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Main Boards => Trad History/Collecting => Topic started by: Tedd on February 24, 2016, 09:34:00 PM

Title: Are old Microflight arrows a collectors item?
Post by: Tedd on February 24, 2016, 09:34:00 PM
I acquired some old Microflight 10 shafts. Any value to them? They have Hilbre heads on them.
Where they carbon or fiberglass? They really seem to have the same feel as flexing a wood shaft. Like less quick recovery compared to modern carbon?  I wonder if they were less sensitive to tune than modern shafts?
These are about 28"-29". Too short for me.
Tedd
Title: Re: Are old Microflight arrows a collectors item?
Post by: kill shot on February 24, 2016, 09:59:00 PM
They were fiberglass. The hilbre heads were black plastic with steel blades and a bleeder blade. Back in the 60's the microflights were great. I cant really brag about the hilbre hornets as they were called but the whole setup still has the cool facter.
Title: Re: Are old Microflight arrows a collectors item?
Post by: WESTBROOK on February 24, 2016, 10:04:00 PM
I dont think they are a collectors item, but there are people that still like to shoot them(microflites) and will buy them.
Title: Re: Are old Microflight arrows a collectors item?
Post by: Bob Gulliksen on February 24, 2016, 10:26:00 PM
I've been collecting broadheads for over 20 years and have never heard of Hilbre being called a Hornet. There was a broadhead called Hills Hornet.
Title: Re: Are old Microflight arrows a collectors item?
Post by: WESTBROOK on February 24, 2016, 10:29:00 PM
ooops
Title: Re: Are old Microflight arrows a collectors item?
Post by: Orion on February 24, 2016, 10:30:00 PM
Micro-flites were the top of the line fiberglass arrow of the day.  Like most fiberglass arrows, they were susceptible to having the point driven back into the shaft, splitting it, on hard hits. Most of us never thought about footing them back then like many do with carbons now.  I'm sure that would have stopped the splitting problem. They're generally heavier than carbons, quite comparable to wood in weight.

For the most part, they're not collector items, though there may be a few folks around who collect them.  I shoot mine.
Title: Re: Are old Microflight arrows a collectors item?
Post by: Tedd on February 24, 2016, 10:32:00 PM
Those Hilbres have a needle point. Looks like the owner never sharpened them out of the pack, but they were all fletched up and loaded in the bear spring clip quiver ready to hunt. The bow is a 66. I think it had the original string and those might have been the original and only arrows? Or not . Who knows.
Title: Re: Are old Microflight arrows a collectors item?
Post by: reddogge on February 24, 2016, 10:43:00 PM
They were heavy compared to aluminum and carbon but some guys like that. They were slower to recover from paradox. They splintered quickly when whanged off of a tree or something. I used to shoot them decades ago and can assure you much better arrow shafts are out there.
Title: Re: Are old Microflight arrows a collectors item?
Post by: Anointed Archer on February 25, 2016, 02:14:00 PM
Yeah Ted I am one of those guys that still like shooting them. I shoot #10's and 11's so if you want to get rid of them let me know
Title: Re: Are old Microflight arrows a collectors item?
Post by: Ray Lyon on February 25, 2016, 10:24:00 PM
I have shot Microflite arrows on and off since the early 80's. I've found them to be durable.  With a HTM rubber blunt on the point end they make a great stumping arrow.
Title: Re: Are old Microflight arrows a collectors item?
Post by: M60gunner on February 26, 2016, 06:52:00 PM
I used to use them as well. I liked the weight plus they stayed straighter than woods ( could not afford alum yet). I used mine up bunny hunting. As for collecting, maybe if someone was making a display like in a man cave.
Title: Re: Are old Microflight arrows a collectors item?
Post by: bill langer on February 27, 2016, 08:34:00 PM
I remember them as super hilbres that we tipped our micro-flite 7's with.
At least that is what we called them.

My Dad used them, so that's what I used when I first started. I have one left. The rest are scattered all over the hills of Connecticut.
I went to cedars and zwickeys after that.
Title: Re: Are old Microflight arrows a collectors item?
Post by: Archery_Collector on February 29, 2016, 03:43:00 PM
They may not be worth much but I collect them. I shot them when they came out, I was a youth and for a kid bouncing them off trees, they were great! They do have a pretty severe chiscel point. I have maybe a dozen of all different sizes.
Title: Re: Are old Microflight arrows a collectors item?
Post by: Wade Phillips on February 29, 2016, 06:31:00 PM
Micro-Flites are an interesting part of our history. Those of us who shoot only vintage equipment like the old stuff that still works, even though it may not stand up to the high end performance of the latest state of the art tackle.

Tedd & WESTBROOK -

Microflites sometimes have surprising value as collectible items, e.g., especially "Bear Micro-Flite Arrows" when they are in the original Bear box with the original "Bear Micro-Flite Arrows" label...

Archery_Collector -

If you have a dozen of all 13 Micro-Flite sizes, you have far more of the smaller sizes than anyone I have heard of.
Title: Re: Are old Microflight arrows a collectors item?
Post by: 4runr on March 01, 2016, 08:22:00 PM
I still like shooting mine.
Title: Re: Are old Microflight arrows a collectors item?
Post by: Archery_Collector on March 02, 2016, 07:30:00 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Wade Phillips:

Archery_Collector -

If you have a dozen of all 13 Micro-Flite sizes, you have far more of the smaller sizes than anyone I have heard of.
Maybe I didnt word that properly, I have about a dozen TOTAL of varied sizes  :)  Some I have a are "zeros", ones I shot as a youth.
Title: Re: Are old Microflight arrows a collectors item?
Post by: vintage-bears on March 02, 2016, 05:00:00 PM
Me too


 (http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/tt247/87philip/IMG_0541.jpg)
Title: Re: Are old Microflight arrows a collectors item?
Post by: Phil Magistro on March 03, 2016, 09:07:00 AM
I have more than a few dozen MicroFlites - 7s,8s,9s, and 10s.  They are a nostalgic reminder of my days starting out as a bowhunter.  They are relatively heavy, especially compared to today's carbons and fun to shoot.  I haven't had much trouble breaking them stumpshooting but I don't shoot them into really hard targets.
 (http://pmagistro.com/bows/arrows/PMXT4366.jpg)
Title: Re: Are old Microflight arrows a collectors item?
Post by: GregD on March 28, 2016, 12:31:00 PM
What would the spine be equivalent to with a modern arrow? Would a ten be a .400 or a 55-60 etc.
Title: Re: Are old Microflight arrows a collectors item?
Post by: Phil Magistro on March 30, 2016, 08:26:00 PM
The old charts have some differences. On some 10s are 55-60. I shoot 8s out is my 45# bows and 9s out of my 55# bows with high performance strings.
Title: Re: Are old Microflight arrows a collectors item?
Post by: jackdaw on April 29, 2016, 10:02:00 PM
I also shoot them occssionally. Along with some of the Herters Farbenglass arrows...good stuff...