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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Red Tailed Hawk on June 19, 2010, 09:14:00 PM

Title: Bow Life Expectancy
Post by: Red Tailed Hawk on June 19, 2010, 09:14:00 PM
Just wondering if there is a certain amount of shots in every bow. If you shoot the proper weighted arrows can a bow last a lifetime? I unstring my bow after each shooting session, but I do shoot alot of arrows a day and I only have one bow.
Title: Re: Bow Life Expectancy
Post by: lpcjon2 on June 19, 2010, 09:15:00 PM
IMHO they will out live us.
Title: Re: Bow Life Expectancy
Post by: Wapiti Chaser on June 19, 2010, 09:35:00 PM
Got three 1966 Bear's that still perform like they're new ! Wish I could say the same for me   :(
Title: Re: Bow Life Expectancy
Post by: Red Tailed Hawk on June 19, 2010, 09:41:00 PM
Wapiti, as long as your still shootin It's all good.

It only takes one arrow
  :archer:
Title: Re: Bow Life Expectancy
Post by: portugeejn on June 19, 2010, 09:50:00 PM
I have a 1959 Bear Polar (same year as me!) that works better than I do :-).  Barring misuse, I think it must be pretty hard to wear out a well made bow.  I know I certainly never will.

RonP
Title: Re: Bow Life Expectancy
Post by: eric-thor on June 19, 2010, 09:50:00 PM
i wouldnt count on selfbows ,for life but glass lam put it in your will.  :bigsmyl:
Title: Re: Bow Life Expectancy
Post by: Pat B on June 19, 2010, 10:00:00 PM
I estimated I put at least 10,000 arrows through my Treadway bow the first year I owned it. That was in 1999 and it still shoots as well as the day I got it. Shooting 10gpp cedars and the original string.
Title: Re: Bow Life Expectancy
Post by: IdahoCurt on June 19, 2010, 10:35:00 PM
i wouldnt count on selfbows ,for life but glass lam put it in your will.

My laminated boo backed osage has 8yrs of continuous shooting and is still pulling #64,no signs of any fatigue.
Title: Re: Bow Life Expectancy
Post by: eric-thor on June 19, 2010, 10:58:00 PM
good for u .   lol but boo aint wood.   :bigsmyl:  same as linen and sinue. they add to the fortitude of the bow . similar to glass.

id still rather have glass or carbon.or both .
Title: Re: Bow Life Expectancy
Post by: sagebrush on June 20, 2010, 12:01:00 AM
I have a bear longbow was that was my dad's. I'm fifty-four and it still shoots. Gary
Title: Re: Bow Life Expectancy
Post by: marsniper27 on June 20, 2010, 09:26:00 AM
I just inherited my gradfathers pearson hunter it is all i am currently using and will serve well come fall.

I agree with lpc if it is well made and taken care of it will be around for generations to come.
Title: Re: Bow Life Expectancy
Post by: Tom-Wisconsin on June 20, 2010, 10:20:00 AM
My bow also shoots better than I do.    :)
Title: Re: Bow Life Expectancy
Post by: IdahoCurt on June 20, 2010, 10:21:00 AM
eric-thor,Can't ague that.
Title: Re: Bow Life Expectancy
Post by: joekeith on June 20, 2010, 10:23:00 AM
QuoteOriginally posted by Red Tailed Hawk:
and I only have one bow.
Only have 1 bow???????  :scared:  How do you do it?
I didn't think that was possible.....  :dunno:
Title: Re: Bow Life Expectancy
Post by: Red Tailed Hawk on June 20, 2010, 12:36:00 PM
Joekeith, Now I didnt say I will only have one bow forever.   :archer:  

IVE HAD MY EYES ON THOSE CENTAUR BOWS AND THEY ARE JUST BEAUTIFAL
Title: Re: Bow Life Expectancy
Post by: reddogge on June 20, 2010, 12:40:00 PM
Don't fall into the trap that glass bows last forever.  I lost a '65 Kodiak last year that delaminated and a late 60s Hoyt Pro Hunter that blew a lower limb in half.  I read on the forums all the time how bows are blowing up and delaminating so how can you know when they will go or if they will go?  Impossible.
Title: Re: Bow Life Expectancy
Post by: eric-thor on June 20, 2010, 01:05:00 PM
yes i have herd of them d-laminating as well. mostly old bows but some new as too . i think it has allot to do with the bows care and sometimes manufacture, im sure there are flaws that arent seen by the human eye in materials we use that are proned to failure weather sooner or later. but overall ill stick with my laminated bows .i have a 10 yr old thomahawk thunderstorm that has been through the huffy test : cold weather ,wet , dropped a couple dozen times and accidently dryfired at least 15 times in all climates ,and its still shootin just as strong as the first day i got it.

