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Main Boards => Trad History/Collecting => Topic started by: theviennneau on October 09, 2012, 04:20:00 PM
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I have started a blog for collectors of Vintage Shakespeare Archery equipment. Shakespeare made some of the finest equipment of their day, rivaling the famous Bear Bows. I encourage Shakespeare, Root, Jeffery, or any other maker/brand collectors to post, share stories, and share photos of their Shakespeare Archery gear.
please visit: http://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/
I would also like to know of an archery archive since Archeryarchives.com is no longer available.
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p.m. sent
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Neat! I have a beautiful zebra wood Super necedah shakespeare.
My brother just picked a few up at a flea market. My dad has a a necedah. They are great bows.
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I had 2 Shakespeare recurves pass thru my possession in the past 30 years, and I loved them both. Nice workmanship at a great price!
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I think they are great bows and the prices are always good however since "The Hunger Games" and tv's "revolutions" the prices have risen a lot. The up side is more people are interested in archery.
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I currently have three Shakespeare bows; a Wonderbow Model 600 (45 lbs), a Cascade (50+ lbs), and a Super Necedah (60 lbs).
I find that these bows have virtually no hand shock. My Bear bows have quite a bit of shock and therefore I enjoy shooting the Shakespeare's more than I like the Bear's. Also, my Cascade shoots a lot flatter than my 50 lb Bear Grizzly. I really like the feel and shootability of the Shakespeare bows.
I will be checking out you blog.
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Shhhhhhh someone will find out that Shakespeare are better shooting bows, hahah
nice- 60# super Necedah those are scarce, and I have yet to pick up a good lefty Cascade!!!!
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I guess you could say that I was lucky to get my Super Necedah. I was the only person to bid on it and I got it for $70.00 earlier this year, in May.
It's really a great looking bow... zebrawood riser and tip overlays, black back and belly lams, and no scratches, gouges, or stress cracks. The bow was real dirty and had a light haze of paint overspray on one limb when I got it but a bit of elbow grease and some Maguire's auto compound, followed by wax, and she's as good as new.
I think that most people shy away from a dirty bow for fear of not knowing how to clean one.
You are right... we ought to keep it "on the down-low" regarding the shooting characteristics. The price of bows is certainly on an upswing. No need to add to the inflation.
Thanks for the comment. And best of luck on finding your lefty Cascade. They are a cool bow!
Andrew
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Got a bid on one now, hope it doesn't go to high. The wife will shoot me !!
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I think I've seen that one.
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I like 'em too. Had a Super Necedah when they first came out in 68.
I recently traded away two Necedahs, a Kaibab, and a Root Gamemaster from 66/68 to make room for four Bear Tigercats w beautiful Zebrawood risers from 67/68...
All good bows, all good shooters. The late 60s, early 70s were very good years w lottsa good bows.
Nice review on an old X30 here:
http://www.archers-review.com/bow-reviews/shakespear-super-necedah-5028-x-30
The X30 started out w a Zebrawood riser w Shedua sight window, then they reversed that (Shedua riser, Z window), then they were Wonderwood (similar to Bear's Futurewood, both like Dymondwood), then they were gone, but not forgotten...
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My best friend suprised me this Christmas with the gift of a Shakespeare "Ocala" bow....I live in Ocala, Florida and my house is very near to the old Forest Service station, and I live justa few miles from the Ocala National Forest, so he thought it fitting that I should have an "Ocala" bow. The serial number is K072C....anyone have any idea when this bow was made? The bow is 60" and 45#@28". I think I have a new hobby, collecting Shakespeare bows! Thanks in advance folks!
John
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I have a blog which might help:
http://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/
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The Ocala started out as a 62 in bow and was changed to 60in in 1969. The 1970 catalog shows the glass changing from olive to cinnamon color. This may help you date your bow better or post a picture..
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I love the Ocala and I am about 50 miles from Ocala!!!
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I have been on the prowl for a 55" Necedah in the 50# range for some time. My 54" Super Necedah has been with me a long time and I love it.
BTW, I enjoyed that Shakespeare blog... :thumbsup:
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You mean like this Lon?
(http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k267/bowjack/134_0104.jpg)
(http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k267/bowjack/134_0107.jpg)
(http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k267/bowjack/134_0105.jpg)
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Beautiful bow!!!
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That's it Jack! The bow looks like it's in great condition too, but my eyes could not make out the weight .
