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.

Finished bow:

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.     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.  

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          

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!