Post by: Migra Bill on January 02, 2011, 05:19:00 PM
I was able to snag this one.
I contacted the owner. HIs name is Dave and he redies in Ohio, the same state where Bud Hitt was out of. Dave was the original owner of the bow and was a personal friend of the Hitt's. Bud made Dave this bow in 1968. Dave, who is older now, said he cannot remember for sure- but he thinks "Gerty" may have made the bow case for him by hand. "Gerty" of course would be Bud's wife "Gertrude." Bud also made him a custom site on a black of Rosewood that is contoured perfectly to fit on the curved Mother of Pearl overlay on the front side of the riser.
The strike plate on the bow has one little horizontal mark where it appears that the bow fired 1 arrow. Other than that the bow is entirely flawless. It is all original to 1968 (including the Flipper Rest). The finish makes it look like a 2011 model.
This bow is gorgeous.
(http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f255/migrabill/bows/black3.jpg)
(http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f255/migrabill/bows/black2.jpg)
(http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f255/migrabill/bows/black5.jpg)
Post by: Lucas K on January 02, 2011, 05:24:00 PM
Post by: jcar315 on January 02, 2011, 05:35:00 PM
That mother of pearl is kicking and the ace of spades is a super touch.
Great find!!
Post by: Larry m on January 02, 2011, 08:06:00 PM
Thanks Bill
Post by: Trad-Man on January 02, 2011, 10:50:00 PM
Gertrude tells me mine was made in '60, '61, or '62 as after that the year was included after the serial number.
She also said they sold for $100 back then.
congratulations on a very nice find!
-TM
Post by: Migra Bill on January 02, 2011, 11:40:00 PM
(http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f255/migrabill/bows/black9.jpg)
(http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f255/migrabill/bows/black8.jpg)
(http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f255/migrabill/bows/black4.jpg)
(http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f255/migrabill/bows/black1.jpg)
Post by: Xavier on January 03, 2011, 10:25:00 PM
Post by: Stumpkiller on January 04, 2011, 01:07:00 PM
But, damn, that bow looks like it would be something Sigfried and Roy would have used in their Vegas Show. :thumbsup:
Great catch, none the less. :clapper:
Post by: Migra Bill on January 04, 2011, 01:23:00 PM
I understand where you are coming from and appreciate your candor. It definately is not a bow to take into the woods and hunt with. You have to understand what it is and when it was made. In the 60's "Tournament Archery" was a big deal. People would show up at competitions with these things. They were meant to be gaudy and showy. Not meant to hunt with. Bear had the Tamerlane, Pearson had the X10 etc. Hell - Pearson even had a bow with mercury inside it (the stuff that now we think kills ya). I can just imagine somebody at a tourney in the Mid-West "pulling this Ace" out of it's bag and the ooh's and aah's that it must have drawn.
Have you seen the clothes that we wore back then??
Post by: Stumpkiller on January 04, 2011, 01:57:00 PM
'twas a time of flash cars and stylish dress!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v169/Stumpkiller/Bowhunting/BugDeer2.jpg)
I do understand. In college I had a "conservative" Howatt Catalina (wish I still had that, too).
My field/target bow now is a 52# Browning Explorer (62" AMO). Shaped kind of uniquely and the glare off the gloss finish can be seen from the space station but the wood is "plain".
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v169/Stumpkiller/Bowhunting/DSC00790.jpg)
You grab that dream and hang onto it. :thumbsup:
Post by: Migra Bill on January 04, 2011, 02:09:00 PM
That guy in the pic looks like he would have loved to pull that '68 Black Ace out of the bag.
Post by: Stumpkiller on January 04, 2011, 02:20:00 PM
!["[dntthnk]"]("graemlins/dntthnk.gif" "\"\"")
Yeah, you'd better send me that bow so I can appreciate it first hand. ;)
Heck - that was when these dumb smiley icons all looked like :) and were non-pixilated!
Post by: Stumpkiller on January 04, 2011, 09:02:00 PM
"You, P-saw, come here try grab wrist." BANG!
I did get my "yeh-row" belt in Tai Kwan Do. And actually still use what I learned there (breathing, stretching, mental prep, focus) more than most of my courses.
Post by: Trad-Man on August 01, 2011, 12:20:00 PM
Post by: PAPALAPIN on August 01, 2011, 02:21:00 PM
When it comes to the "Black Ace", he was a true Master Artist. The Black Ace is about the most beautifu bow ever made. Although they are great shooting bow, it is almost a shame to shoot them. They should be framed and hung on the wall. GORGEOUS!!
I have an earlier model than yours and it is not nearly as strikingly beautiful.
I did not see in the pictures. Does yours have the cam limbs.
AWSOME BOW!!!
Post by: Migra Bill on August 01, 2011, 02:30:00 PM
Post by: LPN on August 11, 2011, 10:31:00 PM
Post by: Wary Buck on August 12, 2011, 12:45:00 AM
Very good. And while I'm not a collector of bows, I really love these stories of you fellows finding these gems out there. And as a history teacher, I love the history behind it too.