My Grandfathers long bow ....

backnaction34 · 01-18-2008, 03:57 AM

When my Grandfather passed away, I was lucky enough to have received a piece of history with alot of stories attached to it. His long bow, although it has some cracks in the limbs and is showing its age and use it still shoots! My question is this. When broken down, on the base of the limbs it has engraved into it "4-5-25". I can only asume that is the manufactured date. It has Ben Pearsons signature on the upper limb and the #304 on the lower. I was curious to know what it maybe worth although it will never be sold it would be nice to know what its $ value might be??

PAstew · 01-18-2008, 06:20 AM

To a collector, a lot! To you... the most valuable piece of wood in the world!

burniegoeasily · 01-18-2008, 06:52 AM

Thats pretty cool. I would quit shooting it and maybe build a cool display to show it off.I believe 1938 is the oldest bow you could get that is a Pearson. Or I should say that was manufactured by his company.1925 would mean it is a bow Pearson built himself. If thats the case you got something very very special. Its a great bow to have and you are sure to be very proud of it, I would.

Arthur P · 01-18-2008, 07:08 AM

Here's a piece on the history of Ben Pearson's company. If it's correct, your bow was made before he actually got into the business of making bows. Makes it even more rare. As to market value, I don't have a clue what it'd be worth. A great bit of archery history andeven betteras a family heirloom.

http://www.archeryarchives.com/History.html

burniegoeasily · 01-18-2008, 11:04 AM

Cool article Arthur

waiting_for_a_gift · 01-18-2008, 11:39 AM

Don't shoot that thing, or even string it up. priceless.

BowHuntingFool · 01-18-2008, 11:47 AM

Do you have any pictures of the Bow? Sure would like to take a gander at it!

burniegoeasily · 01-18-2008, 12:35 PM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: BowHuntingFool

Do you have any pictures of the Bow? Sure would like to take a gander at it!

Ditto.

What a find.

backnaction34 · 01-18-2008, 03:14 PM

I ll try and load some pictures of it but i am pretty dumb when it comes to computers.

I dont shoot it and it is safley tucked away in my safe.

There is a chance this isnt whati think it is.....it appears like a printed signature not a actuall hand written one. But anyway i may take it to some local collectors and let em take a look at it. None the less i pretty proud to have gotten it!!!!

backnaction34 · 01-23-2008, 08:50 PM

Well...for any of you guys wondering. I took the long bow to a local antique collector so he could take a look at it. Turns out that the "25" is actually a 28 and the 4-5 appears to be just 45. That said what i was thinking to be the date actually says "45-28". (draw weight - draw length) Sorry for all the excitment! Still a great collectors piece for ME.