Trad Gang

Main Boards => Trad History/Collecting => Topic started by: d. ward on May 24, 2008, 01:39:00 PM

Title: Harry Drake & The Double D feather rest...
Post by: d. ward on May 24, 2008, 01:39:00 PM
Finished up the Drake and thought you guy's may enjoy seeing what one of Harry's bows looked like when they left Lakeside Ca.The feather rest adds the final touch..They look just super and work even better on the vintage bows.The old Drake may be heading for the meat market later today(classified add listing).Hey you ever shot a real Harry Drake ? Better yet you ever see how Harry built them ? couple extra laminations here and there.Hey double D thank you again for the fine looking feather rests,it made my bow look complete.bowdoc  (http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii175/bowdocsarchery/drake003.jpg)
Title: Re: Harry Drake & The Double D feather rest...
Post by: d. ward on May 24, 2008, 01:41:00 PM
(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii175/bowdocsarchery/drake001.jpg)
Title: Re: Harry Drake & The Double D feather rest...
Post by: d. ward on May 24, 2008, 01:42:00 PM
(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii175/bowdocsarchery/drake008.jpg)
Title: Re: Harry Drake & The Double D feather rest...
Post by: TRAP on May 24, 2008, 02:11:00 PM
Looks like I need to start building some feather rests that are a little narrower, 5 fletch models or even 4 maybe.  Trap
Title: Re: Harry Drake & The Double D feather rest...
Post by: toehead on May 24, 2008, 05:12:00 PM
My grandpa used to shoot along of field archery tournaments in California and I was asking him about which bows he used to like.  He said he always wanted a Fire Drake...Is this from the same person?  This would have been in the late fifties and early sixties.
That is a beautifull bow BTW!
Title: Re: Harry Drake & The Double D feather rest...
Post by: MJB on May 24, 2008, 05:43:00 PM
SWEET Don   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Harry Drake & The Double D feather rest...
Post by: d. ward on May 24, 2008, 06:23:00 PM
toehead yes that would be the man Harry Drake and that would be the model your looking at above 69" 42# Fire Drake.Lakeside is the place they were built.I believe that one I have in the picture is a 1959 or 1960 the serial number is 3329.Really good shooting bow super smooth draw.If you will forgive me ??? kinda like a compound of recurves if you will(sorry).And built different then lots of other recurves.That Drake shoots over 185 ft.per.second with the proper spine and weight arrow with 65-80 grain nibb for a tip.Not bad for a 69" 42#er........bowdoc
Title: Re: Harry Drake & The Double D feather rest...
Post by: d. ward on May 24, 2008, 06:26:00 PM
first check out the back set Harry put into his bows.The limb tips are well ahead of the riser...bowdoc (http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii175/bowdocsarchery/drake012.jpg)
Title: Re: Harry Drake & The Double D feather rest...
Post by: d. ward on May 24, 2008, 06:28:00 PM
(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii175/bowdocsarchery/drake015.jpg)
Title: Re: Harry Drake & The Double D feather rest...
Post by: d. ward on May 24, 2008, 06:29:00 PM
(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii175/bowdocsarchery/drake016.jpg)
Title: Re: Harry Drake & The Double D feather rest...
Post by: D.Sheppard on May 24, 2008, 06:51:00 PM
Hey Doc is the # stamped in the riser opposite the site window. The Drake I have is stamped 602. What year did Harry start building his bows and where do you think #602 falls year wise? It has multiple lams with a leather wrapped handle.
Title: Re: Harry Drake & The Double D feather rest...
Post by: d. ward on May 24, 2008, 07:15:00 PM
Oh yeah #3329 opposite the sight window....Well one weird thing about Harry.He for sure had no rime or reason to his serial numbers.I would say the earlier number like yours must have been around 55-57...But I've seen 3 Fire Drakes and 2 HunterFlites with the same numbers stamped on them......Really good shooting bows....bowdoc
Title: Re: Harry Drake & The Double D feather rest...
Post by: toehead on May 24, 2008, 09:43:00 PM
Now I can see and read why even after 40 plus years he still raves about the FIRE DRAKE...Said he had ordered one but for some reason it never came it.  

