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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Zradix on July 13, 2016, 12:07:00 PM

Title: Older Recurves with HUGE flat shelves?
Post by: Zradix on July 13, 2016, 12:07:00 PM
Hey Gang,

Are the older recurves ( 70's era) like older grizzlies, herters, etc actually designed to be shot off some sort of elevated rest?
Maybe a flipper, feather, or one of those bristle rests?

I have an older Herters coming in the mail and I'm thinking that great big long flat shelf isn't the greatest thing in the world for arrow/fletching clearance.

...also thinking the bow could quite possibly be tillered to have your fingers up the string the extra 1/2-3/4" an elevated rest would require. Not that it would make a huge difference in tiller...but the bow might shoot better if it was shot in the manner it was designed to.

Thanks for any thoughts.

John
Title: Re: Older Recurves with HUGE flat shelves?
Post by: Pine on July 13, 2016, 12:13:00 PM
 (http://i982.photobucket.com/albums/ae302/bruinbow/IMG_20160621_21094380601_zps3mkaytqx.jpg) (http://s982.photobucket.com/user/bruinbow/media/IMG_20160621_21094380601_zps3mkaytqx.jpg.html)
This is an older K-Mag , I really like the feather rest .
A weather rest or any other stick on would work .
You could also put Velcro with a hump of something under it .
Title: Re: Older Recurves with HUGE flat shelves?
Post by: Zradix on July 13, 2016, 12:18:00 PM
Thanks Graps.

Do you set that up so the arrow is cradled between the plate and the rest?
Title: Re: Older Recurves with HUGE flat shelves?
Post by: Pine on July 13, 2016, 01:07:00 PM
The rest is close to the side plate . The arrow will be a little past center of the feather rest .
Nice thing about these rests is , it will hold the arrow in place , like if you tip the bow past vertical . Don't need a holding device while on stand .
Title: Re: Older Recurves with HUGE flat shelves?
Post by: elkhunter45 on July 13, 2016, 01:30:00 PM
I cut and radius mine. I have done this to my 75 vintage Kodiak Hunter along with opening the throat of the grip to fit my hand. It is a custom feel to a production bow. I shoot the factory Bear rug rest and leather strike plate.
Title: Re: Older Recurves with HUGE flat shelves?
Post by: Zradix on July 13, 2016, 02:24:00 PM
Thanks guys.
I'm a big fan of Bear hair rest too.
I've thought about modifying the shelf too.
Just going to have to wait to see how she looks and fits.

Those feather rest sound kinda cool too though.

How much life you get outta them Graps?
Title: Re: Older Recurves with HUGE flat shelves?
Post by: Longtoke on July 13, 2016, 03:18:00 PM
Toothpick works well. Although I must confess I ordered a feather rest and I am waiting on a high profil strike plate before I put it on my grizzly.
Title: Re: Older Recurves with HUGE flat shelves?
Post by: reddogge on July 13, 2016, 03:42:00 PM
Zradix, I've been shooting feather rests now for the past dozen years or so. Never wore one out. I get mine from TRAP.
Title: Re: Older Recurves with HUGE flat shelves?
Post by: Zradix on July 13, 2016, 03:45:00 PM
well dang..That's what I like to hear Reddogge!
  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Older Recurves with HUGE flat shelves?
Post by: Zradix on July 13, 2016, 03:49:00 PM
Here's what I have coming. Only pic I have.
...wonder what's lurking under that paint...?

(http://i748.photobucket.com/albums/xx121/Zradix/HERTERS%20BIG.jpg)
Title: Re: Older Recurves with HUGE flat shelves?
Post by: 59Alaskan on July 13, 2016, 03:53:00 PM
I have used feather rests and like them, especially asthetically, but I have Bear Weather Rests on the majority of my bows.

I find them very consistent and quiet.

They don't look as cool as a feather rest, but they are also vintage.  I bet there were more weather rests in use in the 1970's than feather rests.  Some other guys would know for sure.
Title: Re: Older Recurves with HUGE flat shelves?
Post by: Zradix on July 13, 2016, 03:58:00 PM
Wouldn't doubt it Ceme24
Title: Re: Older Recurves with HUGE flat shelves?
Post by: Nomadstalker on July 13, 2016, 05:14:00 PM
I have a few old Pearsons that have big, flat shelves.  I have found the loop (soft) part of Velcro, with a space for fletching clearance, and a small slice of leather for elevation, provide good arrow flight.  A small piece of toothpick or a section of a Q-tip shaft under the vertical Velcro can fine-tune your set up.  Here are pics from a Mercury Hunter and a Marauder to explain...

