many of the brownings came in 3 lengths according to the model...one might not have a number,then there was the one series and two series being the longer...if i remember correctly the one and two series had 3 lams in the limbs...a couple of my my favorites is the xplorer 1 56" and xplorer 2 62"...the 56" is just as smooth as the 62",made in 1972...i also like my cobra 2  at 60"made around the same time...

Those Explorers really look great!  I'd love to find a LH one!

I really would like to find a Cobra I,LH.

My little Nomad I


She is a shade noisy without help, but, she will sling those Banshees with some serious authority. I love the old Brownings and wish they would make a comeback.

I love the old brownings. Almost as much as the old bears.  I have two nomad stalkers for bowfishing and several other old brownings in my collection. All are great shooters and the wood on the upper end ones like my safari and cobras are just beautyful!  I can't say enought good things about their bows.

I'm refinishing a Fury II right now.  I'm wondering about reworking the arrow shelf a little, or would that be defacing a classic?  It was neat seeing a picture of what it's suppose to look like.  It was completly cover in camo paint when I got it.

GOOD AND PRETTY....THATS WHAT THEY ARE...

Here is one of my favorites-Browning Appollo, 66" and 42# @28", rosewood handle with chocolate brown glass on back and tan glass on belly, 4 lam limbs with very skinny tips with no overlays but it does have a wedge inserted between the lams in the tip. Absolutely, one of the best shooting bows I've ever owned.



Also, have a couple Safari II, 60" bows, both have rosewood handles and chocolate brown glass, one with tip overlays and one without.

Kelly; that is one of the most kinky looking piece of Rosewood I have ever seen, deep and dark red. The profile looks a bit like an old Ben Pearson Colt, but with grade AAAA wood. Take care of that Sweetheart!

I refinished this sweet Browning Explorer 1...







>>--Ron--<>

Good job there Ron!Now I know why your bows look all so nice!

Thanks, Felix. I appreciate that coming from you.  

>>--Ron--<>

This makes you more talented!!

My 1966 Browning Explorer predates the I & II versions and lacks the highlight laminates.  It's still my best shooting bow - at least in my hands.

 

Sweet looking bow Ron, would have been cool to have seen the before pic!

My 13 year old son's Browning Explorer II. It's the one on the far left. The bow in the middle is a Proline:

 

Here it is with him on the right. The one on the left is my 11 year old son and his Proline bow. Both bows are 35#@28" and are perfect at their draw lengths:

 

This is my Browning Wasp, 51#@28". I use it mainly for bowfishing:

 

 

They made great bows!

I don't know why folks get confused with Gordon Plastics and Browning bows, but as noted above, some still do.  There is just too much published material available.

Gordon Plastics made bows beginning around 1962 and were named the Gordon Royal Bows.  Soon after Browning acquired Gordon's bow making business.  With Gordon Plastics being located in San Diego at the time, and due to the fact Gordon made bows for Browning after the sale under contract to Browning, these first Browning bows were manufactured in San Diego.  At what exact time they ceased making Browning Bows in San Diego I don't know.

There is some good information posted above and some nice photos of one of the nicer production line of bows made.

I ran across an Explorer 2 a while back in great shape. The riser is a solid piece of Brazilian rosewood. The original finish is also in great shape. The thing that really surprised me was when I looked at the limbs there were 4 lams of maple between the black glass.

Great shooting bow by the way.

It is noted in the December 1963 "Archery" that Gordon Plastics was manufacturing 1000 bows a month for Browning.

Cliff...GREAT INFO!!!