Shakespeare Necedah

DSP · February 03, 2016, 05:01:00 PM

I was at a local shop picking up a bow stringer(finally found a shop that said he had some traditional equipment, granted it was a grand total of 5 or 6 items but he had a couple nice stringers) when a younger guy walked in and asked the owner if he bought old recurve bows. Owner wasn't interested in buying or selling older traditional bows and instead pointed to me saying " might wanna ask him, seems like he's interested in older style bows." Turns out the guy was given his uncle's Shakespeare Necedah X-28 and has absolutely no interest in it since he only shoots compounds. From the pics he had and description it seems like it's in really nice shape, but would have to see it in person to be sure. Does anyone have one of these bows or know anything about them? Were they quality bows? How did they shoot? From what I can see it is a 58" 55#, I don't see any draw length listed anywhere. Did Shakespeare list a draw length on Nededah bows or did they come at a standard 28"? I'm thinking of going to look at it since he's only asking $80(plus I'm kinda digging the green wood riser w/green limbs) but any information you guys can provide will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Dan

Blackhawk · February 03, 2016, 05:33:00 PM

A lot of us have discovered the Shakespeare line of bows and most of us have positive feedback with their better models like the Necedah. Like most companies back then, models with the same name would be changed every year or so (in looks, length, and design).

Your green version is from the mid 70's I believe and are very good performers. Generally, they don't command prices of some Bears, but $80 is very fair in decent shape. I bet you will like it.

BTW, Shakespeare had a unique serial # system that some collectors have decoded and can tell you month, year, model just by the number.

moebow · February 03, 2016, 05:44:00 PM

Back then, most bows were "indexed" as pounds @28". That was NOT a max or minimum draw length, just the standard used to describe the bow. My Neceda is a 54" and is good to about 30", maybe more.

Just because an older bow has a ##@28" does NOT mean that that is the ONLY draw length the bow will handle.

Arne

Sarge5706 · February 03, 2016, 06:05:00 PM

I have recently bought two Shakespeare bows, A 58" Kaibab and a 52" Seirra. Both shoot well.
Did not pay more than $80 each for them and both were in excellent condition.
If you google Shakespeare bows you will find a website dedicated to the bows. A little digging and you will find when they were produced and brace height.

DSP · February 03, 2016, 08:43:00 PM

Thanks for the info guys, I appreciate it. Sounds like it's worth going to take a look at.

Stinger · February 03, 2016, 09:57:00 PM

I shot my first deer at 16 years old with a new Necedah. I had just moved up from my Shakespeare Yukon. I still have the Necedah 46 years later.. Mine has cinnamon glass and is marked 50- and yes, back then the draw weights were marked at 28" draw. We bought the Shakespeare's because the Bears were too expensive. Nothing wrong with the Shakespere bows. Mine still shoots as good s it did when I first got it. I do think some of the modern curves are smoother as are many of the R/D longbows.

CRM_95 · February 04, 2016, 12:22:00 AM

I posted a thread last week about an old Shakespeare Necedah that we are getting rigged up for my son. He's hunted with a compound for several years and when I switched to my recurve he wanted to get this one going too. It was given to him by a good friend of mine but has just been sitting in his closet. It's marked 45 lbs @ 28. We ordered a string, rest and plate, silencers and some arrows and it should all be here tomorrow. As soon as we get it strung up and shooting I'll let you know how it does. It's a very nice looking old bow. Most of the info I've been able to find on them is very positive.

Cyclic-Rivers · February 04, 2016, 07:41:00 AM

Good shooting old bows. They dont hurt the bank either.

Great information has been given. Let us know if you buy it and what you think if you do.

ronp · February 04, 2016, 08:20:00 AM

I have one that I bought for 10 bucks from a smoke filled house.

The limbs are not quite straight, and neither was the kid I bought it from. I forgot about the bow until reading this thread. I'll have to dig it out of the closet and see if I can straighten the limbs.

David Mitchell · February 04, 2016, 10:30:00 AM

In the mid-70s I had a Shakespeare Super Necedah. It was a fine bow.

CRM_95 · February 05, 2016, 01:37:00 PM

Just a word of advice...I mentioned earlier we were getting one set up for my son. Everything got here yesterday. The bow is 58'', we ordered a 54'' string and it was too short. Couldn't get it to untwist enough to get the brace height lower than about 9 1/4''. Ordered a 55'' string and it should be here next week. No big deal, but you may just keep it in mind if you buy a new string. The guy I talked to at Three Rivers yesterday said some of those old recurves need a string 3'' less instead of 4''.

beaunaro · February 07, 2016, 05:25:00 AM

I have had three of them over the years. Good shooters, well made, nice grips.

I think my kids or friends ended up with a gift of these bows.

Wish I still had one.

They shoot well.

At that price you won't go wrong.

If you don't like it, I'll buy it from you.

DSP · February 08, 2016, 08:20:00 PM

The bow is mine!! I just got back from meeting up with the guy about 15 minutes ago and haven't been able to put the thing down. The bow is comfortable, draws very smooth and feels like holding a feather. I'm a fan of the green riser/limbs, a big fan. I might want more green bows:). For being 42 years old, the bow is in really nice shape. It has some scuffs and scratches but still has the factory rest and plate. Overall the finish is still in good shape, no cracking or peeling. I didn't find any cracks or delaminations, limbs looked nice and straight with the string centered in the limb grooves. CRM_95 you were right about the string. I brought my stringer and spare 54" string with me and the brace height was around 8 3/4. I'll pick up another string and see if I have any aluminum arrows around that will work. I really can't wait to get out and shoot this thing; though with the weather coming I might have to. At any rate, just based on looks and feel, if I run across any more Shakespeare bows in good shape I think I might have to buy them. Sorry, but I can't post pics yet. I need to get a new digital camera and my phone is definitely not smart, pretty sure it rides the short bus.

dnovo · February 08, 2016, 09:31:00 PM

The Necedah was my first good recurve bow. My mom bought it for me for Christmas when I was 14 years old.
It was a 55# bow with a nice set of wood arrows. Man, I hounded the squirrels and groundhogs after that. It was a very nice bow that I sold way back about 1975 to buy a new Red Wing Pro.