What kind of cresting patterns was used in the past? There have to be a lot of 18. and 19. century old English, French, Belgian, etc. target arrows but I can't find any colour photos - not from internet or from literature. The only one is in this article, where is one picture of blue and gold arrow cresting:

http://www.bow- international.com/features/traditional/a- mystery-revived-2/

So, would you have any photos or sources, for example museums digital archives, etc.? Thanks!

Cresting used to be mostly 'functional' - to determine whose arrow it was. I can't recall seeing many really 'fancy' arrows back in the 70's-80's.

I'm sure they were out there. Wider availability of cresting machines probaby turned loose a lot of 'artists'. I've seen some amazing work posted here on the 'Wall.

Hoping this brings some 'oldies' into the light.

An old arrow of mine from the 1970s.

My arrow pictured above isn't real old but I always liked the color combination on it. Guess that's why I saved it all these years. It's cedar. I've never had to straighten it in all the years I've had it.

I recall back in the 1950's most of the quality POC arrows had a 8 - 10" colored "dip" (most often white) on the nock end and then had a multi-colored cresting pattern. This cresting pattern was often elaborate and was applied to separate the dip color from the natural wood shaft. The shaft was normally protected with a clear lacquer with the wood grain showing through. The major color of the crest often matched or contrasted with the cock feather color and was hi-lighted with silver or gold trim edging. To the best of my knowledge the great majority of arrow makers in the 1950s used lacquer and not varnish, paint or some other type of protective and decorative coating.

Here in Wisconsin there was an unusual sort of arrow crest which may have been unique to our state. It consisted of a small amount of cresting (complementing or matching that near the feathers) applied to the lower end of the arrowshaft immediately behind the broadhead. This was for identification purposes. It seems that in the days of high concentrations of bowhunters in limited areas (such as at the Necedah Wildlife refuge on the late season opening weekend) disputes often arose over who shot a deer. When the arrow broke off inside the deer this bit of cresting could prove ownership even if the two bowhunters used the same broadhead.

I've posted some 19th century arrows pics on your post over on TradTalk

An arrow sold by Thomas Aldred probably made sometime around 1860 - 1870, by Harry Purle

Thanks Phil! That was just I was looking for!

Would you have more...

I remember that you posted some photos on TradTalk but can't find them.

Ok, I can see the new ones on TradTalk. But there was some older topic too?

Phil, That arrow have an aluminum nock? I have a few aluminum nocks but never knew how old they were.

No Jon ... it's just painted silver

Almost all 19th century arrows were nock spliced with either horn or hard woods as this example of an arrow made for bowyer William Fergie shows

Here are some.

Not ancient but here's an old Ben Pearson crest.

From around the early 1940s. Purpleheart footed target arrow. Fletching is new but same shape

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