I'm a NEWBIE to the sport and I have an old 1953 BEAR POLAR recurve that I want to use to get the feel of things and it's been hanging on pegs FOREVER and is a bit dirty and want to know what I can use to clean up the finish? I've tries a lighty damp rag to wipe the dust off but it's pretty caked on.

Also the bow came with a bristle arrow rest that is about an 1" off the shelf. Is this ok or should I take it off and shoot off the shelf lined in leather or something else?

THANX
LURP DOG

Most bows clean up very well with a soft washcloth and mild soap and water.(i.e. a small squirt of liquid dish detergent in a bowl of warm water)Just be carefull as your cleaning not to get alot of water into any cracks in the finish.

After your done,spray some furniture polish on a soft cloth and wipe it down. It'll shine like a new-born bunny!!!!!  

Use that bristle brush rest! At this point it should give out pretty quick if you shoot a bunch. Then put an all weather rest on it and you will be shootong at about the same place above the shelf with the rest flush against the base of the shelf. I would try some Old English Orange Oil cleaner if you are worried about moisture in the old cracking finish. have some fun pretying it up and more shooting it!

I second the orange cleaner.  After I clean I use wood floor paste wax.  Really shines it up and hides small lines.

I use a good paste wax like Johnson floor wax after cleaning and the bows are good to go.

LURP DOG,

Yup, It's "almost" possitively a 1969!!!!!

As for strings.....General rule of thumb is to subtract 4" for a recurve,and 3" for a longbow. Therefore,your 66" bow will need a 62" string. B-50 Dacron ONLY!!!!! The older production style bows are not FF compatable and they could damage the bow.

Go to the "Sponsors Classifieds" and check out "Bent Stick Bowstrings" Buy LeRoy Carlson (Goldenhawk) LeRoy makes very beautiful,Top Quality bowstrings at very reasonable prices. LeRoy had made strings for all of my old Bear bows.