I picked this bow up today, and I must say. It is one of the coolest, quickest, best feeling vintage bows I have ever owned. The "cool" factor being really fun.
It is a Herters Perfection Sitka... 58'' #46.
I believe it is East African Rosewood, and the limb veneers are near Perfect, with a bright shiny factory finish.
I have a few questions for those who have owned or are familiar with them.
1) The bow is marked 58'' Length, 52.5'' String. Which gives it an 8.5 inch brace height. Is this common with these older Herters?
2) Is there a way to date these bows without the catalogues, I believe this one is mid-70's. Does that seem right?
I am also thinking of having some fun with this bow and putting snake skins on half the limbs, and doing some kind of antler overlay on the riser. I don't find this bow collectable enough not too. ANY THOUGHTS?
(http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac64/tyler733-02/IMG_1056.jpg)
(http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac64/tyler733-02/IMG_1057.jpg)
(http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac64/tyler733-02/IMG_1058.jpg)
(http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac64/tyler733-02/IMG_1060.jpg)
1975, and yes, high brace heights are common with Herters and other bows of the time.
Killdeer
wow, such a quick answer. thanks Killdeer. I just figured out the serial number sequence. thanks.
Nice looking bow. I've always admired thise Herter's. I should have bought a lefty that was availble a week ago on a general auction site. It sold for a low price and didn't need mych work. I snoozed and "losed".
Just think what that old bow would do with triple carbon in it! :eek: Sweet looking lines. I'll bet it is fun to shoot. Congratulations. :thumbsup:
Snake skins?? Antler overlays?? I wouldn't mess with the classic beauty of these wonderful bows. That would be like hanging a pair of furry dice on a 1922 Stuz Bear Cat! I think your all wrong when you say that these bows have little collector value. At the very most I would give it a satin finish or better yet buy some limb skins for it. I have a 66" Sambar Hunter, it likes a 8" brace, it's a great shooter.
Tomas, I think your thinking straighter than me. I am putting a fresh clearcoat on the riser and enjoying it the way it was made. thanks.