So those limb pads are the same angle?  They don't look it. Thought it might have been part of the predator design

 Uh checked out the web site pics and it answered my one question.

The thread title is just bait...I've had this bow long before the movie (s) and I'm completely baffled on what to do with it.

I bought this bow on that unmentionable site. , where the seller didn't know what it was and I did...a 1961-ish Drake Hunter Flight. I'd had a Hunter Flight and it rocked but was a bit heavier draw than I wanted. This one is a lefty - but I shot left for 40 years before I learned righty. Because it was a Drake of that vintage, the draw weight was not labeled in a conspicuous fashion. Harry sometimes noted the length in foot/inch and draw weight in pencil on the side of the upper limb lamination near the fade.The ad photos showed no decal or markings. The bow had two un-filled screw holes, about an inch apart, on the belly side of the sight window, just above the shelf, but otherwise appeared to be in very good condition. I made and offer and got the bow.

The bow arrived and  a) it is clearly a Hunter Flight of 1961-62 vintage, stamped serial number 4131, and has the classic Drake  laminated linen micarta tip overlays; b) it is in extremely good condition, with evidence that an arrow ever passed over the white cotton flocking on the shelf; c) it has no side plate above the shelf; d) the back side limb glass glass is olive green and the belly side side is black, e) on close inspection there are three parallel scratches across the back side glass, perpendicular to the sting, with 2 1/16"between them , the top scratch just barely above the shelf; and f) (as in f%&*!) when I held the bow at the right angle to the light, there, in VERY fine pencil on the black glass above the fade, was "9/96". I had a sinking feeling that was quickly confirmed when I tried to string the bow with a new 54" string I had for an old Damon Howatt Diablo.

I got in touch with Kay Koppedrayer, who just recently published her extensively-researched book on Harry Drake and Flight Archery ( which I heartily recommend), and Kay reminded me that Harry Drake carefully developed the Hunter Flight to be a flight-shooting bow and/or a hunting bow, and that several NFAA Flight Archery champions used Hunter Flight bows. The design specifically accommodated an aluminum overdraw shelf that screwed onto the belly side of the sight window and was stabilized by a tight fit on the back side. Thus the screw  holes and the parallel scratches. She said Danny Lamore, 1959/60 NFAA Flight Champion, shot an arrow over 900 yards with a Hunter Flight, and sure enough, I found a photo of Lamore doing just that in the NFAA photo history I had downloaded years ago.

Thus, I am the lucky owner of a perfectly preserved, historically badass bow that I cannot even string without using the cable pull I use with my bow scale. Using a stringer, push-pull or even sitting, that 54" bow just laughs at me. Part of me wants to send it to the San Diego Archery History Museum curated by Jim Baker, as I  doubt there are many similar examples. The other part wants to find a truly dedicated, physically capable left-handed shooter who wants to hunt Cape Buffalo, Water Buffalo, hippopotamus or elephant and invite that hunter to make history, courtesy of Harry Drake.

So, gals and gents, is this a project for the Trad Gang St. Jude fundraiser, the Dangerous Game page or the museum? I invite all suggestions. I'll add some photos, but they do not reveal what this beautiful but somewhat plain bow truly is.     

It was a game changer for me.
I don't make many bows so I use the Matte clear in the can.

Late this year I will be making some Bamboo backed Ipe bows.

I know the matte wheel finish soaks in a lot more coats than the clearcoat. So I spray 4 coats of clearcoat o wood surfaces, steel wool and spray one coat on entire bow,then 2 coats of matte wheel..

I couldn't help myself, I contacted Roger, and will have a Brush Wolf Recurve in my draw weight right about the time bow season starts here in Michigan.  Looking forward to getting it and playing with it.  I was able to pick up some 2016 shafts in Treebark and Autumn Orange from the classifieds that I think will be a nice match for this bow.  I'm getting ready to start dipping and cresting them and getting them fletched up.    


Jason

       


Welcome back, pull up a chair grab a cup of coffee and enjoy the fire.


Jason

Quote from: Watsonjay on July 25, 2026, 10:02:41 AMSo seriously. Is the top limb pad at a shallower angle. Seems like a good way to pretiller for 3 under and string walking. Adding more pressure to top limb so it reduces the difference when drawing lower on the string??? Or are the the same and I'm overthinking again?

If you are string walking, just stay with an ILF rig so you can adjust for it....You start changing limb pad angles on a bolt down limb you are going to end up fighting it to get your limbs balanced.

Quote from: Mad Max on July 25, 2026, 08:47:35 AMDuplicolor wheel paint matte clear will lay down flat, 6 coats is about the whole can. Follow directions on can. gloss did not do a good job for me

I use a 3M Final Finishing Pad, buffing as hard as I can for a slick finish (Buffing only takes 2 minutes or so) . Google both

Matte ONLY is a hard finish You will be happy

I sprayed 6 bow one time with 6 cans, some over spray (more than normal) and buffed them slick. 

That's interesting.....Typically the high gloss finishes have more solids and provide a more uniform build up. I use a high gloss auto clear coating myself, but i'm running an HVLP gun in a spray booth.  I get my non glare satin finish spraying a very fine matte texture. 

But i may try that wheel finish on my wheels on the boat trailer.

It is good to see you are still around!!!!