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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Fleatrap1 on January 31, 2014, 10:37:00 PM

Title: Bow Lifetime
Post by: Fleatrap1 on January 31, 2014, 10:37:00 PM
I try to shoot a few dozen arrows at least once a week. More often in the warmer months. Just how long of a lifetime can i get from a bow. I have a Bear Super Grizzy, i assume it would last a very long time.  Do longbows last any longer than recurves? I am sure lamination helps to some degree. I am just curious, some day i hope to pass my bows off to my boys.
Title: Re: Bow Lifetime
Post by: Cyclic-Rivers on January 31, 2014, 10:54:00 PM
Bows lives are much like peoples.  There are no Guarantees you will live a long time but Taking care can lengthen the life.

I have seen some bows perform for 50-60 years and still are going strong, My 65 and 68 Grizzlies are doing well.  Hopefully your super Grizz will too.

Fine choice in bow I might add.
Title: Re: Bow Lifetime
Post by: dhermon85 on January 31, 2014, 10:57:00 PM
I have a kodiak magnum that will turn 50 next year. You wouldn't know it looking at it. I think care has a lot to do with it.
Title: Re: Bow Lifetime
Post by: Stumpkiller on January 31, 2014, 10:57:00 PM
I have a 1966 Browning that's my most used bow.  I shot it every day for two years - missed five days and left it strung the whole time.  It's still strung now.  Used it two weeks ago at a stump shoot and it still performs as it has for years and years.  I have a couple fiberglass laminate bows that are older and also holding up well.

As far as I know fiberglass hasn't been determined to have an expiration date.
Title: Re: Bow Lifetime
Post by: Blackhawk on January 31, 2014, 11:29:00 PM
I believe most of us will agree that just about any fiberglass bow is going to last a really long time if properly constructed and taken care of.  

Bows from the early 50's til now are still holding their own with lots of life still left.  Store 'em properly and treat 'em right...and your grandkids can still enjoy 'em.
Title: Re: Bow Lifetime
Post by: Bjorn on February 01, 2014, 12:38:00 AM
The ones that don't break will last a lifetime!   :bigsmyl:
Title: Re: Bow Lifetime
Post by: MnFn on February 01, 2014, 12:41:00 AM
I will let you know about this one when I have a string made for it later this year.
 I don't know exactly how old it is, but my dad brought it home when I was in 1st or second grade around 1959.  It was used when he got it.

