Chinese or Indian

[lewins]

Are there any differences between Chinese and Indian capes in terms of quality, uses, natural colours etc or are they much the same?

Does anyone have a preference over the two?

Cheers

Lewins

[Chris Reeves]

The Indian capes tend to be much smaller, the size range is very limited with the majority of fetahers being short so that you only get two or three turns max out of a feather in the small sizes. Thats Ok for tying crunchers and the like but not so good for dries. The range of natural colours on Indian capes is staggering, a result of interbreeding.

Chinese capes have more feathers but the sizes tend to be larger. They are brilliant for the hackles on salmon flies or saltwater patterns

Frankly I do not use either very much these days, except when tying tradtional dries I use smallest feathers from the Indian capes for upright wings. If your tying dries then get a genetic cape.

[maharg]

Thats the nail on the head there Chris.

[lewins]

Nice one Chris,

I was tying some dusters up last night with an Indian cape and I did had to use two feathers to get a decent hackle, so I see what you mean about shorter feathers.



So would the Chinese not have any small enough for #16 - 18 dries?

[shpeil]

Originally Posted by lewins

So would the Chinese not have any small enough for #16 - 18 dries?

Just had a look at one of my chinese capes. There were a few feathers with fibre short enough for 16/18, but probably not long enough in the stem. Certainly not enough of them to make it worth buying a chinese cape for that purpose.

Neil

[monkeyhanger]

Dries = Genetic = Hofmans or Whitings Farm Saddles.
I don't like the Necks apart from the very small reathers at the top of the cape, the rest have thick stalks that are too bulky for tying.

Pulling Wets especially with palmered hackles= Indian Cock from Cookshill.

John H