Bearpaw's new feather chopper

[BOWMARKS]

I see Bearpaw has come out with a new feather chopper. A hammer type. Has anyone used one yet?

[Jack Denbow]

I haven't used one yet but I ordered one a couple of days ago. It looks like it may even be better than the Vario. One thing I like about it is that you can get spare parts, rubber strips, base plate, etc. I can't wait for it to get here.
Jack

[STICKBENDER98]

I have'nt used a bearpaw, I use a little chopper, I looked at the bearpaws at the trad bow show here in Kalamazoo last weekend, I liked the looks of them, replaceable cutters so you can get multiple cutters and only have to buy one block.

[bsv]

who sells them?

[Alexander Traditional]

It looked like Kustom King had them.

[Paul_R]

Lancaster also sells 'em

[STICKBENDER98]

Looked at them at the Kustom King booth at the show in Kalamazoo, looks similar to the little choppers, costs a little more, but the replaceable cutters were about half the price.  Looked to be well built too.

[Paul_R]

Here's a video demo. It's in German but you'll get the idea.

   

[BOWMARKS]

I watched video also when the spring operated chopper came out it also looked good as all adds do from the manufacturers.

I am looking for someone who has actually seen it work or has used one.

At least you can Get spare parts for these  3 Rivers stopped that luxury!!!

[JeffR]

I don't have the spring loaded version.  I just received the version Kustom King sells and gave it a try yesterday.

There is a bit of a learning curve if you're used to the Little Chopper.  On the Bearpaw, the side that holds the feather is the 'lid' so to speak and the feather goes in upside down with respect to the way the Little Chopper loads/functions.

The foam runners that grab the quill work well, but this part gets chewed up pretty quick.

The cutting blade itself sits in a plastic piece that is held in the base by a couple of screws through a plastic tab on either side.  I got through about 4 feathers when one of the tabs broke.  I was using a rubber mallet and had the cutter on a fairly firm surface.  Didn't feel to me like I overdid that particular whack, but who knows?

Even with one tab broken, it'll still work properly.  The replacement blades are fairly inexpensive so I may just order one and try it again.