posted
Several years ago I "liberated" a 1956 Bear Kodiak Special from a guy at work. He told me he had a bow but "every time I pull it back,the string pops off". Well, Of coarse we all know he had it strung backwards I looked it over.....It was in rough shape and needed a tip overlay replaced. I told him it was an old bow and shouldn't be shot (because of the missing overlay) I explained that the sharp edge where the overlay was missing would cut the string. I told him if he wanted a bow to shoot,I had one I would trade him. I swapped him a Futurewood Grizzly with a bad refinish and a camo-paint cover-up.....He was happy as a clam!!!!!
Over the years I have considered getting it repaired and refinished but I've never gotten around to it. Last year I won the JLMBH bow at Shawn Leonard's Bunny Hunt.This is a 1956 Kodiak Special that the "winner" gets to use for a year then bring back to the next years Bunny Hunt to be raffled off again. I had alot of fun with the JLMBH bow.....I just never could hit anything with it LOL.
Over in Trad.History/Collecting our beloved Shell had started a thread about '56 Kodiak Specials,and how she just loved the gracefull lines and looks of the old '56 K-Special.....and I had an idea!!!!!
I sent Shell a PM explaining what I had (and that it needed repair/refinishing) and I told her that it was her's if she wanted it.....Free of charge (figureing it would cost enough already to get the repair/refinish done) I called Shell on the phone and we had a wonderful LONG conversation!!!!! Shell is the SWEETEST EASY TO TALK TO PERSON you could ever imagine!!!!! We talked about bows(and Frank)and knives(and Frank)and dogs(and Frank,but he's not a dog)and cars(Yup,Frank again LOL) Anyway, I told her I would pack the K-Special up and send it to her ASAP. I put the bow in a heavy cardboard carpet tube that I had used several times before to ship my own personal bows in without any problems. I didn't have any "bubble-wrap" handy but when I put the K-Special in the tube the static tips kept the bow in place and it fit very snug and secure without any movement at all.I put the wooden end cap in,screwed it in place,wrapped it with tape,and shipped it off.....
A couple weeks ago I got a message from Shell.....It seems the USPS managed to crush the tube and damage the limb.To say I'm angry is expected.....But I am more hurt and unhappy than anything!!!!! I should have wrapped the bow in "bubble-wrap" but I'm not sure it would have helped. I didn't want any "delivery confirmation" because I knew very well that Shell would "confirm" when it got there LOL. HOWEVER!!!!! I have been kicking myself EVERY DAY for not getting the package insured!!!!! For the few dollars it would have cost to get $1000 insurance,That thousand dollars would have paid for the repairs,and refinishing,and it would have "insured" that a very SPECIAL Lady had the bow of her dreams.
Lessons Learned.....
1) Always,ALWAYS,Pack a bow like you EXPECT it to be broken!!!!!
2) Always,Always,ALWAYS BUY INSURANCE!!!!!!!!!!
-------------------- There is a fine line between Hunting and sitting there looking Stupid
May The Great Spirit Guide Your Arrows..... Happy Hunting!!! Posts: 4390 | From: Dutchess Co. New York | Registered: Feb 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
No need to feel bad Chuck. USPS is at fault there the ones that slammed the truck door on the end of the tube. Bowdoc says he can fix and it will be on it's way to him. Even if it can't what you did for shell is enough. We will hang it on the wall and think of trad gang and great friends like you. Or I'll make knife handles from it . <><
-------------------- The Church of God is an anvil that has worn out many hammers.
"Walk softly..and carry a sharp Stic." TGMM Posts: 9647 | From: Foot of the Cross! < WI | Registered: Nov 2003
| IP: Logged |
You would think that USPS would get tired shelling out money all the time because of their workers.
Posts: 2465 | From: Northern Maine | Registered: Aug 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
The USPS workers break a whole lot less stuff than other carriers. I have yet to break anything in my care, and this kind of talk makes me tired.
While this bow seems to have been packaged well, something happened somewhere that shouldn't have. It had to have been something more substantial than a truck door. I'm sorry that it happened to a grand old bow, and to two of my favorite TradGangers.
Killdeer~the mailma'am!
-------------------- Long, long afterward, in an oak I found the arrow, still unbroke; And the song, from beginning to end, I found again in the heart of a friend.
~Longfellow
TGMM Family Of The Bow Posts: 15034 | From: Fibber McGee's Closet, VA | Registered: Mar 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
Yep, USPS is the only way to ship. The very first bamboo flyrod I ever sold went with "Brown" and it turned out, all they could do for me was break the thing. The PVC tube it shipped in had tire marks on it. I took the insurance $$ and made the guy a new rod, but that was the last time I sent anything with them.
posted
Similar happened through Priority Mail. My recurve was broken in two. I had their insurance; but, Post Office wanted proof of the bow's value. Just because you insure for "x" dollars doesn't mean they'll pay that. I had records so it worked out. USPS has been perfect since.
-------------------- Buddy Bell
Trad is 60% mental & about 40% mental. Posts: 4463 | From: Texas | Registered: Oct 2007
| IP: Logged |
posted
Terrible Luck? The last 2 package I have sent have been crushed by USPS. Luckily one was carbon arrows well packed. The other was a mag. riser bow. Both were unhurt. I also sent a money order that was lost, and bougth a set of arrows that took 16 days to recieve.
-------------------- " without humor, nothing would seem funny." Posts: 174 | From: Wisconson | Registered: Jan 2008
| IP: Logged |
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
Printer-friendly view of this topic
![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
I looked it over.....It was in rough shape and needed a tip overlay replaced. I told him it was an old bow and shouldn't be shot (because of the missing overlay) I explained that the sharp edge where the overlay was missing would cut the string. I told him if he wanted a bow to shoot,I had one I would trade him. I swapped him a Futurewood Grizzly with a bad refinish and a camo-paint cover-up.....He was happy as a clam!!!!!
![[saywhat]](graemlins/saywhat.gif)
![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
![[bigsmyl]](graemlins/bigsmyl2.gif)
Your right about less damage with USPS. I am sure Doc will make her shootable and all will be good LOL<><![[Frown]](frown.gif)
