Lifespan of a bow?

[Lost Arra]

Does a bow have an infinite lifespan?

I'm not talking selfbows but fiberglass backed laminated reflex/deflex one piece longbow. I have one probably 6 years old made by a respected bowyer (who unfortunately has passed away) that I have shot thousands of times. No dry fires and while out practicing yesterday I heard a "tic". Since I make selfbows that "tic" immediately got my attention. I looked for a problem but saw none and drew again. This time the "tic" was louder, I let down and found the point of failure. A crack in the core wood where the lower limb meets the riser.

The bow is history and I'm disappointed but it's not the end of the world. I've got other bows even though I really liked this one. The last shot I took with it was perfect.

So do bows have a finite number of shots in them? Or should a fg backed bow last "forever"? I just can't figure out why after 6 years and thousands of shots it just gave up unless that was the fatigue point for the materials.

[George D. Stout]

Well, anything that is glued together can come apart.  That being said, folks are still shooting early 50's Bear static recurves on an everyday basis.  My regular bows are from the mid 1960's.  

If your lams are just separating there, a bowyer can probably fix it for you. Try Mike McCreedy at Maddog Archery.  Mike can fix bows that some folks think are junk.

[Lost Arra]

Just an update on my delaminated longbow.

I eventually took George's advice and sent it to Maddog  who did a terrific repair (limb replacement). It shoots good as new.

Thanks Mike and George      

[joe ashton]

I've got a 21 century long bow that is 15 years  old.  Just as good as day one... but the normal life of my bows are limited to how long I go before another bow captures my imagination and then well that bows gets retired or traded.

[lpcjon2]

Bows are like Chevy's treat them good and talk to them and they will last forever.