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[e4sby]

What are peoples opinions on butterfly stains and other blemishes on bat faces?

I'm asking as i have a few clefts with butterfly stains on and am unsure on how people perceive these when buying a bat or grading a blade?  I'll post a photo of some examples tonight if i can find time.

Cheers

[Tom]

Looks wise I think they don't look good, would much prefer a clean blade.

However performance wise I'd say there were little difference. I still wouldn't want on in the middle of the blade though, just above, below is ok for me though.

[e4sby]

How would this effect grading?

[Tom]

Depends how you're grading, but if it's from a Willow merchant it's usually downgraded slightly. Again how low it's downgraded would depend on the position of butterfly and size.

[Danny]

I heard in the Bradbury bat making video that butterfly stains improve performance and that in years gone by Pro's actually ask for blades with them.

[SAF Bats]

I wouldn't be overly worried about where it is but the aesthetics of a blade will draw people in....

The stain is harder and stronger so if hit in the area of stain it will absorb less energy and therefore more energy will be returned to the thing, ball / mallet, hitting it.

To quote Quilt Winders and Pod Shavers and Len Newbery managing director of Grays Nicolls until his death in 1976 father of John Newbery who taught the likes of Julian Millichamp, Andrew Kember etc

"The timber of the salix alba caerulea is distinguished by a bright orange stain that is known in the trade as the butterfly stain. when these stains appear on the blades of bats the players often reject such bats thinking that they are faulty whereas they are the hallmark of simply the finest willow."

[C.G Bussey Cricket bats] George Bussey said "The finest Blades are prodcued from timber having this 'stainy' mark"

[e4sby]

I might have to use that quote to help me sell the bats cos we all know what people are like with their grains and aesthics of the bat! 

I should just get my stickers bigger to cover more of the blemishes!

[Howzat]

The one i want has like 3 butterfly stains on it chris Theres one off ya hands

[stevie]

Don't mind them tbh as they might not look as good but when i buy a bat looks come quite down the order of what i look for. Saying this if i had a choice out of a clean blade and one with a butterfly stain i would choose the clear one.

[Johnny]

Classic Bat Copany/Warsop use the butterfly stain as part of the marketing. I think some stains look quite good actually - give the bat character! some are minging though!!

[Richie]

As said before, wouldn't want one in the middle of my blade, but wouldn't mind if it was just above or below.

[e4sby]

Here is a sample of 3 of the clefts i have in stock



The middle cleft has a butterfly stain in the centre of the blade and a couple of pin knots further up.  Could i have opinions on grading the 3 blades from left to right.

[Arthur]

Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 2.

[Tom]

I'd say Grade 1, 2 and 1/2

[e4sby]

I agree with you pretty much their Tom, the cleft on the far right is a difficult one and could fall into either category