I shoot a compound and have never shot a traditional bow. I would like to try it out. I have a Bear Grizzly recurve. The bow is marked BEAR GLASS-POWERED GRIZZLY. iT HAS WHAT APPEARS TO BE A HAND WRITTEN SERIAL NUMBER AND 58" 45#.
My questions begin with, can I use this bow? I have a 29" draw on my compound. This thing just seems so small. Can it be drawn back that far or do I need a different size? If it says 45#, how many pounds will it be at that draw(if I can draw it back that far). Now assuming that it is the correct size for me, what kind of arrows would I use. To make it simple, what size aluminum shaft would I use?
The bow has a felt type pad on the shelf and a flat piece of black plastic on the riser. How are the fletching supposed to pass over this rest> I would assume I should use feathers because the fletching would have to have some contact with the bow\rest.
Thanks for some help with this.

If the bow was sitting for a while, I'd have it checked out before really using it. You might need a new string also, make sure you get a Dacron for it. You'll probably loose 1 to 2" draw moving from a compound, so your draw will most likely be about 27.5 inches. As long as everything is OK with the bow, it should fit you fine. The 45#'s labeled on the bow is at a 28" draw. As far as aluminum arrows, 1816 or 1916 will probably be about right. I use Foxfires chart to get close.
If you shoot off the shelf, you will need to use feathers.

Thanks for the info. The bow is old but I can see no defects at all. I will take it to the shop to have it looked over and set up. Is shooting off the shelf OK or should I look into some alternative> If so, what?

One of the great things about recurves and longbows is the average person doesn't have to worry about the right size. The only thing that changes with draw length is draw weight. The further you pull, the more poundage you get. The standard for adult bows is to mark the poundage a bow pulls at 28". Pull less than that and you get less draw weight. Pull further and you get more.

Most folks say to just add or subtract 2-3 lbs for every inch over or 28". The old rule to more accurately estimate poundage is to take the draw weight marked on the bow, divide by 20 and multiply that by the number of inches your draw length varies. Your bow is 45 pounds. 45/20 = 2.25... So, if you draw 27", then 45-2.25= 42.75, or just under 43 lbs. If you draw 29", then it'll be just over 47 lbs.

That's probably more info than you wanted, but it's good to know such things.

Your bow will be fine for deer size game and smaller. It might get you by for elk at close range, like 20 yards and under, with cut on contact heads like the Magnus Stinger.

Some other arrows to try would be Carbon Express Terminator Lite 4560 or GoldTip Traditional 3555. Feather fletch, definitely.

Shooting off the shelf is the way most traditional shooters do things these days. Nothing can be simpler, once you get tuned up right. Your arrow rest will never break or move unless the bow itself breaks.

Yea, it's probably fine. I have one just like it. But I get some major finger pinch with it. It also stacks on me at my drawlength.

But depending on how it was stored it may have some limb twist. Mine was fine and was stored unstrung standingup a in the cornerof a closet for 25 years - go figure.