Drake Help/ Question

[Tyler C. Moore]

I posted in history forum as well, but since There isn't as much info about Drake out there I figured post here also...


I bought this Drake based on a few pictures only.. Haven't recieved it yet..

Do the Drake numbers mean anything? Year?

I have seen one other drake that was tapped for a bear leathertop, I am wondering if this would have been done by Drake, or after by the owner?

Any help would ben great. I am learning so much from tradgang its tremendous !!


It is only stamped with a number ..... 3655

   

   

   

The bow has green glass on the front and brown on the belly. Looks like dark green 'Micarta tips'

Also I need to order a string for it !! The seller said it measures 49" tip to tip. What length string should I order?

[Tyler C. Moore]

Anyone out there have a guess?

[oldbohntr]

It's a 54" Hunterflite.  An early one, I would guess maybe around 1960. I don't have a string on any of my Hunterflites right now, but I'd start with 50" actual.  No, the stamped numbers mean nothing about the bow specs. I've found a number of FireDrakes with the Bear screw in quiver insert but have never seen it on the short bows. None of them looked like they were poorly done, but I don't know if any were done by the Drake shop.  The long Drakes were virtually all under 50# but the Hunterflites were sometimes much heavier.  My heaviest one is 65#.

[Tyler C. Moore]

Wow THANK YOU! I am going to order a 50" string today, the bow should arrive Wednesday..

I appreciate the help. Any tips on these bows? I am praying It is at least low #40 to low #50

[oldbohntr]

They are good performers-compare those hooks to a Bear Kodiak Magnum and you'll see why.....    Although I like longer bows better.  I would not think this bow would be very user-friendly when drawn 28" or more.  Good luck with it!

[Tyler C. Moore]

Thanks for the info. I have always drooled over some of the Drakes I have seen, mostly the longer hunting lengths. I draw around 29" so I'll have to wait and see on what this little bow can handle.

[lbshooter]

I had the same bow, Hunter Flight, in 57#. It was a mid/late 60's vintage with a serial #75xx if I recall correctly.  It was a very fast  and accurate shooter. A 50" , 15 strand Dacron string from 3Rivers worked very well.  Sold it because I couldn"t handle the weight any more. I think you will enjoy it!

[ChuckC]

Judging by what I see, not first hand technical knowledge, a good guess for string length is the distance between the tips (as the crow flies) on an unstrung recurved bow, maybe plus an inch.  I have seen uncounted numbers of bows on **** with the string stuck on the bow, just that way and they all seem to be just a bit taut against the string.

ChuckC