Thers a Herters perfection recurve for sale & the gent claims its a collcters bow, I dont remember of hear'n the herters name before, by chance anyone know anything about Herters ??
When I was a kid we couldn't wait for the next Herters catalog. Herters had everything for the hunter and had bows that were of good quality.
I have only herd good things about the perfection mag, but have never shot one. Try the history/collecting section and search for Herters.
Herter's was the 'go to' mail order catalog in the 60s. If you were into hunting back then, there was probably a Herter's catalog at your house. I never had one of their bows, but I sure bought a lot of stuff through them. Don't know anything about collector's value, but I bet somebody on the collector's forum would. George Herter was an American original, a real piece of work. We could use a few more like him.
The first bow I bought was a Herters Super Magnum Perfection 60 - 60" recurve - 50#@28" - I sold it to move to Colorado (one of the worst things I have ever done - selling the bow). Great lines - shot very well.
I'd like to get my hands on it again.
Herters was the go to company for all things outdoors. We ran dogs, trapped, hunted rabbits, squirrels, and birds and all our supplies came from a Herters catalog. Wish it was still around. I own a 56" 45@28" Herters recurve; still break it out to hunt turkeys with occasionally. Not sure on collector status, but it holds a soft spot in my Heart.
I repaired 2 over the past few years, both with the limbs snapped in two. One was a perfection and the other called the international match hunter. I'm not sure what caused the breakage it didn't seem like the regular type failure. It was like they were slammed in a door or somthing. The breaks were too clean.
-Mike
Herters back then was like SEARS they sub contracted out thier wares . GUns were made in their name by very reputable firm in Germany. I do NOT know who made thier bows for them but they were pretty high quality . MY brother- in law had one and used it for years. I DO NOT remember the model. I shot it several times over the years and it compared favorably to my then, Bear Kodiak . I still use a lot of their reloading dies and other equipment that I have had for 40 years now . I still have a box of Herters Small game blunts for 11/32 shafts . I am tempted to use them but They are more of a collectors item now. Might even part with a couple at the Trade Blanket at Denton next year .
Herters was a great company
Does anyone know who the Herters Bowyer was??? :dunno:
There are Herters recurves that have not blown up yet? they shot a quick arrow, had grips that some liked and others hated, you need a bow loader to load them safely. some had really nice rosewood risers. Lots of us had them, lots of us saw them explode as well, some us were not so good at not twisting them when trying to load them. I wonder how mine is doing, I sold it almost forty years ago.
I bought five bows out of a bucket in a secondhand store about 15 years ago. one was a left handed Perfection Sambar. The recurve was pretty radical and the limbs would twist very easily while stringing. Once strung it seemed ok. I sold it on the internet since there were no lefties in my family or friends. Guy who bought it loved it. Don't know how the long term relationship worked out.
ah, the herter's catalog! a pleasurable tome for both living room and bathroom. :D
i had a few herter's recurves (remember the sambar?) and their itasca longbow - 70 inches and 57# of bone jarring, tooth rattling, straight limbed, recurve handled wood and glass. not missed one bit. :D
I bought my first dozen aluminum arrows from Herter's 1966. Came with free target points. They were silver and I quickly destroyed them shooting trees and the barn but man those suckers were fast.
Sergio, Herters bowyer was Robert Barrie,later made Rocky Mountain broadheads.
I have 2 Herters bows, I really love the International Match Target #37lbs, has Rosewood and is beautiful - shoots very well. The other bow is the Hunter @45lbs with Maple, not as pretty but shoots good, lots of wood in the handle! The Hunter was Cammo painted (factory) when I got it, I stripped it to see the wood and glass. I finished it natural, like it better than paint.
I heard 2 stories about the bow makers. One was the bows were made in Michigan, the other Germany? I don't know but would be interested to know.
bump
Their Bowyer made their bows there in Minnesota at their plant. I think his name was Barrie? I talked with him one time about how he came up with the design for their takedown bow. Even today, I think that is about the easiest and fastest td system around for a 3 pc. recurve. Granted, it isn't the prettiest system (with those big metal brackets) but it sure was (and still is) functional.
Herters
OK, now I am feeling old. I wonder how many of their catalogs I wore out. Never bought on of their bows - but I did lust for them at the time.
The first (and only) Herters bow I ever saw was on the outdoor range in the apple orchard at Purdue University in the fall of 1973. I was shooting a Bear B Mag and this other fellow had a Herters. I don't know the models but it was a big-horned riser, sort of like Black Widow. The fellow shot it well. I think it was a 1-piece?
I've casually looked for a Lefty for a few years.
Bought a Herters recurve with rosewood handle back in the 60's.I hunted with it for many years till I bought a bear bow.It shot really well and the price was much lower compared to the major bow brands as was most all Herters stuff :archer:
My first hunting bow was a beautiful rosewood Perfection Magnum recurve that I shot my first elk with back in 1969. This last winter I refinished it and it's now displayed on my office wall. If I could figure out how to paste it from Photobucket I would.
Always lusted after them in the catalogs when I was a kid in the 60's. Finally picked up a '61 Turkish Hunter on E-bay a couple years ago. 62", 48# - nice bow.
I have 4 Herter's bows and really like them. Just killed my buck with a 44# Herter's takedown. Complete pass through with a cedar arrow.
I still have my Herter's bow. It is a 65# Perfection Stika @ 66". I shot it for over 17 years and finally started to get a little twist in one limb. I still shoot it once in a while. I have shot bunches of deer, elk and small game with it. I purchased it around 1970 -71. It took a pretty good tree to make them as the riser is massive. I loved the big grip. I still have the Herter's catalog and receipt from the purchase - $50. for the bow. I understand they had their own bowyers. I also bought a dozen of the micro flight fiberglass shafts with the bow and still have a few. They were indestrible, but heavy. OH the good ole days of Herter's. I bought a lot of things - including materials for making fishing lures. They were a great company.
QuoteOriginally posted by Rob DiStefano:
ah, the herter's catalog! a pleasurable tome for both living room and bathroom. :D
:D
Herters was a great marketing machine. My dad bought all of his archery gear and makings from Herter by mail.
We visited the main store in Waseca when I was a kid. Don't remember the year, but the Herter fiberglass boats had fins on them ala Cadillac! :)
Reading all these posts I just had to break out my 46" Model Perfection" and look it over. I bought it some 6 yrs ago from a friend. This bow is in near perfect condition. Short, well its short. I have never strung the bow. I bought it after seeing how close in appearence and feel it was to my Kodiak Magnum 48", which I bought new in 73 in Hawaii.