 (http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a617/mscott15/IMG_0732_zpsjpcpu6k6.jpg) (http://s1286.photobucket.com/user/mscott15/media/IMG_0732_zpsjpcpu6k6.jpg.html)

 (http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a617/mscott15/IMG_0726_zpsxg8b3kw4.jpg) (http://s1286.photobucket.com/user/mscott15/media/IMG_0726_zpsxg8b3kw4.jpg.html)

 (http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a617/mscott15/IMG_0617_zpsvg2lvnqe.jpg) (http://s1286.photobucket.com/user/mscott15/media/IMG_0617_zpsvg2lvnqe.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Older Recurves with HUGE flat shelves?
Post by: Zradix on July 13, 2016, 05:24:00 PM
Thanks Nomadstalker.
The top one has a neat riser design.
The bottom one's "joint" is something I've never seen before..pretty cool.

Thanks for sharing!
Title: Re: Older Recurves with HUGE flat shelves?
Post by: redfish on July 13, 2016, 05:29:00 PM
My bows with flat shelves came with the Hoyt type stick on rest on them, except that they were labeled for the bow manufacturer.
Title: Re: Older Recurves with HUGE flat shelves?
Post by: JRY309 on July 13, 2016, 05:30:00 PM
I have two old Ben Pearson's with flat shelves,I put a couple of Trap's feather rests on them.Work great and look great!
Title: Re: Older Recurves with HUGE flat shelves?
Post by: Pine on July 13, 2016, 05:33:00 PM
I actually shot a bow once that the owner clamed the feather rest was about 50 years old and had been shot a lot .
The rest looked to be only slightly worn .
That's what sold me on them .
Title: Re: Older Recurves with HUGE flat shelves?
Post by: Bvas on July 13, 2016, 05:52:00 PM
I chose to crown the shelf on an old Black Hawk bow.
(http://i.imgur.com/doy2TKP.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/ajrrfas.jpg)
Title: Re: Older Recurves with HUGE flat shelves?
Post by: Zradix on July 13, 2016, 05:57:00 PM
Jeez Graps..sounds like they can certainly last.

Looks like a quality job Bvas..like the hawk too.
Title: Re: Older Recurves with HUGE flat shelves?
Post by: Don Stokes on July 14, 2016, 07:13:00 PM
In a word, yes. I always build them up until the arrow has a slightly downward angle when the nocking point is properly set.
Title: Re: Older Recurves with HUGE flat shelves?
Post by: damascusdave on July 15, 2016, 06:54:00 AM
I believe those bows were made to shoot off an elevated rest but find they will also shoot fine off the shelf (my 1963 Kodiak Special is a good example)...sure tiller will be off a bit but lots of rather good shooting can be done with a bow that has less than perfect tiller...I just bought a 1966 Tamerlane which has a flat shelf that is about as big as they get...one reason I bought that particular bow is that the brush rest it left the factory with is still intact...I have featherrests on all four of my 1960 Kodiaks...those rests are a total of 224 years old and still working fine

DDave
Title: Re: Older Recurves with HUGE flat shelves?
Post by: fireball31 on July 16, 2016, 06:48:00 PM
Not to hijack the thread, but can you use vanes if your shooting off of one of the weather rests or a flipper? I have always thought it would be nice to have an arrow with vanes in the quiver in the event of inclement weather.
Title: Re: Older Recurves with HUGE flat shelves?
Post by: Longtoke on July 17, 2016, 12:33:00 AM
QuoteOriginally posted by fireball31:
Not to hijack the thread, but can you use vanes if your shooting off of one of the weather rests or a flipper? I have always thought it would be nice to have an arrow with vanes in the quiver in the event of inclement weather.
Never done it myself but I have seen many people post on here that it does work.
Title: Re: Older Recurves with HUGE flat shelves?
Post by: Pine on July 17, 2016, 01:08:00 AM
Don't see why vanes wouldn't work with a feather rest .
Title: Re: Older Recurves with HUGE flat shelves?
Post by: Don Stokes on July 17, 2016, 02:01:00 PM
The problem I've had trying to shoot those bows off the shelf was that when I bare-shaft tuned them, the nocking point was very high compared to the shelf, so the arrow had a relatively steep downward slope when on the rest, with shorter bows in particular. That adds another vector in the dynamics of the shot, so I built up the shelves to get the arrow closer to level.
Title: Re: Older Recurves with HUGE flat shelves?
Post by: YORNOC on July 18, 2016, 06:36:00 PM
I've had a lot of those Herter's over the years. Love the massive risers.
Most had a round elevated factory rest, I'll see if I can come up with pictures. The arrow shot off a radiused plastic rest, like an upside down smile, that had a small round leather side plate.
Looks like I see the standard mustard yellow limbs under that camo, if so you probably have a pau ferro riser under there. Which will look incredible if refinished.
Title: Re: Older Recurves with HUGE flat shelves?
Post by: Zradix on July 19, 2016, 04:09:00 PM
Yornoc..
That wood could be pau ferro.
I was trying to figure out what it was....was thinking possibly rosewood..or even bubinga but the pau ferro seems a closer match.

