I have this 1957 Bear Grizzly that I couldn't figure out what to do with. It had some hazing and some stress lines in it but everything else was good on her. No twist in the limbs, handle and tips were good. The limbs appeared to be structurally solid after I did a little supergluing and light sanding. Well, I decided to some artwork on it. I added some artificial sinew and tite bond glue in the areas of the limbs with the light stress lines. Painted her up.Added a buckskin handle wrap and glass crow beads.Painted a bear claw on it for onvious reasons. The bow has great specs for hunting. 62" and 55#. My question is do you think I ruined the bow by doing this? Here are some before and after pics.
(http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z267/horatio1226/beargrizzly1957005.jpg)
(http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z267/horatio1226/beargrizzly1957003.jpg)
(http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z267/horatio1226/beargrizzly1957009.jpg)
(http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z267/horatio1226/beargrizzly1957010.jpg)
Finished bow:
(http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z267/horatio1226/beargrizzly57painted001.jpg)
(http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z267/horatio1226/beargrizzly57painted003.jpg)
(http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z267/horatio1226/beargrizzly57painted007.jpg)
(http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z267/horatio1226/beargrizzly57painted005.jpg)
(http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z267/horatio1226/beargrizzly57painted006.jpg)
what was your process that you put the bow through.
Do you like it?
That's all that matters.
Your bow...your decision.
First of all....are you happy with how it came out? If so, there is no reason to discuss this any further. The only one you have to please is yourself. :thumbsup: I think it looks kind'a neat, and wouldn't be great to kill something this fall with it.
You ask if you ruined the bow. Well, do you like it? Does the bow shoot worse than it did before you made the mods? Did you buy the bow with the intention of reselling solely for profit? If the last answer is no and you like the bow then what are you worried about? it's your beauty and you should go out and shoot it a bunch. Take it to the woods and make some meat with it. Enjoy it.
Sand it to put a fine scratch in it. Hit with some rustoleum sparay primer. Best I could find without getting crazy. Then everything else is done in acrylic. I then stell wooled it lightly to give it a little age and a little scratch and then sprayed it with satin spar urethane. Most of the paint work was done with very fine brushhes. I figure the bow is 55 years old. If I can extend it's life great. If not so be it. I see no reason why this bow won't last a good bit longer. The limbs and perfectly straight and the tips are perfect.
I like it,you did a really nice job. :thumbsup:
I like it. Could see myself hunting with it this year. No poll will change that. I'm kinda curious as to how people feel about doing this to an old Bear bow.
Thanks Grinch!
I know what I think of it. I'm curious as to others opinion of what I did to it. Maybe I should add the answer "don't care one way or t'other" to the poll.
It's YOUR bow, bear made it but it's YOURS,and now it looks like yours,well done.
As a collectible, you have decreased its value quite a bit, but as the hunting bow it was made to be you have only added some of your own medicine and personalized it to you. I don't think I would call that ruined. Besides, its nothing Bowdoc or Rich can't fix.
Hi Brian. That bow looks great! Very nice work and very unique. You definitley have a one-of-a-kind old Bear.
Cool thing about old Bears is you can always strip every thing back off and refinish it as original.
Looks kinda cool like that.
Looks cool! I think you did a great job!
Looks Great! To personalize it as you did will make it that much more special when you make meat. As others have said, it's your bow, and only you can judge the pros and cons of customizing. I say well done!
I think it's cool. It wasn't like you took a really nice/minty Grizzly and defiled it. It was a Grizzly in kinda beat up shape.
I have a '55 Grizzly that's in super shape that one would never consider screwing with. But one that's beat up with lots of stress lines? Sure, why not?
Believe it or not, some people actually put snake skins on bows! Oh, the horror! LOL :biglaugh: :laughing:
Lets be honest, it looked terrible before you started, not something that in my opinion had much if any collectors value to it. Now it looks amazing, and you will enjoy shooting it, so you have given an old bow new life. Be proud of your fine work. You are talented.
Thanks!
Thought about putting snakeskins on it but that wasn't creative enough. Sometimes there is simply too much traditional in trad.
This bow was painted in the traditiional colors of the native american medicine wheel. The circles signify Wakan Tanka,"the great source" from which everything comes and the yellow represents the 4 directions. The bow may be more traditional than it ever was. Let's face it, the bow was a chunk of maple sandwiched between 2 pieces of black fiberglass. :rolleyes:
you personalized your bow, nothing wrong with that. Not every bow is a "collector" either! some are just meant to hunt.
You made it "YOUR BOW". Good job and cool!
