Abstract: A ratchet device is provided and includes a ratchet mechanism mounted in a housing assembly and a work arm protruding therefrom. The ratchet mechanism includes a ratchet wheel which is secured to the work arm and which is rotatably mounted on an axle and a pawl arm which is mounted at one end in the housing assembly and which is biased to engage canted ratchet teeth on the circumferential surface of the ratchet wheel. A pawl release member selectively moves the pawl arm between one position permitting engagement of its free end with the ratchet teeth and a second position disengaging the free end from the ratchet teeth. A detent is provided to maintain the pawl release member in a selected one of these positions. Preferably, the detent includes a rotatable shaft having a cam which defines the detent and a notch which receives a portion of the pawl arm to define a pawl release. The shaft is preferable oriented parallel to the axis of the axle to define a plane of symmetry.

Abstract: An arrow straightener for testing and straightening bent arrow shafts is provided with a pair of arrow supports, each of which has a bearing surface that is rotatable about an axis normal to a vertical plane through the longitudinal axis of an arrow positioned on the supports to maintain the bearing surface in flat contact relation to the arrow shaft, a press mechanism between the supports for applying a straightening pressure on the arrow shaft, and a deflection indicator with a feeler that extends through the press mechanism into contact with the shaft, the feeler being movable independent of the press but located at a point central to the pressure applying surface. The apparatus also includes a scale, indicator, weighted body, and spacer for testing the spine strength of wooden arrow shafts.