Handicraft Merit Badge History

Earned through 1944600,551

Best year194445,697 earned

All-time popularity#63official, as of 2020#65by 2025 (estimate)

Earned by Year

First earned in 1911. Peak year 1944 with 45,697. Hover over or tap a year for its numbers.

19111 earned#16 of 22

191253 earned#10 of 51

1913135 earned#14 of 56

1914449 earned#7 of 58

1915443 earned#7 of 58

1916426 earned#13 of 56

1917872 earned#12 of 58

1918960 earned#13 of 58

19193,226 earned#6 of 59

19202,129 earned#12 of 59

19213,433 earned#12 of 61

19224,537 earned#14 of 61

19234,856 earned#14 of 63

19244,603 earned#14 of 64

19256,510 earned#13 of 64

192610,335 earned#11 of 65

192712,822 earned#10 of 68

192819,870 earned#3 of 88

192926,037 earned#3 of 89

193026,719 earned#3 of 92

193129,364 earned#3 of 96

193230,726 earned#3 of 98

193332,538 earned#3 of 101

193429,420 earned#2 of 101

193532,297 earned#2 of 101

193627,589 earned#2 of 101

193730,801 earned#1 of 102

193836,506 earned#2 of 105

193938,618 earned#2 of 106

194038,827 earned#2 of 106

194133,525 earned#2 of 106

194232,237 earned#3 of 110

194333,990 earned#4 of 112

194445,697 earned#2 of 111

"#2 of 111" means the badge was number 2 of the 111 merit badges earned that year. The 2025 all-time place is an estimate, because the counts for 2021 to 2025 are worked out from each year's official ranking and the total number of merit badges earned that year.

19111#16 of 22

191253#10 of 51

1913135#14 of 56

1914449#7 of 58

1915443#7 of 58

1916426#13 of 56

1917872#12 of 58

1918960#13 of 58

19193,226#6 of 59

19202,129#12 of 59

19213,433#12 of 61

19224,537#14 of 61

19234,856#14 of 63

19244,603#14 of 64

19256,510#13 of 64

192610,335#11 of 65

192712,822#10 of 68

192819,870#3 of 88

192926,037#3 of 89

193026,719#3 of 92

193129,364#3 of 96

193230,726#3 of 98

193332,538#3 of 101

193429,420#2 of 101

193532,297#2 of 101

193627,589#2 of 101

193730,801#1 of 102

193836,506#2 of 105

193938,618#2 of 106

194038,827#2 of 106

194133,525#2 of 106

194232,237#3 of 110

194333,990#4 of 112

194445,697#2 of 111

Grand total through 1944:

This page keeps growing. More of this badge's history, including its patches and pamphlets, is being checked and will be added once it is confirmed.

Handicraft: workbook data

Printings (30)

Have	Year	Month	Cover	Run	Notes
c	1920		1C		hb 20th edition reference
c	1920		2		20c Radio
	1921	not made
	1922	not made
c	1923		2
x	1924		2
x	1925		3A		"Oh, Scout" ad back inside page
x	1925		3A		"Don't Miss Your Boy's Life" ad back inside page
c	1926		3A
	1927		3A
	1927		3A		with pasted 1928 requirements
	1928		3B
x	1928		3B		with pasted 1929 requirements
x	1929		3B
c	1930	January	3
x	1930	April	3B
x	1930	November	3B
x	1931	March	3B
x	1931	August	3B
x	1932	March	3B	1M
c	1933	March	3B	1M
x	1934	April	3B	1M
x	1934	November	3B	1M
x	1935	March	3B	1M
x	1935	November	3B	2M
	1936	not made
x	1937	January	3C	3M
x	1938	October	3C	2M
x	1939	September	3C	2M
x	1940	December	4	2M
x	1941	July	4	2M
x	1942	May	4	3M
	1943	October	4	5M

Earned and rank by year

Year	Earned	Rank	Of
1911	1	16	22
1912	53	10	51
1913	135	14	56
1914	449	7	58
1915	443	7	58
1916	426	13	56
1917	872	12	58
1918	960	13	58
1919	3,226	6	59
1920	2,129	12	59
1921	3,433	12	61
1922	4,537	14	61
1923	4,856	14	63
1924	4,603	14	64
1925	6,510	13	64
1926	10,335	11	65
1927	12,822	10	68
1928	19,870	3	88
1929	26,037	3	89
1930	26,719	3	92
1931	29,364	3	96
1932	30,726	3	98
1933	32,538	3	101
1934	29,420	2	101
1935	32,297	2	101
1936	27,589	2	101
1937	30,801	1	102
1938	36,506	2	105
1939	38,618	2	106
1940	38,827	2	106
1941	33,525	2	106
1942	32,237	3	110
1943	33,990	4	112
1944	45,697	2	111