Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Around the Campfire => Topic started by: Kountry83 on November 10, 2015, 01:52:41 am
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Hi,
I just got this strange unmarked takedown recurve bow from this roadside guy, kinda like American picker lol, and I have no idea what I just got my hands on. So I was wanting to know if some one would recognise where it's from or what it is. Please help me figure this unique bow out please.
Thank you
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More pics...
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And more...
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I'm going to take a shot in the Dark and say it's Bingham Kit bow. Bob
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I'm sorry but is'nt that strung up backwards?
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no idea on the make, looks like a kit bow to me, see aforementioned kit bow manufacturers (Bingham bow kit seems as best a guess as I can muster) for a better idea.
Take the Paracord string off of it and measure it nock to nock. Get/make a string a few inches shorter than the overall length (3-4). It is strung backwards, but people do that from time to time for storage. Keep in mind you will need to string it the other way (sorry if I am stating commonsense, but ya know how that goes...) Anyway, It does not seem to have any fancy overlays so stick to b50 or something equivalent until you get it figured out.
Take it apart, make sure all the tapped female parts are sound unstripped and clean, the male screws are sound, and Carefully!!! string it up (keep your face away) and listen carefully.... Look for cracks, checks, etc. give it a couple half draws, a couple 3/4 draws. a couple full draws. See if she is sound. I don't see any significant compromise to the structural integrity. If she withstands this first round of testing shoot fifty arrows or so. just to see. Then, put it on a tillering tree (easy to make and plenty of how-to posts on this site) give her a couple pulls to full draw (28in), then (after you have determined via multiple experiments that it is safe) put that tree on a bathroom scale and pull it to 28 inches (keep your face a long way away from a questionable bow at this point), note draw weight, look for a few seconds at the tiller, note any potential disasters, and let off slowly.
If all works out well you should have a shootable bow, a fairly accurate draw weight and determined if the bow is still in proper tiller.
Best of luck. I have rolled the dice on a couple bows like this. one turned out to be a bomb, poorly cared for Kit bow blew up in my face, Several others (bear bows mostly) needed work but are totally functional.. . The 74 k mag thrift shop pickup is my go-to hunting bow, been shooting it for 5 years, daily....,
I wish you the best!!
(if you see a deep hinge, a splinter rises, or it blows the F!@# up you have a problem).
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That looks like a FG bow. This should be moved to the campfire page.
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The string groove runs all the way to the tip which suggests to me it was bubba-ized at some point. Cut down, and new string mocks made. They were obviously not done by a proficient bowyer because the nocks should flow smoothly into the string groove and they do not connect at all.
I think this might further support the kit bow theory, built bow too light so cut it down an inch or two.
Personally I'd add overlays, clean up the nocks, refinish etc. and you could have something really slick there.
Obviously only after the safety checks previously recommended.
Good luck.
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I'm sorry but is'nt that strung up backwards?
Yes it is for long time storage lol
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That looks like a FG bow. This should be moved to the campfire page.
What is a FG bow? Never heard of that...
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I've had several bingham kit bows and I don't believe this is one of them. It does look handmade though. Thank you all for all the advice and guesses.
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FG-fiberglass,
I think it is a homemade recovery bow. Someone cut the limbs off another bow and made a crude riser to fit the limbs into.
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FG-fiberglass,
I think it is a homemade recovery bow. Someone cut the limbs off another bow and made a crude riser to fit the limbs into.
Well it's definitely not a FG bow lol. Never heard of a crude riser...What is that?
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A riser is the handle part. Crude as in constructed in a rudimentary or makeshift way.
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The glass is from the 60's and I think it's a homemade bow also. And have to agree with Eric that it's made from salvaged parts. If it was mine I'd string it and start pulling and working it on a Tiller tree. If it's gonna break I'd just as soon do it early on before I put time and money cleaning and making it look pretty with new overlays.
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The glass is from the 60's and I think it's a homemade bow also. And have to agree with Eric that it's made from salvaged parts. If it was mine I'd string it and start pulling and working it on a Tiller tree. If it's gonna break I'd just as soon do it early on before I put time and money cleaning and making it look pretty with new overlays.
How far should I pull it to?
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I would work the limbs from barely pulling it over and over and continue to increase the pull as you go listening to ticking noises. After working up to full draw, I'd start holding it there for a few seconds, sometimes that is when they would let go. I've only had one glass bow explode like a bomb, a Bear Kodiak Magnum, 80#, that must have been left in a hot vehicle. It let go at an indoor range and was exciting. As old and abused as that bow looks there is a good chance it was stored in a hot place a few times.
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Thank you all for the great advice and helping out.
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I got a call from a guy selling archery equipment today I'm going after work to look at an all wood take-down bow and a longbow. He said they have labels, American Traditions. Also a tackle box full of broadheads, over 900 wooden arrows, fletching and a lot of other stuff.
