Out of curiosity, if a trad bow is properly taken care of, how long (in general) would the bow remain fully functional? Twenty - thirty - forty- fifty years? Any comments from experience would be appreciated.

I have a couple of early 70's Bear Grizzly's that are still going strong..No signs of dying yet..Mike

Boy thats a tough question. Some fellas shoot and hunt with bows that are 50 plus years. Ive seen some that have broke at only a year or less old too.

I have a few bows my parents shot back in the 60's and early 70's that are still functional. I shoot them now and then and they are pushing 45 years of arrow slinging with no problems. Take care of them and they can last a life time.

That's good new chris because I just bought a dream bow and don't think I'll ever want to shoot anything else.  Of course until th enext dream bow comes along  

It's an addiction man!!!!

I have a Groves take down, one of the first metal take downs made from the late 60's. It's been sitting a while so I cleaned it up last Spring and it shoots as well today as it did when I first got it. I may  even decide to use in on our Fall bear hunt. I also have an old Red Wing Hunter that I got for my wife. I am sure it is from the late 50's early 60's and it looks new and shoots  "new".

A glass laminated bow that is taken care of will last almost indefinitely. The truth is, we don't know yet. Some of the first laminated bows are still going strong. Check back in another 50-60 years and you may have an accurate answer...then again, maybe not.    

I don't think we really know how long todays bows will last.  A lot longer than we need to worry about would be my guess.  Plenty of people shooting 40 and 50 year old bows now and they are still going strong.  And I have to think that the materials in todays bows are as good or better than what was available back then.  
Shoot away, you're not going to wear it out!  

I have a 1989 Custom Bighorn still going strong and looks as new as the day I received it.

I have socks from 1989.  *^).

There are folks shooting 1949 Grizzly bows, and early 50's Kodiaks.  I have used 55/56 Kodiaks and they shot as well as new bows.  You can have a $1000.00 custom blow up in a week, so nothing is ever perfect.

I have a '61 Polar and a '67 Shakespeare Necedah that I use on a regular basis....with low stretch strings on them.  Go figure.

Usually, if a bow lasts a year or so, it will last a long time.  Ol' Buck, a lemonwood selfbow, is traveling and still shooting...even after a repair 8^).  He is over sixty years old.
Take care of them and they can be passed down to your grandkids.

I have several Cravotta Bros. bows that shoot like new! I think they were probably made in the 50's or 60's.

George,
That's a great one - - "socks from '89". I guess it all depends on how anything is taken care of!
Now, if we can all still draw those bows years from now.

I think I better order another bow now.... just in case all heck breaks loose! Awesome!

Right now I'm shooting a 1959 Bear Grizzly.50 years old.there is no predicting how long it will last but it oviously has been taken care of and will be from here on out.I see no flaws in it and wouldn't be surprised if it doesn't make another 50 years.

Good one George ,, I have and Shoot a 1968 Bear Kodiak Magnum it looks and shoots like new,,bet it makes another 40 yrs easy!!  

Please don't let my wife see this thread!!! LOL I have her convinced I need a new bow every year at least...