So far 20 out of 28 feel I ruined it and not 1 negative comment. I guess it is a case of "if you don't have something good to say..." :laughing: I know some of you are hating this bow. Its okay I can take it. I have been artistic as long as I have been alive. If somebody didn't like my work, then I'm not very artistic, at least in my mind. I would be doing things for others and not myself. Restoring it would have been BORING as hell. Would have looked like all the rest. :nono:
Collectibility is in the eye of the beholder. While some who classify themselves as Bear collectors might not want it...no big deal, older Grizzlies or ANY for that matter wont fund your retirement.
That being said, there are others who collect archery history AND artwork, where you may get someone who would pay MORE than a collector would.
You just never know.
In my opinion, is it ruined? Seriously? Far from it, it shoots and looks fantastic. You put a lot of thought and reasoning behind what you did. If it were my bow, I'd keep it in the family to pass down.
I love it.
Thank you Mr. Conroy. The bow being shelved for lefty and righty makes it the perfect bow to pass down. I also have 3 sons ages12,15 and 19. We now have a bow for any friends to try trad!
Thanks for all the nice comments!
Looks nice. Well done.
i like it too
Its your bow and as long as you like it then who really cares what we think? BTW, I like it...its a creative way of building something to show people.
I like it
I think you gave it a second chance with the sinew ...It looks like it was ready to have some major refinishing to it so it could be hunted with without any worry's of delamination and you repaired it so it could have some more memories added to it's life...Just because it wasn't done by any well known refinisher's to it's original birthdate doesn't mean it has to...You did the job yourself and saved a few $$ and if it shoots well and you are pleased then that is all that matters... :thumbsup:
Brian,
That bow was destined to be ruined the day it was built. I think you best, better get to ruining it ;) :thumbsup:
Looks great!
i have seen plenty of stock old bows that have been ruined by people by leaving them in the car, throwing them in the corner of the garage, putting them in the attic,general abuse, etc. You put time, effort, sweat, and care into that bow. ...not the ingredients of "ruining" something. it's a "one of a kind" now
If you're concerned, why not just get another Grizzly in rough condition with lots of stress lines and no leather grip? You can probably find one for around $40. That way, you have one of each. ;)
mojostick, I'd have to paint that one too! :knothead:
mojostick, I'd have to paint that one too! :knothead:
i think it is kinda cool.
You did good brother. All I could have done is strip it down and make it look new. I don't have the artistic talent to pull that off. I tip my hat to you brother. I don't own collector items. Heck I just gave away 16 sets of antlers to a guy who does art because all they did is collect dust on my wall and in my garage. Put it to use and get it bloody!!!!!
Looks better than most bows ecspecialy the ones people dont want to scratch with a non trad price tag.$$$$. More trad then it ever was before.
Dam nice!!!
Bows were made to shoot. If it stills shoots its still good. Collectors may disagree, but a bow is a tool, not a picasa.
It's all pimped out!! New TV show "Pimp my Bow"!!
Doesn't look bad, just as long as your happy with it.
QuoteOriginally posted by gringol:
Bows were made to shoot. If it stills shoots its still good. Collectors may disagree, but a bow is a tool, not a picasa.
Ditto. Shoot the heck out of it. Collectables only collect dust.
"Ruin it"? Not at all. You extended its useful life and made it into something unique. Both of those results are good IMO.
It's not my painting style but it's not my bow either. The important thing is if YOU like it and will get continued use from it.
Good Luck!
Mike
I took a wood file and went to work on the grip of a custom bow so it would fit my hand better. The grip was way too high, and I like a more relaxed grip. By the time I got done with it, the bow fit my hand like a glove perfectly. I shot 5 times better with it and killed a turkey with it last fall. Did I hurt the value? Yes, probably, but do I care? No because now it's mine and if I couldn't shoot it the way it was then it wasn't any good to me. Now it's a killer in my hands and it's got mojo in it.
:thumbsup: :campfire:
You haven't ruined a bow until you stop shooting it and it sits neglected in the corner. ;)
This bow sat for years I believe without a string and the tips are perfect and the limbs have zero twist. He must have had it sitting just right. :goldtooth:
Heck No, you didn't ruin it. Archery is supposed to be fun. Do whatever it takes to enjoy. I kinda like painted style bows plus they work just as well as unpainted...tippit
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v110/tippit/Quebec%20Quest%2008/QuebecQuest08095.jpg)
I like it! It reminds me of designs the ancients put on their bows.
Thanks Mr. Kerr!That was the intent. :notworthy: