Old bows safe to use?

[Colonel]

Like many others, I turned slowly towards the dark side, and stopped using traditional gear in favor od high and higher tech. I'm going back - I recall how much more fun I recall having when things were simpler.

I dug out my 2 old Bear recurve bows - a Grizzly 40# and a Kodiak Hunter 50#. I think I have owned these bows for over 30 years. I'm going to replace the strings, but got to wondering if these things (glass laminated over wood, I think) get brittle and might break when drawn.

Anyone know about this?

Gerry

[BobCo19-65]

Well I still shoot my Dad's old '68 Bear Kodiak Mag ( I think he paid $19 for it new) with no problems. Just have it looked over by an expert first.

[Wingbone]

I still shoot carp with a bow I bought in the late '70's, secondhand. It's probably a '60's vintage bow. It shoots fine. As long as there are no cracks or delaminations, you can shoot them without worry.

[PSEarcher149]

I shoot my grandpa's old longbow that he got in the late 50's. It should be fine.

[Arthur P]

I just had a very enjoyable afternoon of shooting with a '65 vintage recurve. I've been shooting this bow practically every day since I got it about 6 weeks ago and it shoots every bit as good, or better, as some new bows I've had in the recent past.

If the limbs are straight with no cracks in the glass or any signs of delamination, then you'll probably get just as much good use out of it as a new bow will give you.

[Alex The Hawk]

JUst check the limbs that they are not warpped and go for it, i have some that are 50 years old

[Colonel]

Thanks for the good advice - I'm taking them in to an archery pro shop this week for a checkup, new strings and rests, then I'll try them this weekend.

Gerry

[rybohunter]

I was interested in seeing this as I have an old shakespeare bow I was going to start shooting more. It's in very good condition, but I think its pretty old. The string is fairly new and has very few shots on it.

[Colonel]

I think that strings deteriorate over time, and should be replaced - cheap insurance to prevent breakage. I don't think weakening of the string can be detected by examining.

Gerry

[Milk River Stickman]

Looks like your getting a lot of good advice, so I thought I would add my own reassurance. I have just recently gotten into the "vintage" older recurves with the guidance of my uncle. I took my last two animals with a '68 Bear Kodiak Hunter of #57. I shoot the heck out of it as well, no problems. I was just given a '58 model Bear Cub with the dual shelves, and at #50 I run arrows through it like crazy....gonna own 'em, have to shoot 'em! I just purchasd a '68 60# Bear Grizzly and have been shooting it often as well. All these bows have great glass and very little stress cracks, except the Cub has a few more stress cracks....vertical of course. This is Ok. You may find it satisfying to find arrows and heads of the same age on e-bay or such and use them with your bow as well. I shot my whitetail this year with that Kodiak Hunter and 60's Bear Razorheads and 60's Browning Cedar arrows. Have fun and good luck!