Navigator FMJ's with Blemishes

[Watch_Man]

My wife has just received a set of Navigator FMJ's today. As nice as they are, the first thing we noticed is that 10 of the 12 shafts have blemishes in the pattern. I know from ArcheryTalk that it was claimed Easton had recalled the first batch of Navi FMJ's in the USA due to blemishes.

I just spoke to the (UK) shop we bought them from and they had noticed some blemishes but were not aware of any recall by Easton. They are speaking to their supplier to find out if they know anything.

I appreciate the blemish won't affect performance as it is cosmetic, my concern is:

1. Has Easton dumped their recalled stock of Navi FMJ's on the European market and supplied their US dealers like Lancaster (unblemished stock) with the new production?

2. Has the European distributer bought these as seconds from Easton and pushing them out to their retailers at full price?

Has anyone else bought Navi FMJ's and got a clean blemish free set? I know my own cheaper Axis FMJ's are perfect and totally blemish free.

[Jerry Tee]

Easton know that the largest market for target arrows like the Navigator is Europe. Up untill a couple of weeks ago Lancasters' did not even have them on their web site. Why mess up your best market???

[Watch_Man]

Originally Posted by Jerry Tee

Easton know that the largest market for target arrows like the Navigator is Europe. Up untill a couple of weeks ago Lancasters' did not even have them on their web site. Why mess up your best market???

As you pointed out, Lancaster only got their stock 2 weeks ago and they are the largest Easton dealer in the World. The stock we bought came from a European distributer to the UK dealer. They come by ship from the USA which can take 4 - 6 weeks, meaning the stock probably left Easton 2 - 4 weeks prior to Lancasters stock. Of course this is only guesswork and I could be totally wrong.

I agree that Europe is the largest market for target archery, however the Navi FMJ's are aimed towards the compound archer and the last I read, whilest 85% of the target market was outside the USA (recurve) only 15% of the compound market was outside the USA.

[Watch_Man]

Further examination of the pattern has also shown:

Unlike Axis FMJ's the Navi FMJ pattern does not match around the shaft, where it meets is like two pieces of pattern wallpaper meeting at the wrong place in the pattern. This leaves a distinct line down the whole length of the shaft.

As this join line is not parallel to to length of the shaft but runs at an angle down the shaft (like the pattern has not been applied straight) it is difficult to tell if the arrows are actually straight or not, the tight pattern gives the impression that the arrows have a bulge in the middle. I know there is not and they are straight, but a visual inspection is very difficult as you go 'boss eyed' looking at the pattern.

[Marcus26]

Honestly I couldn't care less about the pattern, just ship the ruddy arrows please Easton!!

[BowSurfer]

Originally Posted by Watch_Man

I agree that Europe is the largest market for target archery, however the Navi FMJ's are aimed towards the compound archer and the last I read, whilest 85% of the target market was outside the USA (recurve) only 15% of the compound market was outside the USA.

Is that true? I know the Axis FMJ was squarely aimed at the compound market, and only appears in Easton's 'hunting' selection charts, but the Navigator FMJs have a much wider range which, while it overlaps the stiffer Axis range, also covers a range of sizes which are not likely to be attractive to most compound archers.

[Watch_Man]

Originally Posted by BowSurfer

Is that true? I know the Axis FMJ was squarely aimed at the compound market, and only appears in Easton's 'hunting' selection charts, but the Navigator FMJs have a much wider range which, while it overlaps the stiffer Axis range, also covers a range of sizes which are not likely to be attractive to most compound archers.

One of the points mentioned by the dealer (just rang) was that the Navigator FMJ's are aimed at the compound market.

In all fairness to them, they investigated and got back to me within a couple of hours with the following:

1. To keep the cost down they believe Easton couldn't QC the finish on all the arrows produced or it would make them much more expensive.

2. They don't think that the arrows supplied to Europe were returns to Easton from US dealers as they do not know of any recall by Easton and don't know where the information on AT came from.

3. They tell me that other arrows have had similar finish issues.

My opinion:

No reason to doubt what I was told by the dealer (I am not naming them but we have had excellent service from them in the past and therefore would not doubt the word of the person who phoned me)

The arrows do not appear to be physically affected by the blemishes in any way and therefore can't see a performance problem.

Hopefully Wendy will get to shoot them either tomorrow or Saturday and we can post the comparison against the X10's and the Triples.

[Watch_Man]

Here are a couple of images I have taken of the Navi FMJ's. The blemish appears as extra black on the anodising and usually appears between 1 and 3 random places on a shaft. I have also taken a photo of a group of shafts at the label point which shows how the 'join' in the anodising appears on each shaft when compared to the label.


Blemish

Shafts

[Menace]

And , how do they shoot ?

[Watch_Man]

Originally Posted by Menace

And , how do they shoot ?

We will find out on Saturday