BSA Best Pin

[EmberMike]

I should know this, and I hate to admit it... I don't know what the BSA Best pin signifies. They sell them on scoutstuff but without any real description, and I can't seem to find anything about it in any of my literature, unless I've just overlooked it. 

 

http://www.scoutstuff.org/bsa/uniforms-insignia/insignia-metal/pins/bsar-best-pin.html

 

Is it just a catch-all random recognition device? Or does it stand for something specific? 

 

[Eagle94-A1]

"BSA Best" was the "brand" of merchandise that was produced specifically for the BSA and sold by national supply. The nylon Yucca Rangers, several styles of sleeping bags and external backpacks, etc had that logo. This was the logo circa late 1980s to mid 1990s if memory serves.  All I know is that I wanted some of the merchandise when I was a Scout, but ended up with USGI surplus.

 

If you look closely in this picture, the black nylon Yucca Ranger pack has the BSA Best logo on it. http://www.terapeak.com/worth/hillary-and-bsa-best-cruiser-external-frame-green-nylon-backpack-open-32-x-16/282224140930/

[Eagle94-A1]

Forgot to add, it's a generic hat pin, not authorized for uniform wear.

 

https://books.google.com/books?id=mT46AQAAIAAJ&pg=RA12-PA9&lpg=RA12-PA9&dq=%22BSA+BEST%22+merchandise&source=bl&ots=xUBhxJugIL&sig=RV3f03OaoVF6MbAB0Rngl9N4Ukg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj275yj4JLSAhXJbiYKHWseBr0Q6AEIPTAH#v=onepage&q=%22BSA%20BEST%22%20merchandise&f=false

 

and I forgot about the "Black Bull" brand.  https://books.google.com/books?id=imYEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA45&lpg=PA45&dq=%22BSA+BEST%22+merchandise&source=bl&ots=_Vwdyun-4b&sig=k8cAIWlLKfGfnE-5VzfNo0qrcuQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj275yj4JLSAhXJbiYKHWseBr0Q6AEINjAF#v=onepage&q=%22BSA%20BEST%22%20merchandise&f=false

 

 

and an ad being sold on Ebay http://www.ebay.com/itm/1984-Boy-Scouts-New-Horizons-Combo-Backpack-BSA-BEST-photo-vintage-print-Ad/142277140241?_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D41376%26meid%3D210063ad849742738fbe2210f6bd0960%26pid%3D100011%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D142244594417

 

1984 must have been the year the brand came out as the photo of the backpack has the generic BSA logo used on red jackets.

[NJCubScouter]

I guess that is why I have never seen this. 80's through mid-90s is when I was not involved in Scouting.

[EmberMike]

Does the brand still exist at all today?

 

If it's an old brand of goods, what's the purpose of the pin in the scoutstuff store now as, seemingly, the only remaining BSA Best product? 

[Eagle94-A1]

Does the brand still exist at all today?

 

If it's an old brand of goods, what's the purpose of the pin in the scoutstuff store now as, seemingly, the only remaining BSA Best product? 

 

No, it does not exist today and the purpose of selling them is to get rid of them. You would be surprised what supply still has in its warehouse.  In 2010, I bought some Sea Scout merchandise, and it still had the Sea Explorer labels on it. Sea Exploring became Sea Scouts again in 1998!

Edited February 15, 2017 by Eagle94-A1