All these arrows on this site notice a few folks have their own shield profile designed feathers...

I have a burner and in the past have made my own design too, but put it away and went to choppers for the simplicity and now personally shoot 5-1/2" high back shields... Papa Bear also shot a modified shield and few years back maybe it was 3Rivers or another company were talking about duplicating the profile for a commercial feather chopper but it never came about... Anyhow, anybody have a picture of Fred's shields profile... Thanks...

Id like to see some pics

Photo of one of Fred Bear's hunting arrows. Does not show feather profile very well but it gives you an idea of what he liked. Arrow is also signed by Bear. Yes this is an authentic Fred Bear hunting arrow, here's the story.....in June of 1974 Fred Bear and a number of Bear Archery executives hunted bear at Bear Paw landing in Ontario, Canada. The camp was owned and operated by Bear's friend Gordy Bentley of Madison, WI. On the last day of the hunt Gordy took six arrows from Bear's quiver, handed them to Bear and said something to the effect of, "Here, I stole these from you, sign them for me." Since they were friends Gordy could get away with this! Anyways, Bear did as asked. Shortly after that one of the arrows was passed on to me and I have kept it all these years. Years later I mentioned this to Bear and he asked about Gordy and chuckled at the memory. The last photo is a pic of two Roy Case arrows and the Bear arrow.

I was looking at the 1974 Bear catalog. It looks like Mr. Fred took the aluminum shafts that had been dipped and crested and put on the color nock he liked and the shield feathers. I have read when preparing for a hunt he would take what he wanted off the line like arrows. Being there are no arrows in the catalog with shield cut feathers I imagine Fred made up his own. Course I am speculating but that in itself is interesting to me.

Bill, thamks for sharing your photos.

Hello Thomas - I too think it is interesting that the 1974 Bear catalog does not show arrows for sale with half-shield shaped feathers. Although not so popular today, that shape was the standard for the majority of the last century. I don't have, but wish I did, a 1974 Bear catalog to scan to check this. (Not that I doubt what you wrote, but it seems strange they'd leave this out.) Anyways, I believe there is some history to be learned here. Just for some interesting reading I refer to I REMEMBER PAPA BEAR by Dick Lattimer, in particular pages 186-195 that tell the story of Fred's hunt at Bear Paw Landing. Plus there's a photo of Gordon Bentley and the Bear Company executives. But most importantly page 192 shows the cover of THE ARCHER'S BIBLE by Fred Bear, revised edition, which shows Bear shooting his compound bow. A close look reveals the arrows in his bow quiver have half-shield shape fletching that appear to be mostly light colored and they have a white dip. The caption on the photo indicates Lattimer took this photo of Bear while he was at Bear Paw Landing. Who knows, perhaps the arrow I have is actually one of those in this photo? We'll never know, but it is an interesting thought.

Not sure if this is same profile . Cut those on a little chopper it's called a modified shield

Somebody here years ago had the profile in a jpg file that was to scale… and I printed it off and bent a wire to it and burned some feathers to shoot out of an A Mag I was hunting with…

I’ve searched and searched and can’t find it anywhere in the threads…

I did happen to save a jpg file… not sure if it will come through correct or not…

Casekiska, check out the website vintagearchery.org You will find Bear catalogs under the library drop-down. That is where I looked. There is a mom-pop company that reprints the old catalogs. Supposedly they are on EBay. Unfortunately my old brain doesn’t remember their name, sorry. Back to your OP. Not sure if 3Rivers will make you a custom chopper? I tried a couple times last year but never succeeded. I even sent a profile I made from 1/4” plywood.

Thanks folks...

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