whats the best kind of feathers?

[TRADITIONAL ONLY]

whats the best cut for feathers?
parabolic
shield
traditional
pope & young
others? i want to know...  

[Bowspirit]

Depends what you're needs are. I like parabolic over everything else because I prefer a truly silent arrow.
And as far as other types go, trust me, there's a whole myriad of different types out there...

[Rufus]

If there were a thousand different cuts you'd probably get a thousand different thoughts. I use a Butler cut most of the time. I think it's just because it's eye appealing to me and I have a chopper. All work for me just got a personnel cut.
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Was, is, will be. Enjoy the moment.

[TRADITIONAL ONLY]

a butler? wats that look like?

yeah, i want to know which is the quietest to the loudest. i figure the Traditional ones are the loudest, but thats what im thnkin about usin this year, ivegot shield on my shafts now and i like them over Parabolic i just want to experiment and see...

[Little John]

"Topic: whats the best kind of feathers?"

I can't hold back................Bloody!  8^)

[TRADITIONAL ONLY]

smartass... true, but still, smartass....

[Rufus]

The Butler cut is kind of like a shield cut but more curved along the length. The end has a little curve in it also instead of a severe slant. Butler Archery out of Colorado had his cutting blade put in a chopper years ago. The Butlers sold out years ago. I think maybe Wildcat Archery but don't hold me to it. Butlers were fine people.

[bbassi]

personally I like a 5.5 by 1/2 banana fletch. stable, quiet, and forgiving, not to mention they just look cool!  

[drewsbow]

Yup nanners here to , modified low profile chop. 4 3/4"

[Brian Krebs]

14 inch ostrich feathers; down under cut; right wing of course!

[Tree man]

I love the look of Shield cuts. Parabolics are superior aerodynamically and are quieter. Bananas are actually very very good aerodynaically and are quiet also...but I never have cared for their look.... It is such a dilemma that I just wrap half a rabbit hide on the back of my arras and shoot'em.

Actually I shoot  'em all plus Raptor cuts (Lots of feather  so they stabilize well but they aren't really  quiet or convenient since the ends are flapping around in the way)

[**DONOTDELETE**]

I like nana's, but that's me...

[Golden Hawk]

4 1/2"-5" Nanners 1/2" high. I use them 4 fletch in the 4 1/2" and 3 fletch in the 5".

[jonesy]

para. are the quiet'st period. jonesy

[Barney]

I've used a mixture of everything, store bought, chopped and burnt. Right now, left wing swift from a chopper.

Gotta say, nothing I've ever shot has ever said in it's dying last breath " I can't believe I didn't hear that thing coming"  

[Matty]

I shoot Both Parabolic 4" 4fletch and Shield 5" 3 fletch High Profile...  The Shield Are definately Louder ,But I think the High profile stabilizes hem fast. I think I will try Banana next I think they appeal to me..

[Ron LaClair]

I've used just about every feather cut imaginable. If I were to pick a favorite I guess it would be a shield cut, they look more traditional to me. I've never had a problem with noise with them.

Noise is caused by a feather when it's cut too high towards the thin outer edge of the feather where it's weak. This  makes the edge collapse and flutter making a buzz or hiss. White feathers are more prone to that because they don't have the body of a color dyed feather.

Remember in the movie Robin Hood with Kevin Kostner, his arrows had 5" die cut parabolic feathers. It just didn't look right to me for that time period.      

Here's a feather that I like, it's a 5 7/8" modified shield designed by Ben Pearson for Howard Hill.  

 

[TRADITIONAL ONLY]

so i guess that means that the Traditional cut feathers are really loud?

i just dont like parabolics...

ill use Shields again before i use parabolics again...

[Ron LaClair]

so i guess that means that the Traditional cut feathers are really loud?
 

Jacob, As I said in my post     ..

 

If I were to pick a favorite I guess it would be a shield cut, they look more traditional to me. I've never had a problem with noise with them.  

[Pete W]

I have noticed that as fletches become worn they are quieter.  When the feather edge is crisp and new they are louder than when the edge is worn and tapered. I try not to use new fletches for hunting, and if needed I lightly take off the sharp crisp fresh cut edge with some fine sandpaper.

The  Great Grey owl has flight feather edges like this  and is known as "silent death".It seems to work well with arrows for me also.