I have got a small piece of pre banned seal skin and would like to use it as an arrow rest/strike plate.

With regards to the best performance and longevity of the rest, how should one orient the skin with respect to the nap of the fur?

I see three possibilities

1. The nap should point in the same direction as the flight of the arrow, i.e. point away from the archer.

2. The nap should point towards the archer.

3. The nap should be perpendicular to the arrow flight direction, i.e. point in the same direction of the cock feather. Intuitively, I feel possibility 1 should be chosen.

However, I am aware that intuition does not always provide the correct solution.

What do you guys feel is the best orientation of the nap of the fur? Many thanks Hylax

#1

Away. The stuff is slick but does wear over time.

#1

# 1

#1..shoot straight

#1

In theory. How ever it looks better to me #2 and makes no difference if your arrow isn't too stiff.

#1 always

# 1 always as you are going with the lay of the fur. I can't see any advantage in any other way..be like rubbing a cat's fur backward..won't work For long!! Sandy

#1 Live in Canada so use it a lot.

I got about 6 square feet left. It goes along ways and I am not concerned nor do I see any wear what so ever. Rooty

I was gifted several unique pieces from Sandy.

I think when you have a hair rest or tab, etc., it just makes sense to shoot with the grain. It will last longer. If your arrows are smooth though, and spined properly, it don't make much difference I guess. I think most guys around here sell or trade their bows before they wear out a rest or side plate. Seal skin is tough material. That said, tanned leather is plenty good for arrow rest/plate as is Velcro.

My supply of seal was a generous gift from codjigger as well.

Too bad that its import into the US is banned...a useful material, the harvest of which was an important cultural tradition.

I tried Sealskin as a strike plate and it didn’t last very long. I mounted it with the knap going in the direction of the arrow. I can’t imagine mounting it any other way, as indicated by the previous comments.

Well that seems to be an overwhelming consensus for #1.

Very grateful thanks to all for your advice and granting me the benefit of your experience.

This is greatly appreciated!

Warmest regards from Shanghai.

Hylax

Lol as some know I like going against the grain just for sport. Rooty

too stiff arrow and too low nok point on a magnetic flipper rest. first shot,,off went the nylon protector, second shot off went the rest of the rest except for the side plate... a well tuned arrow is easy on the rest and side plate.....ron

Don't have any seal skin but with all hair tabs and arrow rests the hair lies in the direction the arrow/string is going. that gives the smoothest surface and best wear. >>>----> Ken

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