i think i got a good one  :bigsmyl:
Title: Re: Bow Life Expectancy
Post by: shaft slinger on June 20, 2010, 10:28:00 PM
depends on alot of things...I have seen wheelies, lam'd longbow and recurves as well as selfbows come apart! Some new and some old!....I have a selfbow (YEW) that was made in the 1960's had not been strung or shoot in at least 30 years...I strung it last week and  shoot it daily!  Shoots great, pulls 53# @26"!...Longarrow
Title: Re: Bow Life Expectancy
Post by: Cyclic-Rivers on June 21, 2010, 11:08:00 PM
I just hope my bow lasts longer than me.
Title: Re: Bow Life Expectancy
Post by: Brian Krebs on June 22, 2010, 02:16:00 AM
I am not certain about ~all~ the math; but the older you are when you buy a bow; the higher the chances are: it will last a lifetime.    :D
Title: Re: Bow Life Expectancy
Post by: House on June 22, 2010, 02:34:00 AM
Bingo Krebs

 :laughing:    :laughing:    :laughing:

I Think all my bows will last longer than me (at least I hope they will)

Travis
Title: Re: Bow Life Expectancy
Post by: eric-thor on June 22, 2010, 02:44:00 AM
shaft slinger u r a brave man . maby a little too tightly rapped as well.  :laughing:
Title: Re: Bow Life Expectancy
Post by: joevan125 on June 22, 2010, 10:16:00 AM
I have 2 59 kodiaks and a 59 Grizzly that look and shoot as good as any custom bow i own.
Title: Re: Bow Life Expectancy
Post by: shaft slinger on June 22, 2010, 08:48:00 PM
Eric, if the bow breaks...I can say I out lived the bow!!!! Right now it looks like it will still be around for my grand sons!!!!...I am alittle "Wrapped"!!!  Longarrow  :bigsmyl:    :deadhorse:
Title: Re: Bow Life Expectancy
Post by: Ron+dog on June 22, 2010, 10:04:00 PM
i have one thats way older than me and im really hoping i can pass it on if they are taken care of and built well they should out last us all
 :campfire:
Title: Re: Bow Life Expectancy
Post by: James Wrenn on June 22, 2010, 10:36:00 PM
Any of them can break at any moment but that moment might be years from now. :)  The trick is to always have another bow in case the moment comes too soon.   :D
Title: Re: Bow Life Expectancy
Post by: Steelhead on June 23, 2010, 12:17:00 AM
Thiers no defintive answer to that question.I have had 3 bows that were less than a year old blow up.One riser blew in  half at the throat of the grip.I had a bow bolt TD blow in half.A longbow limb that folded in half.All these at full draw.Had an all wood laminated bow start to seperate between the lams just beyond the fadeouts.

I have had a few other bows that had thousands upon thousands of shots put through them  with no problems at all.I take good care of my archery gear.Some are destined to have problems at some point.Some are solid state and gonna take a licking and keep on ticking.These bows that bit the dust were all made by reputable bowyers who knew thier craft.

A lemons going to show up once in awhile.But in general a well made bows gonna last a long time with reasonable care.
Title: Re: Bow Life Expectancy
Post by: liv'nonaprayer on June 23, 2010, 06:00:00 AM
All my bows are almost a old as I am,look like they were made yesterday(except for a few dings and scratches).By the way I'm 55!
Title: Re: Bow Life Expectancy
Post by: 59Alaskan on June 23, 2010, 06:06:00 AM
I don't own a bow newer than 1975.  I have a 1959 and 1960 Grizzly that I have put thousands of shots through in the past 6 months.  Who knows what happened before me on these bows?  

I see it as likely they will keep on going for years if I treat them as well as they treat me.