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I got a call from a guy selling archery equipment today I'm going after work to look at an all wood take-down bow and a longbow. He said they have labels, American Traditions. Also a tackle box full of broadheads, over 900 wooden arrows, fletching and a lot of other stuff.
Oh wow that sounds awesome.
Could you post some pics of them if you get them?
That's an great setup. Wish I had that lol. I'm working on it though. I had an amazing setup but they were stolen out of my truck when me and the family went camping. Yea it broke my heart lol. Loved my setup but it's all good. I'm going to try to get back in the game.
Good luck bud!
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Went by and checked it out. I was the 4 o'clock guy and the 3 o'clock guy bought all of the broad heads and the tackle box. I wasn't going to pay $175 for the box anyway. He also got the longbow, #64. The take down was #62 and he wanted a fortune for it. I tried to buy a box of 300 cedar arrows, spine unknown for $80 bucks but he wanted $200. I ended up just walking out with two boxes of full cut and assorted feathers still in the Three Rivers packages for $50. He also had a box of black powder molds, mini's, a lead stove, dippers and assorted stuff. He wanted to sell the box as a package deal and I passed, didn't need 8 molds for .049 mini balls. he had boxes of holsters, and about 20 boxes of arrows in Dozens but no idea what the splines were. It was fun looking at the stuff, though, might check back with him in a week or so and see if he is ready to come off some money.
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Went by and checked it out. I was the 4 o'clock guy and the 3 o'clock guy bought all of the broad heads and the tackle box. I wasn't going to pay $175 for the box anyway. He also got the longbow, #64. The take down was #62 and he wanted a fortune for it. I tried to buy a box of 300 cedar arrows, spine unknown for $80 bucks but he wanted $200. I ended up just walking out with two boxes of full cut and assorted feathers still in the Three Rivers packages for $50. He also had a box of black powder molds, mini's, a lead stove, dippers and assorted stuff. He wanted to sell the box as a package deal and I passed, didn't need 8 molds for .049 mini balls. he had boxes of holsters, and about 20 boxes of arrows in Dozens but no idea what the splines were. It was fun looking at the stuff, though, might check back with him in a week or so and see if he is ready to come off some money.
Yea that kinda stuff can be pricey at times but at least you got something cool ya know. I have a old colt navy revolver .45 black powder with every thing and it's awesome to shoot. Very powerful! Thanks for sharing that though and maybe you'll have better luck next time. I'm going to do some tilling on this wood takedown this weekend and I'll take pictures for results to let y'all know the outcome. Its about 60 to 62 inches in length so what draw do you think it'll have?
Thanks
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28"
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28"
Cool thank you! Yea I was thinking anywhere from 27 to 29
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Dang Eddie, you are a flea market magnet! Cut yourself with that draw knife yet?
Wayne
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Not yet, Wayne, it sure is a good one, though.
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Ok
I went to begin my stringing for this old bow and noticed something odd so I told myself I better get a professionals opinion of I should string and work it...What do y'all think?
Thanks
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I'm no expert, but this looks a LOT like water damage, I don't know if I would trust this thing...
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Loctite super glue in the cracks and clamp it.
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Thank you
Ok so I tried the loctite super glue and clamped it with wood clamps but the loctite doesn't seem like it going down into the seems all the way. Ugh! This bow is amazing and beautiful whoever made it but I wish I could test it. I don't know what else to do...I wish there were someone around my area that worked on custom bows but can't find anybody. Bummer. Well I tried thank y'all for the advice. I might just put it up on the wall for right now until I find someone more qualified to restore it.
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Ok
So I found someone that restores bows for a living and they gave me a quote to fully restore this bow and it will cost 100.00...Is that a good price?
Thanks yall
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Very good price. If they guarantee it will shoot without breaking.
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Very good price. If they guarantee it will shoot without breaking.
Yes they said it has a guarentee it will because the will work the limbs and all that good stuff.
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Ok so I decided to try and restore it myself for experience purposes, got the riser finished with the loctite, sealed and clamped. Then I let it sit for 3 days and tried to string it and as I started to bring the limbs down the part of the top limb where it starts to curve I heard what sounded like a cracking sound so I stopped and looked at it. Looks normal and I ran Cotton all the way down it and nothing. What could it be?
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Are you using a stringer to brace the bow. With a stringer you can flex it a little at a time as you extend the draw and listen.
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No I'm using my leg and foot
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Probably creaking where the limbs screw together. If it's a Kit bow
, whoever made it might not have fitted the pieces together very good.
Or;;;
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I checked that area and seems all good. It sounded like around the curved area. I think it maybe very dry.
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Check along the edge While you are pulling it and see if the limbs might be delaminating.
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Check along the edge While you are pulling it and see if the limbs might be delaminating.
Naw they seem like everything is holding together fine.
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Shoot it till it breaks. Use B-50 string, though.
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Lol ok I'll give it a go. I'm thinking about rubbing the limbs down with linseed oil first