Is this bow shootable/fixable?

[ILbowhunter1]

I have a old bear kodiak mag that my dad had and was wanting to shoot it but it has a couple cracks and some fadeing on both limbs and was wondering if it would be ok to shoot or if not could it be fixed? James

[Linc]

Can you feel the cracks? Do they run into the riser section? A pic of the area to the left showing where the cracks end would be helpful.

Superglue into the cracks.After the superglue has cured. String and flex the limbs in ever increasing draw lengths. If you have a tillering tree use it but not necessary. Listen and inspect cracked areas. Any changes in the appearence under the glass will show delamination. Bad sign,make the bow a wall hanger. But if all stays the same,have fun shooting it.

[ILbowhunter1]

Yep I can feel the cracks if I run my fingernail over them.The cracks stop were they are in the photos they do not go into the riser itself. James

[Bjorn]

Most of the old Bears I shoot are worse than that one. I say put some arrows through it now!

[vermonster13]

Vertical cracks can be worked with, horizontal ones are wall hangers.

[ILbowhunter1]

Thanks Bjorn I will have to get a string on it and put some arrows thru it.I have a few new longbows but I just love to get the old recurves out and shoot them every now and then. James

[d. ward]

Not really anything to worry about...over 50% of Bear bows look worse then yours.You can put some super glue into them..but they may end up looking worse if the super glue gets all over the bow..bowdoc

[ONE SHOT]

My suggestion is to use a really thin Super Glue on the vertical cracks, let dry and sand smooth, then in My opion If I wanted to be sure the Bow was safe and the limbs were going to hold, then I would rough up the Back of the "F" Glass and epoxy an overlay on top of the entire Riser running down past the crack , do this equal length on both limbs. It could be another piece of "F" Glass or a piece of thin Osage, or another Hard wood laminate, maybe even two or three to give the limb a smart Custom look.

I have done this before on several Bows that i have made....ONE SHOT...  :D    :D    :D    :D    

[trapperDave]

shoot it