used by "The Blue Book" the second is used by "Arapaho 2000".

Descriptions are a compilation of information from both of the above books and data derived thru collectors of these patches.

Background Color (Bkg) - The predominant color.
Border Color (Bdr) - The color of thread used on the outside border.
Lodge Color (Ldg) - The color of thread used on the Lodge Name.

Dimensions - Given in millimeters and are to be used only as a guide. They are not exact, as two patches made at the same time or in different states-of-wear may measure differently. Measurements given were measured from mint condition patches.

Height: The distance from the top, measuring from the outer edge of the border, to the bottom, measured to the outer edge of the border, the measurement is at the greatest distance.

Width: The distance across, measured from the left outer edge of the border to the right border outer edge, measured at the widest point.

Arrow Left: Means an arrow with the head on the left end of the arrow shaft - as you look at it.

Arrow Right: Means an arrow with the head on the right end of the arrow shaft - as you look at it.

Color Abbreviations 

AQU Aqua DGR Dark Green LGL Light Gold PTQ Pale Turquoise
BBL Bright Blue DGY Dark Gray LGR Light Green PUR Purple
BEG Beige DKH Dark Khaki LGY Light Gray PYL Pale Yellow
BGR Bright Green DMR Dark Maroon LIM Lime RBL Royal Blue
BGR Blue Green DOL Dark Olive LOL Light Olive RBR Red Brown
BGY Blue Gray DOR Dark Orange LOR Light Orange RED Red
BLK Black DPK Dark Pink LPK Light Pink RMY Red Mylar
BLU Blue DPN Dark Pink LPR Light Purple ROR Red Orange
BMY Blue Mylar DPR Dark Purple LRD Light Red RUS Rust
BOR Burnt Orange DRD Dark Red LTN Light Tan RWB Red/White/Blue
BPK Bright Pink DTN Dark Tan LTQ Light Turquoise SAL Salmon
BPR Bright Purple DTQ Dark Turquoise LVI Light Violet SAM Salmon
BRD Bright Red DVI Dark Violet LYL Light Yellow SMY Silver Mylar
BRN Brown DYL Dark Yellow MAN Manila, Buff TAN Tan
BRZ Bronze FLS Flesh MAR Maroon TUR Turquoise
BTQ Bright Turquoise GBR Gray Brown MBL Medium Blue TRQ Turquoise
BTR Bright Turquoise GBR Golden Brown MNT Mint VIO Violet
BUF Buff GLD Gold MPR Medium Purple WHT White
BWR Blue/White/Red GMY Gold Mylar MUS Mustard WIN Wine
BYL Bright Yellow GRN Green NBL Navy Blue YEL Yellow
CBR Chocolate Brown GRY Gray OBR Olive Brown YGR Yellow Green
CHR Charcoal KAK Khaki OLV Olive YOR Yellow Orange
COP Copper KHA Khaki ORG Orange M/C Multi-Colored
CRM Cream LAV Lavender PBL Pale Blue    
DBB Dark Bright Blue LBB Light Bright Blue PCH Peach    
DBL Dark Blue LBF Light Buff PGR Pale Green    
DBR Dark Brown LBL Light Blue PNK Pink    
DGL Dark Gold LBR Light Brown PPN Pale Pink    

Colors are often subjective and descriptions are therefore open to interpretation. An absolute scale has been utilized in describing colors. Rather than saying that a color is darker or lighter than another, the position it holds in the color scale is used. For example, consider the color scale for blue:

Pale Blue    Light Blue    Bright Blue    Royal Blue    Dark Blue    Navy Blue

The color gold is the color of a gold coin, and not intended to describe a gold-colored mylar thread. Where gold mylar thread is used, it is so noted within the color code listing. In this example, the color code would be "GMY".

Miscellaneous Abbreviations

A Arrowhead Shaped N Neckerchief Patch or Silk Screened
ANN Lodge Anniversary NOAC Lodge Delegatio0n to NOAC
B Bullion Emblem NT No Twill
B Brotherhood O Ordeal
Beading Thin Embroidered Border OCT Octagon Shaped Patch
BIC Bicentennial Issue 1976 ORD Issued to Ordeal Members
BMT Base Material P Prototype Emblem
BRO Issued to Brotherhood Members PB Plastic Back
C Chenille Emblem PEN Pentagon Shaped Patch
C Cut Edge QC Quarter Circle Shaped Patch
CB Cloth Back R Round Shaped Patch
CD Computer Generated Design R Rolled Edge
C/E Cut Edge R/E Rolled Edge
DIA Diamond Shaped Emblem S Solid - Fully Embroidered Flap Shape
DIAG Diagonally Stitched Embroidery SQU Square Shaped Patch
ELG Elangomate SS Scout Sign ( similar to FDL)
EMB Embroidered SSC Silk Screened Design
F Not Fully Embroidered Flap-Shape Patch TFL Trefoil ( similar to FDL)
FDL Fleur-De-Lis TL Twill left ( as your looking at it)
FELT Made of Felt TLR Twill Left, Rough Rows
FR/E Flat Rolled Edge TLS Twill Left, Smooth Rows
HEX Hexagon Shaped Patch TR Twill Right
HMVE Hand Made Variations Exist TRR Twill right, Rough Rows
HOR Horizontally Stitched Embroidery TRS Twill Right, Smooth Rows
J Jacket Patch TRI Triangular Shaped Patch
JAM Lodge Delegation to Jamboree Patch TVE Twill Varieties Exist
L Patch Made of Leather V Vigil
M Patch Made of Metal VER Vertical Stitched Embroidery
MVE Minor Variations Exist VIG Issued to Vigil Members
MVE Many Varieties Exist X Odd-shaped Patch (oval Rect, etc)
 
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Southern Sierra Council
Boy Scouts of America
2417 M Street
Bakersfield, CA 93301