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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Tajue17 on April 06, 2026, 10:38:18 AM

Title: Turkey feather rest
Post by: Tajue17 on April 06, 2026, 10:38:18 AM
Anyone have any experience with this rest,, does it last long and if you had one, and with it being a bit high im wondering if it messes with the tiller..

I have a bow with such a low shelf im hitting hand with fletching and because i shoot many other bows i dont want to change my grip style. 

Lastly i was going to try velcro or a bear rug rest,,, or a DIY rug type rest.
Title: Re: Turkey feather rest
Post by: Pine on April 06, 2026, 11:23:58 AM
My favorite. 
Keeps the arrow in place and is more forgiving than a solid shelf.
Title: Re: Turkey feather rest
Post by: M60gunner on April 06, 2026, 07:04:31 PM
I put one on my Vintage Works 62 Kodak mainly for aesthetic reasons but found I like it better than just a plain rug rest. Heavy arrows don't seem to wear it out either. I will admit the bow has not been in any wet weather so I cannot comment on how it will hold up wet.
Title: Re: Turkey feather rest
Post by: Phil Magistro on April 06, 2026, 08:52:19 PM
I began using feather rests in the 1960s. They work extremely well.  Jack Howard put them on his Gamemaster and Gamemaster Jet recurves.

I've made many of these rests using Jack's formula of three right and three left wing feathers. It makes a durable, very functional rest.
Title: Re: Turkey feather rest
Post by: Bowsey Wails on April 07, 2026, 11:20:01 AM
Phil, could you explain the order of right-left feathers? Is it simply alternating right then left?
Title: Re: Turkey feather rest
Post by: Phil Magistro on April 07, 2026, 10:49:30 PM
The three rights are grouped together and the three lefts are grouped together. When glued the rights push against the lefts giving a bit more strength.  I trim the quills so the feathers sit close together. I cut the feathers to length and let them high enough so I had something to hold as I glued them on a thin piece of leather.  Then I burned the them to shape.
Title: Re: Turkey feather rest
Post by: rainman on April 07, 2026, 11:07:55 PM
What glue do you use to glue the feathers to the leather?  Thanks for showing this by the way. 
Title: Re: Turkey feather rest
Post by: Bowsey Wails on April 08, 2026, 06:12:47 AM
Thanks for sharing, Phil. :thumbsup: Greatly appreciated!
Title: Re: Turkey feather rest
Post by: BAK on April 08, 2026, 09:30:40 AM
Yes, very easy to make.  I used them for years but finally stopped as I didn't like the scratchy sound they make when drawing the arrow across them.  Had a black bear do a somersault and run up in Ontario when he heard it.
Title: Re: Turkey feather rest
Post by: Phil Magistro on April 08, 2026, 10:49:05 PM
Rainman, I used Duco cement.
Title: Re: Turkey feather rest
Post by: rainman on April 09, 2026, 07:34:31 AM
Quote from: Phil Magistro on April 08, 2026, 10:49:05 PMRainman, I used Duco cement.
Thank you Phil.
Title: Re: Turkey feather rest
Post by: Tajue17 on April 13, 2026, 05:41:22 AM
Thanks everyone for the posts,,, BAK brought up a good point... do you other guys find them loud and if so do they get quieter with more use? 

Also i wonder if 3 rivers version is 3left and 3 right but maybe has to be otherwise they'd lay down quick.
Title: Re: Turkey feather rest
Post by: Orion on April 14, 2026, 11:05:17 AM
Phil.  What's the maximum height of your feathers, about a half-inch? 
Title: Re: Turkey feather rest
Post by: Phil Magistro on April 14, 2026, 04:09:15 PM
It is about 1/2".  I like to keep them so the full oil line is visible.
Title: Re: Turkey feather rest
Post by: rainman on April 21, 2026, 01:25:45 PM
Just tried the one last night that I got from Three Rivers and I like it a lot.  Seemed very quiet to me but I think I can make my own so I will do that for my Black Widow.