So I am wanting to find a a 30ish pound recurve to use for practice, form work, rehabbing my shoulder, an extra bow to let poeple try, etc. I have an old Wing we shot as kids and its always been a good bow but its 40# and I would like something a little lighter. I thought about getting a cheap ilf setup, but generally perfer buying old American vs new Chinese. I thought about building a bow, and will at some point, but its shooting weather right now.
This lead me to the idea of picking up a good light weight vintage recurve. Not looking to spend a whole lot. I wasnt around for the hey day of Wing, Ben Pearson, etc so I dont know which models are the stars and which ones should be avoided.
What would be some good ones to look for? What's your favorite vintage production recurve ?
Wilson brothers Black Widow bows, Hoyt Prohunter, Ben Pearson Sovereign, and Bear Polar.
You can some idea about bows and model numbers by look at the Vintage Archery catalogs They are grouped by mfgr/year https://www.vintagearchery.org/catalogs.html
https://www.vintagearchery.org/catalogs.html :thumbsup:
Thats a pretty cool resource. Didn't know that site existed. My dad used to shoot a take down stemmler untill a limb twisted. Think he's still got it in a box.
I have a Bear Tigercat that I really like. Mine is a 1968 model. It's 62in 45lbs. I've seen them in lighter poundage. I like how they shoot. You can usually pick them up for well under $200.
Victor Viking early 70's.
Does anyone have any recommendations for online sales of these vintage bows? I watch the RMS gear inventory and they get some good ones in, but I dont know other trustworthy sites. Tons on Ebay but its always a risk and the pictures normally aren't good enough to see problems. Not much locally unfortunately.
Kevin Bishop @ Traditionaljunk.com has a good selection, and is a great guy.
American Archery Cheetah. Great bow, I gave it to my son as it is 60# @28". Too much for me. Shooting more longbows anyway.
Just built a string for this old wing we used to shoot as kids. This one is 41# and is really a nice bow.
I have two favorite vintage recurves. Both are 1980s factory camo Bear Kodiak Takedowns.
My favorite one-piece bow. My 1972 factory camo Bear Super Kodiak.
Favorite old bow
1967 fred bear blond polar at 35#
Have had this one for over 40 years
Hard to find but the old Jeffery Archery bows shoot as good as anything I've shot.
Ebay just dropped these off at my door. Afraid I may have caught another sickness. A tri-state wildcat. Early im guessing from the weird texture of the glass. A york that seems super sweet and a stemmler which seems a little cluncky but maybe it will grow on me.
I wasnt sure about the stemmler grip at first, but it feels really good while shooting it.
I second Blackcow. Kevin Bishop has a big selection and is a good guy to deal with.
Kodiak 64 inch 59er was a sweet shooter for me
Shakespeare Necedahs, Root Warrior bows. Perform with the best, underrated
in my opinion.
I would like to have a 62 Kodiak , I still have my Howatt Super Diablo I bought in 1977 great bow and I shot Howatt Hunters for a number of years . Even though Im a bowyer and only hunt and shoot my own bows I still like to collect a little , I just recently acquired 3 vintage bows . A Pearson Cougar its like new, a Howatt High Speed with a bubinga handle its like new also and has the curved stripe, and I got a Grizzly that was camo painted I stripped it and it had a very nice Shedua handle under that ugly paint.
Another old bow showed up today. A White Wing. This thing is HEAVY and the grip is huge. It shoots a treat though. I feel like there is some serious accuracy in this bow if I do my part. I really need to stay off of auction sites now.
60" 67 1/2 47# Super Kodiak. I can't tell you how many times I have regretted selling that bow.
I killed my first buck with that bow 11--11-1969.
My Dad's Marz T/D recurve- orange alum. riser w/ wood panels pressed into each side of the grip, maple limbs with glossy black glass, 66", 45#. Made by Mr. Marz back in 1973 or '74. We lived in NW PA at the time, 2 mi from the NY state line & south of Jamestown.
Dad hunted with it for a few years & decided that he liked gun hunting better.
Many years later, after I got bitten by the bug, I asked Dad about it. A week or so later, a home made 8" PVC pipe container arrived at my door from AZ, where my folks had moved to. Inside was that bow along with a dozen fiberglass arrows that Mr. Marz had also made for my dad, and a note: "You'll use this more than I ever did! Love, Dad!