I'm looking for 10 or 12 Ben Pearson 4x4 skeleton broadheads. Next season I intend to hunt with an "all 1958 vintage Pearson" setup-bow, arrows, broadheads, quiver. I've got everything except for the broadheads.
The 4x4 skeleton started in 1947 to 1953 -three bat wing versions, two barbed versions,one square shoulder version,and two sloped shoulder versions. The closest to 1958 would be the 1956-57 forged 788 and 789
I was basing my request on a page from a Pearson Catalog (I printed it out) on the now defunct Archery Archives website that shows 100 gr versions of the 781 (barbed) and 782 (sloped) broadheads were available in 1957, both 4x4. Wade Phillips' book shows a barbed and sloped 4x4 (shorter than the 1947 and 1950 versions) were produced in 1953. My Joe St. Charles compilation book shows that the "short" 781 and 782 were introduced in 1953. Do these dates indicate the first year of production or the only year of production? I haven't had any luck finding anything specific for 1958. I had hoped the BH's introduced in 1953, and shown as available in 1957, were still used in 1958.
I like your idea - had the same myself.
Instead, I went for a 125 gr ("Slim") Ribtek broadhead. These are great on whitetail and will split a rib and still exit (The one in the image passed completely through a seven-point buck after slicing a rib). Hold up to ground impact & trees, too. Unfortunately, they're no longer being imported to the US that I know of and the shipping is a killer from Australia.
Can still be had for less than the Pearson skeleton ferrules on that large auction site. (And they have a stronger tip, too).
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v169/Stumpkiller/Bowhunting/HPIM2054.jpg)
Stumpkiller-I just talked with a friend this past week-end at the Kalamazoo Expo in Michigan and he is importing those Ribtek broadheads from Australia.I believe he is the only one currently doing this.He showed me a couple he had in his pocket,reminded me of the old Ben Pearson skeleton heads.
Johnny,
Does your friend sell to the public? If so, would you send me his contact info please?
Since I don't have any Pearson catalogs I have no idea how long they were carried. The dates I gave were first know production.