Trad Gang
Main Boards => Trad History/Collecting => Topic started by: Jack Shanks on September 21, 2011, 05:49:00 PM
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A friend of mine asked me for some help with a Coe bow that belonged to his wife's grandfather. I'm wondering if any Coe Archery collectors can put a aprox. year on when this bow could have been manufactured or know if it had a model name? The only markings on it are the Coe Archery Co. Otter Lake Michigan. It is 60" long and has woven glass on the back. The limb tips are tiny as you can see in the pictures. Thanks, Jack
(http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k267/bowjack/IMG_1005.jpg)
(http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k267/bowjack/IMG_1006.jpg)
(http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k267/bowjack/IMG_1009.jpg)
(http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k267/bowjack/IMG_1008.jpg)
(http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k267/bowjack/IMG_1010.jpg)
(http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k267/bowjack/IMG_1011.jpg)
(http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k267/bowjack/IMG_1012.jpg)
(http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k267/bowjack/IMG_1014.jpg)
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Obviously, late 40s or very early 50s, just from the glass alone. The tips look like a Bear transition bow I have that I believe was made right after Grumley left. I had a few and saw a lot of Cliff's bows back when I used to visit him in the 80s. Cliff would sometimes try some of the designs that Bear had used, just to see what was there. I remember one time he was making us a pot of coffee in the kitchen and there was a waste basket full of bows standing there. One was "obviously" a Grumley static tipped bow! I picked it up, asking "what's this?" He looked kind of ashamed and said "that's just something I tried to see what they really had going over there." It was a beautiful bow, and I thought a dead ringer for a Grumley. He said no, not even close.
Cliff raised Tennesee Walking Horses and made beautiful violins-called them fiddles. He was a true craftsman.
Another funny story about visiting Cliff. He had no phone but never missed answering a letter, and promptly. I traveled for business and my schedule changed a lot. But,to be certain of finding him at home, I had to write him to say when I was coming, and then SHOW UP!! If my schedule changed, I couldn't get a letter out in time,and I couldn't get there on the day I had planned, he'd write me to find out if I was OK! He expected you to keep your promise! He was a humble and wonderful man.
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Tom,
Thank you for the information and sharing your stories about Cliff. My buddy told me his wife's grandpaents rented a house from Cliff at some point in time and became friends with him. Through him they became interested in archery and traveled together with Cliff to archery events. Kind of a coincidence but my friend's grandfather was also involved in archery back in the day. His grandfather was a gentleman by the name of Nels Grumley.
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Your friend's name wouldn't be Scott, would it? I saw him a few weeks ago at a shoot.
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No, Scott is his cousin. My friend's name is Chris Vincent. Never met Scott but I heard the story about him and the accident he had at Chris' brother Joe's house involving a broadhead and an arrow. Lucky to be alive!
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Hi Jack,
I have a few of his bows and his quiver he used in the Cliff Coe display. The stiff ear recurve made in the late 40's has the woven glass and toxhorn face with the same logo on the limb. I have his bush bow also made in the mid 40's but has a stamped two line logo and it states in his book "made with fiber backing with plastic facing : also fiberglass backing with toxhorn-wood facing;various combinations of core wood,hickory,maple and osage". from Cliff's book "44 Years Behind the Bow"
The other bows I have made in the late 50's have a decals to mark the bows , same for the takedowns and have two of his bamboo backed straight end bows just signed by Cliff. I don't have the straight end bow you have to compare.Cool bow thanks for the posting.
I'd say yours would fit in the late 40's to early 50's
Just my thoughts on it but what do I know....Hink
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Jack your mail box is full
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I have a Cliff Coe Competitor recurve. Any one know anyting about it?
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Hi Wayne,
Don't have one but the info I have on it is
"Length 68", glass both sides, maple core, large sight window, walnut and maple handle, manufactured during the 60's" I'm not sure if the where all built that way but thats what I have from his book.
Could you post some pic's?
:cool: Hink
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How do you post pics on here?
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pm sent
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Idont know why I cant get the pics from photobucket on here.
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(http://photobucket.com/waynes-pics)
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Hi Wayne,
Thanks for the pic's you sent.
In his book he has this one as 68" target bow , bear glass both sides, maple core, laminated handle, large sight window. Made in late 60's
Hink
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[IMG]http://image6.photobucket.om/albums/
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(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m604/wayneworthy/004.jpg)
Here ya go