'59 Polar: Is this an issue?

[Amberjack]

Howdy all,

I took this bow in trade several months ago and am just now taking a closer look at it.  Is this crack below the shelf an issue?  

   

 I strung it up once before noticing it but wanted opinions before either shooting it again or fixing it.  Really is a beautiful old bow.

     

Thanks in advance.

Jack

[kevsuperg]

I have the same thing on my bear Alaskan recurve.
The bear reps at ETAR looked at mine, said its not a problem. Apparently it's common in the older bows.

[23feetupandhappy]

I have the same thing on my Ben Person Colt.

I don't shoot it much anymore but it never gave me any trouble.  

[Zradix]

I've seen similar cracks.
Be sure it doesn't extend into or through the wood..I have seen that too..in fact I have a Ben Pearson that the riser in cracked like that almost all the way through...not sure how to or if it can be fixed.

anyway...if it's just the glass that is cracked, it'll PROBABLY be fine..but a little super glue dropped in there wouldn't hurt.

[LoneWolf73]

probably just glass.  When you go across with fingernail does it catch? Drop of superglue and finish with 0000 steel wool in direction of crack. Repeat if necessary for deep crack till smooth.

[warpedarrow]

The location of the crack is a bit suspicious.  I would certainly put some sideways pressure against the upper limb with the bottom limb held in a vice to see if the wood opened up across the top of the shelf and on the belly side. Even if it is a crack, you could take a tiny drill bit and put a couple of 1/4 deep holes down into the crack and then fill them with Loctite 420 or 720 superglue (I forget the number).  That stuff has excellent wicking properties.  If no crack shows, then it would be a quick fix just to stabilize the glass overlay where it is cracked.

That looks like a clean old Polar

[59Alaskan]

agree with above....likely not a concern but if it's large enough to allow (doesn't take much) then seep some high penetrating super glue in.  If the wood is separating you open it and allow the glue to get in then clamp or hold while drying.

Should be fine.  These are neat bows.  Johnny Carson shot a polar on TV doing trick shots back in the day.  His was a dual shelf from a couple years before yours.  He was a collegiate target archer and archery was an on/off hobby of his.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOfj6w5x-jY