JC capes gradation / classification rules

[aleksei]

Hi All, i am looking for gradation / classification of JC capes, as i understood there are two types of capes.
First one from India, gradation as follows: Super Top / Top / AA another type of capes are genetically farmed they could be found on Ken Sawada online shop, gradation as follows: Ultra grade / Extra grade / Standard grade / Economy grade.
Is there any world classification standard or gradation standard ?
How to compare Indian capes of Top grade and Super Top grads with genetically farmed capes ?
If somebody has a classification standards or knows the gradation rules please help.

Thanks for your help
Aleksei

[Chris Reeves]

Every few years we get another promise of farmed JC but no one has yet managed to produce anything like the numbers needed to be commercially viable. I know of three people who are currently trying to breed these birds, all of whom are experienced bird breeders and boy are they struggling. The birds need space, privacy and even then are notoriously picky on who they mate with.

Genetic breeding in these circumstances would be such a slow process as to be commercially a dead duck. Thank goodness chickens mate happily with all and sundry, even so its taken Whting,Metz etc. years to reach the current stage of feather evolution.

The imported capes are graded according to feather count and size and I guess a Grade A would have no splits, lots of big nails and a good number of medium sized feathers too.

Grade B would be similar with a few splits and lower feather count

Grade C would have mostly split feathers.

This is based on feather quality alone. Once you factor in colour and size of feathers you add a whole new level.

This as you can see is totally subjective as are the grading for cock capes and the like.

I would never buy a cape without looking at it in detail (and I know some of you who live 50 miles or more away from your nearest shop will be groaning now) If you can't look at it in detail buy from someone you trust and be specific about what you want it for.

If you desperately want a JC cape ring Steve Cooper and tell him exactly what you want.
He has most grades and is 100% trustworthy. But remember you get what you pay for.

Cheers

[free the bees]

Jungle Cock, Selecting Using and Repairing - Global FlyFisher

Interesting website regarding JC

[aleksei]

Thank you for the kind reply Chris.
You think that Ken Sawada capes for more than 200 usd are imported capes from India or China...?

What woulod be the the reasonable market price for the each cape?
Very interesting to know your opinion.

"free the bees" thanks for the link, i have read it, it was first article i have found on google regarding JCC.

Aleksei

[Chris Reeves]

Grading of capes. without touching them and in no way giving any guarentee that I'm right ...

I would guess the capes were as follows

Photo 1, grade B,
Photo 2 grade C-,
Photo 3 possibly an A but it is a bit blurred,
Photo 4 a B (B-)

I would think you could get decent nails from 1,3,and 4 but wouldn't touch 2 with a barge pole. not even for repair. The others would repair up OK.
Incidentally a good way to tell imported indian skins v others is look at the back. Indian skins are always dusty and often have bits of newpaper stuck to the skin side, often with Urdu or similar writing so you know its not the "Sun"

I still think speaking to Steve Cooper at Cookhill is the best way forwards.

Hopefully someone will agree with me?

Cheers

---------- Post added at 02:49 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:45 PM ----------

Prices are difficult to compare. I've bought a couple of good B grade capes from a UK supplier while in the Netherlands last year for £25 each.

I bought a very nice cape from Steve Cooper probably an A- for around £50 last year at BFFI

Last week in the US they were selling C grade capes for 80 to 120 dollars.

I think I'm trying to say you need to decide if the cape is worth the price to you as the tier. I know the top guys will pay well over the odds for the perfect article.

Good luck with this,

[aleksei]

Dear Chris thank you for your answer.

Aleksei