I wouldn’t call them Mrs. Simpson variants though. A lot of the killer patterns are tied with multiple layers of feathers, that are staggered, so it’s more a common construction technique. I would call the first one a safari as well as, apart from the red head, it looks to be the same as the top one. Killers can be tied with just one “set” of feather (as in the first photo), or with two sets (the rear set offset from the front), or as you’ve done in picture 3 and 4, 3 sets. I think the 3 sets of double eyed feathers could be considered a different pattern from kelly’s killer (in the last photo) as it lacks the side feathers that really changes the look of it. Jungle cock is often considered optional these days, so if that were the only difference then I would call them the same.
Anyway, whatever they are called, they are very nice examples of the killer style. And, they would be very effective. Nicely done.
The first and second photo are what I call Safari. The next photo is just like it, although it has a total of 6 feathers (3 on each side), that is why I called it a Mrs. Simpson variant. The one I called a Mrs. Simpson variant with double eye Black Francolin feathers is not named either, due to the fact it has 3 feathers per side as well. To me that would make it a Mrs. Simpson variant as well…just different feathers. Maybe I am unclear about this. The ones with just one feather per side, I felt could get named, since they are unlike any other Killer because of the feathers I used. They are still in the Killer style of course. Kelly’s Killer is totally different. I have never seen one just like it. So I felt it was able to have a name also.
Yes, I agree these are all new patterns. It’s just in New Zealand the number of feathers on the side isn’t a defining characterisitic of the pattern. You can tie Mrs. Simpson’s with 3 pairs, 2 pairs, or with just 1 pair, per side. What is critical is the feathers used. So, I think you could all of the stripped ones Safaris. I really like the Kelly’s Killer. And, the one with the double dot feathers, with 3 pairs, is different enough from the Kelly’s Killer (it doesn’ thave the cheek feather, or the jungle cock eye) that you could give it a differnet name. Again, the 3 sets of feathers doesn’t really make it a Mrs. Simpson varient since many of the killers have 3 sets. For example, the Lord’s killer is made up of woodcock feathers, and there are often 4 or 5 pairs to really fill it out. And, the original Hammil’s Killer was tied with partridge feathers dyed olive, and it would often have 3 sets.
I think you’ve got at least 2 new patterns there, and possibly 3, and your excellent ties deserve to be recognized as originals not derivatives.
No problem kelkay. You’re killers are really nicely tied. These are finicky things to put together, but you’re getting very clean lines. There’s a lot of room for development of new patterns in the killer style. Let me know if you have any luck with them. I suspect you will.