Do you KNOW that pau ferro was a wood they used during those times?

thank you
   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Older Recurves with HUGE flat shelves?
Post by: Sirius Black on July 19, 2016, 04:57:00 PM
Had a feather rest on a 1957 Kodiak once, worked great! Seemed to put the arrow somewhere between "off the shelf" and an elevated rest, height wise.
Title: Re: Older Recurves with HUGE flat shelves?
Post by: Zradix on July 21, 2016, 10:47:00 AM
She ended up pretty after I got the paint off.
I gave it a little of a satin finish and for some reason felt inclined to break up the dijon mustard back.

(http://i748.photobucket.com/albums/xx121/Zradix/Herters%20Sitka%2062in%2045/CIMG0013.jpg)

(http://i748.photobucket.com/albums/xx121/Zradix/Herters%20Sitka%2062in%2045/CIMG0010.jpg)

(http://i748.photobucket.com/albums/xx121/Zradix/Herters%20Sitka%2062in%2045/CIMG0007.jpg)

(http://i748.photobucket.com/albums/xx121/Zradix/Herters%20Sitka%2062in%2045/CIMG0004.jpg)
Title: Re: Older Recurves with HUGE flat shelves?
Post by: Pine on July 21, 2016, 10:56:00 AM
That looks nice .
Thanks for the pictures .
Title: Re: Older Recurves with HUGE flat shelves?
Post by: Babbling Bob on July 22, 2016, 10:54:00 PM
Had a brush rest on a '62 K Mag long ago and it shot very well.
Title: Re: Older Recurves with HUGE flat shelves?
Post by: redfish on July 29, 2016, 05:41:00 PM
I have a couple of Shakespeare Kaibabs with the flat shelves and one has been a nightmare to tune. I bought a feather rest and put it on last night. Adjusted the nock point and that thing is shooting like bullets. I had never used a vertical feather rest before but I am sold now.
Title: Re: Older Recurves with HUGE flat shelves?
Post by: Zradix on July 29, 2016, 07:23:00 PM
cool!
Title: Re: Older Recurves with HUGE flat shelves?
Post by: Drewster on July 29, 2016, 10:36:00 PM
Love the feather rests on several of my vintage bows....and Trap is THE man.
Title: Re: Older Recurves with HUGE flat shelves?
Post by: Longtoke on July 29, 2016, 10:52:00 PM
nice looking bow zradix!

i just put the high profile strike plate and feather rest on my mid 70s grizzly.  its shelf wasnt flat but i am really enjoying the feather rest.  looks really cool too
Title: Re: Older Recurves with HUGE flat shelves?
Post by: tomsm44 on July 31, 2016, 10:51:00 PM
That turned out great.  Beautiful wood on that one.  I have a '66 Kodiak with a flat shelf and just a bear rug rest.  It was setup that way when I got it and it shoots great.  I also have Ben Person 709 Hunter and a Wing Red Wing Hunter, both mid to late '60s bows, that I setup myself.  I used small pieces of leather to build a slightly elevated rest in the center of the shelf.  I've had good results with both of them as well.  Here's a picture where you can kinda see it on the Ben Pearson.

 (http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/gg614/tomsm44/image-56.jpg) (http://s1246.photobucket.com/user/tomsm44/media/image-56.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Older Recurves with HUGE flat shelves?
Post by: Tom on August 01, 2016, 06:16:00 AM
Hunting bow this fall is a '65 Howatt Hunter I just refinished. Am using a feather rest with Martin strike plate. Has a flat shelf but the feather rest shoots well for me.
Title: Re: Older Recurves with HUGE flat shelves?
Post by: JohnV on August 01, 2016, 09:53:00 AM
Back in the day I would estimate that just as many archers shot off some type of rest compared to those who shot off the shelf.  The feather rest was common as well as the bristle brush rest.  Later flipper style rests became pretty popular.
Title: Re: Older Recurves with HUGE flat shelves?
Post by: Bud B. on August 01, 2016, 10:19:00 AM
You can radius the shelf by glueing a few thick pieces of leather together and then sanding an arc in the leather. Cut the leather to match the shelf dimensioms. Double sided tape or Barge cement to hold it on. Same as a raduised wood shelf plus it raises the arrow for better tuneability.
Title: Re: Older Recurves with HUGE flat shelves?
Post by: redfish on August 01, 2016, 11:07:00 AM
I used a felt pad covered with velcro on my Red Wing Hunter. I shoots good but looks kind of cobbled up. With the difference the feather rest made on the Kaibab I am going to order one for the RWH.