Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Arrows => Topic started by: WillS on October 03, 2015, 04:42:42 pm

Title: Peacock Fletchings
Post by: WillS on October 03, 2015, 04:42:42 pm

Some new peacock fletched war arrows I finished up recently.  First try using peacock - horrible things to use, but they look ok.

Birch shafts, hand forged head.  About 116g or 1790 grains overall.  The fletchings are 8" x 5/8"

(http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb363/Will_Sherman/Bows%20and%20Arrows/IMG_20150922_122533_zpsew8vop2y.jpg) (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/Will_Sherman/media/Bows%20and%20Arrows/IMG_20150922_122533_zpsew8vop2y.jpg.html)

(http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb363/Will_Sherman/Bows%20and%20Arrows/IMG_20150924_174551516_zpsmvfma1wn.jpg) (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/Will_Sherman/media/Bows%20and%20Arrows/IMG_20150924_174551516_zpsmvfma1wn.jpg.html)

(http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb363/Will_Sherman/Bows%20and%20Arrows/IMG_20150924_174713270_zpsduvqzpni.jpg) (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/Will_Sherman/media/Bows%20and%20Arrows/IMG_20150924_174713270_zpsduvqzpni.jpg.html)

Title: Re: Peacock Fletchings
Post by: Trapper Rob on October 03, 2015, 05:33:53 pm

They look nice.

Title: Re: Peacock Fletchings
Post by: osage outlaw on October 03, 2015, 08:49:37 pm

Why are they horrible to use?  I've put them on arrows before and thought they were easier to cut and trim than turkey feathers.

Title: Re: Peacock Fletchings
Post by: bowandarrow473 on October 03, 2015, 09:58:26 pm

Some fine arrows.

Title: Re: Peacock Fletchings
Post by: WillS on October 04, 2015, 04:05:20 am

I'm used to goose.  Peacock are incredibly thin, so they refuse to stay in fletching jigs!  I'd imagine shorter ones would be fine, but at 8" long there's a lot of quill trying to curl away from the clamp, and no real thickness in the feather itself for the clamp to hold onto.

Title: Re: Peacock Fletchings
Post by: meanewood on October 08, 2015, 02:31:28 am

Hi Will
Nice arrows, are they parallel shafts up to the Fletch and then taper to the nock?
I've found it a lot easier to cut the fletch to shape after it's glued on when using long , low fletches.

Title: Re: Peacock Fletchings
Post by: WillS on October 08, 2015, 05:25:09 am

They're torpedo tapered, so they're parallel half inch for about 2/3 of the shaft, then they drop down to 3/8 at the nock.  They're all slightly different, because I was tapering them to match weight. 

I've had a go at cutting the fletchings once they're glued and just can't do it.  I find it completely impossible to keep the cut straight for 8"!  I do all of mine using the tried and trusted tape method - split the feather, grind the quill etc etc, then stick wide tape to a straight edge, stick the feather to the tape using the edge to keep it straight and pull the tape off the edge.  That way you've got a perfectly straight feather ready for marking out and cutting, and the tape holds everything in place.  Sharp knife gets it all done in a heartbeat, and each one is identical. 

Title: Re: Peacock Fletchings
Post by: Pappy on October 09, 2015, 06:32:32 am

WOW, nice arrows, love the points. :) and the feathers look good also.
 Pappy