Trad Gang
Main Boards => Trad History/Collecting => Topic started by: cossers on February 13, 2013, 02:40:00 PM
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Hi everyone
Picture the scene from my home here in Scotland .... 33 yrs ago I was just 17yrs old , I had just left school and started my first job . I had been shooting since I was 12 yrs old.
I bought The October 1980 copy of Bow International magazine , and there it was , right there in the centre pages , the most beautiful bow I had ever seen , the Fred Bear Signature Bow . The problem was it cost $1000 , not a chance of me coming up with that kind of money so the bow was just a dream for a teenager.
Years pass by and the jobs get better , meet and marry my beautiful wife , have 2 great kids and eventually get to the point where we have the house we always wanted and are settled.
Still a keen archer and I scan the small ads and the internet for bows of interest . I am now a true traditional archer , the fancy recurves and compound bows with their attachments and sights are long gone , The only way to go is a wooden bow and instinctive shooting.
Then 4 weeks ago it happens , a Signature bow is up for sale in Florida , only 5000 miles away from me but what is a few miles when you find the bow of your dreams ?
Bow number 188 , Right Handed and 60lbs draw weight , what could be better ....
Emails pass between me and the seller and after ironing out the problems as to how i was going to take delivery of the bow we eventually got there , and at last my dreams have become a reality . Now about to celebrate being 50yrs of age I have treated myself to the ultimate birthday present and my mid life crisis has been cured .
Many many thanks to Len Busbee at Traditional Archery Sales In Florida who supplied my piece of history , He has been outstanding in service and a true gentleman in every respect.
Needless to say my bow will never be assembled or shot , but as a piece of art you can keep all the paintings , I know what I want to look at.
(http://i.imgur.com/OigTnqQ.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/vGMucSx.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/mdJYb9T.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/iv0cDdW.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/v4UY0Yr.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/FHqbH0H.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/k54Sbdv.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/81A1O3q.jpg)
My wife just shakes her head ..........
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Great bow and an even greater story.It certainly isn't about the quantity but the quality.Very happy for you and thanks for sharing.
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Doesn't get any better than that. :thumbsup:
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Congratulations!
I remember getting the Bear catalogue with the Signature bow listed in the pages. I showed it to my wife and she told me to go ahead and buy it if I really wanted one that bad. With two young daughters and a morgage it didn't make sense for me to spend five months of house payments on a bow at the time. Now that the girls are grown and the house is paid for I just can't seem to find one for the same price.
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Congratulations!
PapaBear's masterpiece and crowning achievement. Enjoy!
......Philip
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Congrats and enjoy.
:cool:
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Len is a good guy. Congrats.
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Great story of patience rewarded.
Thanks also for good pics. Congrats and enjoy!
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Thanks for very kind comments guys. Really appreciated and wonderful being part of the traditional community.
I do wonder how many bows have made it out of the US to other countries ?
Another pic added to show the limb pocket serial number. I didn't realise before getting the bow that they were numbered here too.
(http://i.imgur.com/5CFUrjJ.jpg)
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I have one that went to Italy originally.
#66
As your bow, the serial # is located in the the rail of the top socket only and on limbs on Signature bows.
There are a few I know of with F.B.S.C. written on handle with member #.
(Fred Bear Sports Club).
Congratulations once again.......Philip
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I remember that same add. I had just received an $1000 limit credit card, boy was that tmpting but with one toddler and one in the oven it wasn't going to happen. Sure is a beatiful bow. Congrats