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Lon,
It's 50# and I often wish I still had it. When I first began collecting Bear bows I decided I could do without an off brand. It was the first thing I ever attempted to sell on the auction site. I remember well it brought $56 and the buyer whom I got to know better later lives in Germany. Although I haven't spoken with him in some time he was still enjoying the Shakespeare when we last talked.
All's well that ends well.
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thevienneau...I checked out your blog, looks like my Ocala is a 1967 model judging by your pics, everything matches up. Thanks for the help! As soon as I can get a new string or two made for it, I'll let ya'll know how it shoots.
John
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Have fun with it!! I
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I have the LH sister to that bow. It is indeed a nice shooting bow, with clean, understated good looks.
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To prevent any misunderstanding, my reply was about the 50# Necedah that Jack showed.
Jack, do you want to switch to LH? :-)
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ibehiking,
At times I think I may be better off but I think I'll stay righty for now.
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TTT
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I met a past worker for Shakespeare archery a month or so ago.He has a small bicycle shop in Galesburg Michigan.I stop in at a antique shop right next door to his shop & noticed he had a bunch of mounts hanging on his walls along with his bicycles.He is just full of information on the Co.& archery history from the Shakespeare era.He loves to chat archery.If you Shakespeare buffs get close you may want to stop in & chat to him for a bit.
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I saw the blog awhile back and shortly after found a 58" Model x26 Necedah @ 45# at an antique shop. Looks identical, except for the length, to the one Jack Shanks posted. I enjoy shooting this bow as much as my other recurves. The grip on this bow fits like it was designed for my hand :D
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There were two length 55" and 58" both are awesome shooters!!!
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Jack thats a beautiful bow there!
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Hey, Great Job on the Shakespeare Blog! I just read the Root Article... good stuff there. It is so important to get the information from those in the know, before too much time goes by and it is lost for good!
Now I need to find a Shakespeare bow to play with!
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Thanks and I couldn't agree more. I am so glad the Judge Root is sharing his memories. Have fun bow shopping!!
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The Shakespeare blog is definitely a good place to acquire information on these bows. I have learned a lot from the articles, as well as the comments, that are posted on the blog.
Like many of you here I am in search of Shakespeare bows. The prices continue to rise and finding bows for $100.00 or less is just about a thing of the past. But the quest is part of the fun.
I appreciate the time and effort that is, and has been, spent on research and documentation of Shakespeare bows.
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Hi! I'm a new tradgang member but longtime reader...love this site!
My main shooter is a Shakespeare Necedah. It's 55" & 50#. I bought it online 5 or so years ago for $60. It was an absolute STEAL!!! The little recurve was in phenomenal condition.
I've tried to find information on this bow but haven't found anything too definitive. I am, however, pretty certain that the bow was crafted in 1959 or 1960. I absolutely love that I string up a mint bow that's over 50 years old! Shakespeare really did produce some truly great bows.
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I have the same length necedah bow at the same weight and I got it at the same price!!! It is one of my favorite bows!!!
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Rick, nice to see you posting. Larry, I enjoyed your blog, it has helped fill in some gaps. I am still not sure how the Root/Shakespeare transition worked, what is the last year a Root archery bow was available?
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Lots of holes I need to fill too. I know that Root Archery was still making bows while Ernie was working with Shakespeare. Ernie's son has shed a lot of light on the history. For many years people have believed that Shakespeare bought Root. The truth is that Root was still alive and kicking. Ernie left Shakespeare when the whole company relocate to South Carolina. Ernie quit rather than more. he was right because the company didn't last long there. Ernie continued to perfect the Golden Eagle target bow.
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Hi all,
I'm a bit of a newbie to the world of archery and bowhunting, but I'm learning - and I've fallen hard for a Shakespeare Ocala with twisted limbs that I picked up for a song off CL. It looks to be one of the later models I think, and needs some rehabilitation before I can start shooting seriously with it. Does anyone else find that the broad limbs on the Shakespeare bows are prone to twisting? I would hate to have to relegate such a bow to life as a wall-hanger, considering that the few test shots I've fired were smooth like butter, and it fits my hand like I was born with it.
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Update: I'm officially hooked on these bows - especially the "bonus" Sierra X-18 I got with the stock Sierra X-18 I ordered. The bonus bow has slightly smaller tips, a nicer grain in the riser material, and is marked with a "II" in addition to the length and poundage (52", 45#), as well as "Custom tuned for Christopher Welsh" written under the finish on the side of the grip. It's a nice bow, and it draws so smoothly that I almost doubt it's actually a 45 pounder.
(I'll post pics soon!)