Author Topic: This Old Bow?  (Read 5124 times)

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Offline Gus

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This Old Bow?
« on: July 05, 2011, 05:26:24 pm »
Greetings And Salutations Y'all...

While visiting up at my Uncle's place over the Forth, my Uncle and I started talking about bows and primitive archery and what not.
Well my Uncle, God Bless Him, pulls out this bow that I had never seen, and gifts it to me. Saying this was your grandfathers bow.
I never knew GranHoney even shot a bow much less owned one.
 
So what I know for sure is that it has not been strung in at least eleven years and maybe more.
I suspect that it is at least sixty years old, but in truth am not sure of that.
It has been stored in a closet for the past ten years unstrung.

Done some looking around on the internet but have not come up with anything so far.
I would be grateful for any assistance in Identifying this bow.
Also, should I string and shoot it? If yes do I need to condition the wood first?
Don't want to mess this up. Rather hang her on the wall than break her.
But I'd rather shoot her.

Thank You.

-Gus
"I taught him archery everyday, and when he got good at it he throw an arrow at me."

Conroe, TX

Offline El Destructo

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Re: This Old Bow?
« Reply #1 on: July 05, 2011, 06:37:49 pm »
Looks to me to e an old Darton Recurve....probably from the early 80's....or possibly the late 70's.....maybe Eddie Parker will chime in....he knows a lot more about these old Recurves....
As a species we're fundamentally insane. Put more than two of us in a room, we pick sides and start dreaming up ways to kill one another.Why do you think we invented politics and religion.
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Offline gstoneberg

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Re: This Old Bow?
« Reply #2 on: July 05, 2011, 09:04:25 pm »
I agree.  I used to have a couple Darton recurves and that riser looks very familiar.  I bought my first one used in 1977.

George
St Paul, TX

Offline mullet

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Re: This Old Bow?
« Reply #3 on: July 05, 2011, 10:24:20 pm »
 My guess without any labels would be a Darton or Cravatto Brothers. String it with about a 7-7.5 inch brace height and let it sit for awhile, a week or so. Then, start working the string a little at a time. Draw it slow and work it some. It should be shooting in about two weeks unless it was stored in a hot place or car. Keep it strung the whole time and make sure the tips line up. If they don't, let me know and I'll tell you how to fix it.
« Last Edit: July 06, 2011, 12:47:31 am by mullet »
Lakeland, Florida
 If you have to pull the trigger, is it really archery?

Offline Gus

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Re: This Old Bow?
« Reply #4 on: July 06, 2011, 12:23:30 am »
Thank You Guys...

There was a label removed above the legend have no idea what the label was...

Thank You Mullet, hope to get her strung tomorrow.  :)

-Gus
"I taught him archery everyday, and when he got good at it he throw an arrow at me."

Conroe, TX

Offline mullet

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Re: This Old Bow?
« Reply #5 on: July 06, 2011, 12:46:03 am »
 Gus, use a bow stringer. Not using one destroyed a lot of these old recurves.

I'd like to see some better pictures of the grip, shelf and tips. the brown glass and Maple has me leaning towards a Pearson.
« Last Edit: July 06, 2011, 12:50:31 am by mullet »
Lakeland, Florida
 If you have to pull the trigger, is it really archery?

Offline El Destructo

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Re: This Old Bow?
« Reply #6 on: July 06, 2011, 02:37:53 am »
                                        See....I told you Eddie would chime in..... ;)
As a species we're fundamentally insane. Put more than two of us in a room, we pick sides and start dreaming up ways to kill one another.Why do you think we invented politics and religion.
Think HEALTHCARE Is Expensive Now,Wait Till It's FREE
Do Or Do Not,There Is No TRY
2024...We Will Overcome

Offline criveraville

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Re: This Old Bow?
« Reply #7 on: July 06, 2011, 03:30:50 am »
That's a nice gift
I was HECHO EN MEXICO, but assembled in Texas and I'm Texican as the day is long...  Psalm 127:4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.

Offline Gus

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Re: This Old Bow?
« Reply #8 on: July 06, 2011, 03:38:59 am »
I hear ya,

Very nice of my Uncle indeed...

I will get some better pic's up tomorrow...

-Gus
"I taught him archery everyday, and when he got good at it he throw an arrow at me."

Conroe, TX

Offline Gus

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Re: This Old Bow?
« Reply #9 on: July 06, 2011, 02:57:31 pm »
Here are a few more shots of the Grip/Riser area.

Still working on assembling the stringer.

Also Should I go over this bow with tong oil?
It looks like it could use it...
Would it hurt?

-Gus
"I taught him archery everyday, and when he got good at it he throw an arrow at me."

Conroe, TX

Offline mullet

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Re: This Old Bow?
« Reply #10 on: July 06, 2011, 03:24:27 pm »
Tung oil won't hurt it but I doubt it will help unless the finish is completely gone.
Lakeland, Florida
 If you have to pull the trigger, is it really archery?

Offline gstoneberg

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Re: This Old Bow?
« Reply #11 on: July 06, 2011, 03:55:20 pm »
I spent an enjoyable few minutes looking through the collection of Darton catalogs that are on-line.  The first catalog with a bow in it was 1965 (though the 64 is missing).  The first catalog with a compound bow in it was 1976.  The recurve disappeared in the 1980 catalog and appears to have never returned.  Very sad.

George
St Paul, TX

Offline Gus

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Re: This Old Bow?
« Reply #12 on: July 06, 2011, 04:53:38 pm »
Ah... I hear ya George...

I love the lines of a recurve...
And this bow is rather nice looking bow to my eye.

My Uncle was under the impression that this one was made in the 1950's or early 1960's...
But with my Grandfather (Granhoney) who knows?   :)
He was rather an interesting gentleman... anything could be turned into a tool of nearly any kind.
Butter knife screwdrivers and Colt Dragoon hammers...

He was an Airman in the Army Aircore flying B-17's over Berlin...
So I guess he can be forgiven.... for removing the offending labels. ;D

-Gus
"I taught him archery everyday, and when he got good at it he throw an arrow at me."

Conroe, TX

Offline Gus

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Re: This Old Bow?
« Reply #13 on: July 06, 2011, 04:56:16 pm »
Mullet,

Thank you Sir.
The finish isn't completely gone, but it does have some wear and a divit or two in the finish.

Over all it is in pretty decent condition.

-Gus
"I taught him archery everyday, and when he got good at it he throw an arrow at me."

Conroe, TX

Offline mullet

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Re: This Old Bow?
« Reply #14 on: July 07, 2011, 12:05:37 am »
 Gus;
Those little battle scars won't hurt anything. The big test will be in the shooting and hoping your grandpa and uncle kept it stored out of the sun. Looking forward to Full draw. ;) I'm still leaning towardsa Pearson, they used that brown glass and most old Dartons I've seen liked the black glass. I just haven't had time to dig deeper.
Lakeland, Florida
 If you have to pull the trigger, is it really archery?