Trad Gang
Main Boards => Trad History/Collecting => Topic started by: Groundpounder on December 25, 2008, 03:56:00 PM
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Hello Everyone! im new to this site and relatively new to trad. archery except for shooting a fiberglass recurve back when i was a kid.Somewhere along the line i picked up an old ben pearson longbow. it measures roughly 67" from tip to tip. i was wondering if anyone knew what the poundage on this bow would be ,and how could i get a string made for it. im guessing the bow is around 50 years old and probably hasnt been shot for forty or so.Is this bow salvagable can it be shot again and is it worth salvaging and im strictly asking so i can have it as a starter bow to start me in my journey to traditional acrhery.I would really like it to work just because i like to see antiques that are still in use not a showpiece. thanks in advance for all help and info.
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Hello and welcome to TG, your best bet my friend is not to shoot that old Pearson bow but to hang it up. old bows are not safe to shoot.
Cody
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Hi Joe and welcome! Do you have a way to post a picture of the bow. Also if there are any numbers on the bow, and you can take a photo or describe them, that could be helpful. Often the weight is written or stamped on the bow somewere (but I've found a lot of lighter weight older bows are not marked). Is the bow solid wood, or is it laminated with fiberglass?
I have a number of "old" bows that I shoot regularly, ranging from bows made in the mid 1950's to the mid 1960's. The oldest one that I can date with any certainty was made in 1955, which puts it at 53 years old (older than me!). I have both Fred Bear and Ben Pearson bows of that age. I have had no problems with mine, but I do check them out carefully before using them.
Start by easing old bows back into service by stringing them up and leaving them strung for a few days before you pull on them. Then pull them to 18" or so and let down slowly-do this a few times. Do this in a quiet room and listen for any funny noises, pops, clicks or anything like that. Then I wait a day or two and pull them to full draw after I exercise them a bit to "warm them up". Again do this in a quiet room listening carefully for any unusual noises. If it passes this test I shoot it. If it doesn't pass, hang it on the wall or make it into firewood.
I have a lemonwood Ben Pearson longbow that is backed with Fortisan (I think). I am guessing it is from the mid 1950's. I shoot it, and last summer a Boy Scout used it to get his Archery Merit Badge. It hasn't broke. Now I don't recommend letting Boy Scouts use your old bow, and probably wouldn't do it again. They can be pretty hard on equipment. But just because it is old doesn't mean it is going to break the first time you shoot an arrow.
I'm with you. If I can't use it, I'm really not interested in having it. As for a string, there are a number of folks out there that can make one, and I believe one or more of TradGang sponsors could help you out. Do a search for "strings" on the Pow Wow. If you decide to continue your collection of old bows, learn how to make your own strings! It is fun, not really too hard, and will save you time and money.
RonP
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Thanks Ron. good information . unfortunatley the small piece of would i guess on what you would call the riser seperated from the bow it looks like it just dried out. i reglued it and lightly sanded the whole bow in turn idiotically sanding off any info it may have had on it.The bow is all wood one large piece and two smaller pieces making up the riser. i am in no way a wood expert but the grain and color seems to be hickory. it was deinately a ben pearson i remember that it was written on the bow. there is a 67" longbow on **** right now that looks identical to the one i have even though the picture isnt the best.
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I have Wing and Pearson recurves from the sixties that look like new and which I shoot all the time. They are great shooters and I have weights from 20# up. I have a wife and 4 boys so it's nice to have a selection, and when friends come over well they often join in the fun.
As far as being safe etc, I have only had one split at the upper tip. This is not safe. It could be repaired but I chose to just hang it on the wall in the garage. The bows I buy and bought, however, were often like new. There was one Wing 25# that was actually new maybe shot a couple of times 40-50 years ago and well kept. I don't mess with bows that don't look good, and Ron P gives good advice on testing them first. I won't let anyone else shoot them until I have used it a while. IMHO, the bow you describe is not one that I would mess with. Not worth it. You can pick up so many old bows in great shape for $100 it's not worth getting hurt over.
Good luck
sam
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Please post a pic of your old Ben Pearson longbow. I was given a lemonwood Ben Pearson bow in 1955 for Christmas. It was my first real bow. Wish I had it now.
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Is it like this? This particular one is a 1939, 501r Hickory recurve
(http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g38/trapperDave/103_0020.jpg)
(http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g38/trapperDave/103_0018.jpg)
(http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g38/trapperDave/103_0019.jpg)