Thanks Bowdoc !
Title: Re: Harry Drake & The Double D feather rest...
Post by: TRAP on May 25, 2008, 09:17:00 AM
Was the bow originally sold with a leather grip?
Title: Re: Harry Drake & The Double D feather rest...
Post by: d. ward on May 25, 2008, 12:31:00 PM
Trap I don't think any Drakes were sold with leather grips originaly on them...but I have seen several that do have em...added after the purchase maybe.But thats not to say....for a price you could get anything.....bowdoc
Title: Re: Harry Drake & The Double D feather rest...
Post by: D.Sheppard on May 25, 2008, 03:19:00 PM
A picture of my Drake with a leather wrapped handle. A very good job if its aftermarket.

  (http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p115/shepu812/mini-bowpics017.jpg)
Looks like the left over lam bow. Seduha, Birdseye maple, Zebrawood, Rosewood, Bubing , and ????  and micarta tips to boot. Were the tips made fatter for a reason? (shoot lighter strings,  increased energy,  for the hell of it ! ) If I had the extra $$$$ to blow this is the bow I would have redone by Doc or Drop.

 (http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p115/shepu812/mini-bowpics205.jpg)
 (http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p115/shepu812/mini-bowpics215.jpg)
 (http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p115/shepu812/mini-bowpics211.jpg)
Title: Re: Harry Drake & The Double D feather rest...
Post by: tippit on May 26, 2008, 09:04:00 AM
I seem to have a couple of those Seattle Salt Water finished Drakes...Hunterflight, Fireflight and a Holcom knock off Hunterflight.  Sorry for the poor detail but the dang finish is too shinny   :eek:  the other Doc

  (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v110/tippit/DrakeBows.jpg)
Title: Re: Harry Drake & The Double D feather rest...
Post by: d. ward on May 26, 2008, 09:41:00 AM
Man Doc I love that HunterFlight.Those got to be one of the all time best shooter Harry ever built.Shep I think your Drake is a 1957 I see a small sliver of Harry's trade mark purple heart in the middle of your riser...Cool bows....bowdoc
Title: Re: Harry Drake & The Double D feather rest...
Post by: tippit on May 26, 2008, 12:10:00 PM
Bowdoc those top two are the ones you refinished and maybe that Holcom Drake was your job too!
Title: Re: Harry Drake & The Double D feather rest...
Post by: d. ward on May 26, 2008, 03:42:00 PM
Wow you sure...those look to nice to be my work....see you soon,bowdoc
Title: Re: Harry Drake & The Double D feather rest...
Post by: hotfootTG on May 26, 2008, 04:33:00 PM
Wow, nice bows. The riser on the bottom one looks like a jazzed up '61 Wing Presentation. Probably the limbs tell the difference huh?
Al
Title: Re: Harry Drake & The Double D feather rest...
Post by: tippit on May 26, 2008, 09:59:00 PM
It has the the same profile as the Hunterflight...but it definitely is jazzed up!
Title: Re: Harry Drake & The Double D feather rest...
Post by: d. ward on May 27, 2008, 04:50:00 AM
The bottom bow in Doc Springer's picture is one of Ed Holcomb's repo of the hunterflight.That repro was taken from a Drake bow build at Fasco after they started building them for Harry......Real nice looking bows.bowdoc
Title: Re: Harry Drake & The Double D feather rest...
Post by: Jack Guard on May 28, 2008, 08:07:00 AM
I gotta tell you guys.  I am not an avid collector so i dont seem to really study other bowyers from the past.  But i have been missing a lot.  These bows are fantastic looking.  

How do they shoot and how up ?  I would be interested in owning one to shoot and maybe hunt (a little)
Title: Re: Harry Drake & The Double D feather rest...
Post by: kurtbel5 on May 28, 2008, 12:57:00 PM
Hi Jack
How Do they shoot? which ones?
 most of the ones i've shot (Bears,Pearson,Barr), I like a lot.
Not sure what you meant by "how up"
I'd say try one or two, if you can,see if you like em.
                 Kurt
Title: Re: Harry Drake & The Double D feather rest...
Post by: Jack Guard on May 28, 2008, 02:22:00 PM
I am sorry, sometimes my brain works faster than my fingers.  How do the Drakes hold up to use today,  Those pics of Doc's are great.  

Keep um coming boys !
Title: Re: Harry Drake & The Double D feather rest...
Post by: d. ward on May 28, 2008, 02:25:00 PM
Hello Jack,myself I only use the older bows for the most part pre 1967...however my take down is a 1982...But thats the latest model I have.I think the older models will shoot right along with most all of the new bows.Prices can range for 100 or less sometimes to several hundred on the older collectable models......Just my thought...bowdoc