Hilbre anybody?

[PEARL DRUMS]

Has anybody ever seen or heard of a Hilbre broad head?..............Me neither!?!?

[robtattoo]

I've got a half dozen in my Broadhead Bucket.

Umm, they're crap. The flexible plastic ferrule splits easily, they bend as soon as you look at them & they're a pig to sharpen. Save 'em for bunnies & skwerls.

[PEARL DRUMS]

Thanks. I figured they were junk-ola just by a glance. I just wondered what in H they were. Bunny thumpin' is coming!

[SCATTERSHOT]

Yeah, I had a few once, and they were junk, as you surmise. As old as they are, I'm not sure they would hold up on a tough bunny. Maybe, though.....

[adeeden]

Some Hilbre's except for the two on the right on the bottom row!

And yeah there not the best head ever made.

[PEARL DRUMS]

They were attached to some cedar arrows and stuffed in a garbage' can along with an OLD, OLD yew or osage self bow with funny looking "hook" limb tips. The bow draws and shoots fine out to 27-28". It shoots hard. I wouldnt be suprised if it is at least 60 yrs old. My buddy the refuse collector snagged them out of a trash can knowing I would want them......

[Stumpkiller]

The other two are Bolos.  Before you toss them at bunnies you might offer up some to collectors in exchange for a head you do like.  Most will trade 1:1 for heads they don't have (though Hilbres are pretty common).  There are thousands of different broadheads so it makes a great collection for bowhunters.

Funny thing about broadhead collecting.  The terrible ones are more interesting and popular than the sensible and good quality ones.

[kill shot]

Easy does it now when you talk about the Hilbre's. Remember that they came out when archery was more or less being reinvented. Bow hunting was still in the early stages as far as popularity goes. People were taking 100 yard shots at deer. A quiver full of Hilbre's looked pretty wicked. I have a few,there junk. But I see a little history when I look at them. Besides, my dad got a deer with one back in 1964. I took the arrow to school for show and tell when I was in the 2nd grade and everyone including the teacher thought it was cool. Those were the days.

[robtattoo]

Ooooh....need pics of the bow please!

[bowhunterfrompast]

The first production model Hilbre, 2 blade barbed, 1954.
 

[kill shot]

Robert, if your talking to me, it was a 1963 or 64 Bear Polar. 45# 66". The bow gave up the ghost about 2 years ago. I'll post the pic as soon as I can.

[bowhunterfrompast]

Second production model Hilbre, 2 blade semi-barbed, 1957.
 

[bowhunterfrompast]

Hilbre 4 blade, semi-barbed, 1959.
 

[SELFBOW19953]

The only thing I ever shot with Hilbre's was an armadillo.  I was shooting the 2 blade barbed and had to perform an autopsy to get the steel part back after I pulled the arrow out.

[kill shot]

Here is a picture of my dad with a deer taken with a Hilbre back in 1964.

[bowhunterfrompast]

Hilbre 4 blade, sloped shoulder, 1966.

Using the same ferrule, many variations in blade width and length resulted in variations of weights 112 gr, 140 gr, or 164 gr.
 

[bowhunterfrompast]

Chris....PM sent...

[kill shot]

pic did not load. aka, I don't know how to do it.

[Bowwild]

I remember the Super Hilbre. I never shot them because I always figured they would be very fragile. In the days before we were using hooded bow quivers my buddy introduced his right knee cap to one of these super pointy broadheads. They were a menance to my childhood friend called Dennis!

[elknutz]

This is very interesting.  I have an arrow that was found on our farm in the early 60's.  It has the four blade Hilbre arrowhead on it with the bleeders removed.  I had never heard of it.