  (http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd43/MnFn/dadsbow004_zpsa9df8a05.jpg) (http://s222.photobucket.com/user/MnFn/media/dadsbow004_zpsa9df8a05.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Bow Lifetime
Post by: SEMO_HUNTER on February 01, 2014, 01:10:00 AM
I have a '76 Kodiak Mag that is my go to bow, I can leave it strung or not, doesn't really matter and it shoots bullet holes. That's my go to bow, no matter what. It hits right where I point my fist.
Title: Re: Bow Lifetime
Post by: Flying Dutchman on February 01, 2014, 03:02:00 AM
I shoot a few hundred arrows per week with my bows and no problems at all.
Title: Re: Bow Lifetime
Post by: Stone Knife on February 01, 2014, 06:59:00 AM
I'm going to shoot mine till they break.
Title: Re: Bow Lifetime
Post by: ISP 5353 on February 01, 2014, 07:13:00 AM
My wife shoots a pristine Bear Polar from 1962.  It still shoots just fine!
Title: Re: Bow Lifetime
Post by: Keith Zimmerman on February 01, 2014, 08:09:00 AM
Mine usually wear out after a few weeks, when the new smell wears off.  Then it's time for another, but fancier!  LOL!
Title: Re: Bow Lifetime
Post by: mike g on February 01, 2014, 11:00:00 AM
Someone already replied my answer....
    They are like Humans, ya never know....
Title: Re: Bow Lifetime
Post by: bigiron on February 01, 2014, 03:51:00 PM
i'm with Zimmerman, after 2-3 weeks they get used up & need replaced with newer & fancier models.
Title: Re: Bow Lifetime
Post by: joe skipp on February 01, 2014, 04:45:00 PM
Still bowhunting with my Browning Cobra from the 70's and my 2 buddies still bowhunt with their Bear Grizzly's from the early 70's. Take care of them and they will last you many years.
Title: Re: Bow Lifetime
Post by: kagross on February 01, 2014, 08:28:00 PM
I hope a long time.  I picked up a Bear Alaskan from '59.  Seems ok.  Love the lines of the bow. Labeled at 48# @28".  I pull about 26", and my scale read 30#, but it's an old, corroded scale.  Hoping to get to a shop tomorrow to check it. I'd like around 40# at my draw to take whitetails.  I want to get woodies for it and roll my own.
Title: Re: Bow Lifetime
Post by: Bladepeek on February 01, 2014, 09:25:00 PM
I sure hope mine outlast me   :)
Title: Re: Bow Lifetime
Post by: kill shot on February 01, 2014, 10:15:00 PM
I had a bear polar that my dad hunted with. It was strung without a stringer forever, leaned in a corner when not in use. Then my brother was the next owner and treated it the same way for a while then started useing a stringer when he noticed the limbs were twisted. He left it strung for 3 months thinking that would remove the limb twist. When I got the bow, I treated it good for about 4 years until the upper limb busted. 1964-2009, 45 years old.
Title: Re: Bow Lifetime
Post by: shag08 on February 01, 2014, 10:49:00 PM
For the price tag that some if us pay for some bows, they should last five lifetimes lol.  My oldest bow is a Wing Archery Red Wing Hunter...one of the old original Bob Lee models. To the best of my knowledge is was built between 61 and 63.  It's in great shape and a fine shooter.

On the other hand, I've got a 64 K-Mag that is now a wall hanger only.  On my third shooting secession it made a horrible noise upon release after my fifth or sixth shot.  It now sports a huge crack in the bend on the lower limb. Oh well, you win some and you lose some.
Title: Re: Bow Lifetime
Post by: stagetek on February 02, 2014, 11:14:00 AM
I have bows from the mid-sixties that I still shoot. Store them right. String them right. They can last a long time.
Title: Re: Bow Lifetime
Post by: ncheels on February 04, 2014, 08:03:00 AM
I have a 1964 White Wing recurve that is in like new condition.  I shoot it often during the Spring and Summer each year.  It's a wonderful shooting recurve.
Title: Re: Bow Lifetime
Post by: ncheels on February 04, 2014, 08:42:00 AM
Oh, forgot to add that my Damon Howatt Ventura is 40 years old and is in even better condition than my 50 yr old White Wing.  I shoot it during the Spring and Summer also.
Title: Re: Bow Lifetime
Post by: Echo62 on February 04, 2014, 09:02:00 AM
I have a 1964 Howatt Hunter that I shoot on a regular basis. Still going strong after 50 years.
Title: Re: Bow Lifetime
Post by: GreyGoose on February 04, 2014, 11:44:00 AM
I've had bows go fragile on me over the years, but it doesn't really correlate to how much i use them.  More  critical is how I store them.
Title: Re: Bow Lifetime
Post by: on February 04, 2014, 04:23:00 PM
What I often see is old recurves with the linear cracks on the esucks thing. I know guys that have been using the same bows for 40 years that don't have those, including my 50s Kodiak Special and other various recurves. I wonder what abuse happens to cause it.
Title: Re: Bow Lifetime
Post by: larry on February 04, 2014, 07:38:00 PM
I've got to say the majority of the bows that I have owned have lasted between 6 months and a year and a half. How long they lasted the next owner, I'm not sure   :biglaugh:    :biglaugh:
Title: Re: Bow Lifetime
Post by: Flinttim on February 04, 2014, 09:59:00 PM
I've a 55 Grizzly that still sees some duty now and then.
Title: Re: Bow Lifetime
Post by: cacciatore on February 05, 2014, 08:05:00 AM
Sorry brother but it will survive much much longer than you!
Ice man bow is still there after 5,000 years!!