Thought I would post a thread to introduce myself. I'm Jeremy and live in South Minneapolis, MN. New to archery this year. A friend gave me a compound bow to try out last spring. The draw was about 3" too long and could only be taken in an inch. So I bought a used Mathews Solo Cam at Schaffer's in Burnsville. I've been shooting at a Minneapolis Park Board range by my house every couple days since. I've met some really cool people there and through one of them I ended up here in a round about way.
I was shooting a few weeks ago and a guy was there with his recurve. I thought "I have one of those". Sort of. About 20 years ago my dad gave me his bow. I'd moved around a lot in my 20's and ended up leaving it at a friends when I moved. About 3 years ago he said "You know I have your dads bow, if you want it back. " I said maybe someday. So last week I got it back from him. He was bummed, I think, I actually got it.
My dad bought it, sold it and bought it back by luck of running into the guy that had it. Then it floated around my family and with my friend. Long journey for a bow that probably hasn't been used to hunt, let alone shot, since the mid 80's. It's maybe been used 3 times since I first got it in 92 and I don't ever remember my dad using it.
I came to find out what information I could about it. What kind of arrows I should be shooting. I have the arrows my dad had and they still look new. I don't know anything about it or the related gear. How should I store it? Where in the Minneapolis area can I go buy a glove, stringer and find knowledgable people? Also to maybe find someone who shoots at the Lake Nokomis range I go to who can help me. After reading the introduction I got from the link in my registration email I don't want to pick up any bad habits. I have enough of those.
The bow is a:
Wings Archery Company
Thunderbird
62"
TA 133
51#
From what I've read on here seems like a great bow.
Any info would be appreciated. Hope to be shooting it soon. Thanks for such a wonderful site. Look forward to talking with everyone.
Jeremy
Welcome Jeremy. This is a great place to learn.
bretto
Welcome from Maine.
Welcome Jeremy! Great folks here, as well as a wealth of information to be found.
Wing Thunderbird...great bows and fine shooters.
:campfire:
Jeremy,
If you can swing it, a trip to the "Footed Shaft" in Rochester would REALLY be worth your while. They are about the only full up Traditional archery shop here in MN.
Then get in touch with other trad shooters at the "Rapids Archery Club" in Coon Rapids (Andover, Bunker Hills State Park). Not real close to you in the southern part of the cities but where you should start.
Welcome.
Arne
Welcome Jeremy! I second Arnes' advice on the Footed Shaft. I think Wing Archery is now Bob Lee, but not positive. :wavey:
Welcome Jeremy. You will enjoy this site and will find a long list of very helpful people. Put moebow at the top of that list.
Welcome from Kentucky!
Welcome from Mississippi. You have found a treasure, both in your dad's bow and your interest of traditional archery.
Welcome! This is a great place to hang out and read along to gain a wealth of knowledge.
Another big WELCOME from the Mississippi Delta.
James
Glad to have you aboard, enjoy the ride!!!
Welcome to the Gang from Pa.
Great place to ask all your questions and get the best answers!!!! :campfire:
Welcome Jeremy from upstate NY!
The Wing Thunderbird is a nice bow. Pre-AMF Wings (Bob Lee was their bowyer at that time) are generally preferred. Wings have a reputation for great performance.
#6 in this image is the Thunderbird.
(http://www.archeryhistory.com/recurves/recurvespics/wing69.jpg)
Welcome from California!
Welcome :campfire:
That would be the one Stumpkiller.
How can I tell if is a pre AMF/Head?
On the top limb, string side, it says Thunderbird.
On the bottom limb, string side, it says Wings Archery Company.
On the left side, just below the grip is:
62"
TA 133
51#
Those numbers are differemt from the Thunderbird/Wings logo's as in they look hand written.
What do they mean? I know the draw weight.
Sorry, I don't know the proper terms for the bow parts yet. I've been reading post trying to learn as much as possible.
:campfire:
Welcome :campfire:
welcome from MD stick with it ask lots of questions.
Howdy from Montana! :wavey:
Jeremy -
Welcome to the gang. AMF put their logo on the bows after they bought the company from Bob Lee. If you don't find AMF on the bow, it is a pre-AMF Wing.
WELCOME Jeremy :wavey: from N.C. :campfire:
:wavey: from Georgia..
:wavey:
Welcome Jeremy,
Give Bob or his son Rob a call in TX. They'll be glad to talk to you...They're a sponsor here.
http://www.bobleebows.net/
The 62" marking is the "AMO length" of your bow, measured from an un-strung/un-braced bow from the "belly"-side of the top limb's string notch/groove, along the recurve to the riser, then straight across the riser section to the other limb, and along the bottom limb recurve to its string notch/groove.
That measurement should be about 62". The actual string length should be about 3-4" shorter, depending on design or brace height; say a 58-59" string, measured as stretched taught on 1/4" dowels/bolts (loop-to-loop).
Buy a recuver stringer for it, for safety and to minimize twisting a limb.
The TA 133 is likely a Serial # meaning Thunderbird SN: A-xxx ??? Perhaps these Wing experts can clarify.
The 51# is usually measured at a AMO draw length of 28": That is 26.25 inches from the string to the deepest part of the grip (where the web of our hand goes) when drawn. The remaining 1.75" usually hits most bows at the forward-most part of the grip ("back" of the bow) to make up the full 28" AMO measurement. So if you draw the string back 26.25 inches from the deep part of the grip, you will be holding approx 51# +/-. For every inch drawn more/less, just add/subtract approx 2-3 lbs/inch.
Good luck and ask away...
Welcome to the site. :thumbsup:
Welcome Jeremy. That's one fine bow you got there. Make sure you get a bow stringer and learn how to string it right so you don't accidentally warp a limb. As far as storage some guys (myself included) leave thier bow strung all the time. Others unstring them after shooting especially if they plan to not shoot for awhile. I shoot longbows and just hang them from a single peg. Some people hang them horizonally with two pegs.
Welcome. Great bow also.
Welcome to Tradgang,your going to enjoy traditional archery.I bet you can breath back the life into that old bow of your dads.
Welcome from Indiana!