Trad Gang
Main Boards => Trad History/Collecting => Topic started by: Stinger on January 02, 2017, 07:06:00 PM
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A friend of mine at work recently acquired these two Groves bows from his father and is looking for some info that I thought you guys might be able to help him with. His Dad is from New Mexico and claims to have bought these directly from Groves archery. We are familiar with the Groves history and some of the models but not sure exactly what he has here.
The first bow is a 2-piece takedown marked as a Prestige Special - clearly a target bow at 69" and 39#. It is in fairly nice shape with the exception of 6-8 different small filled holes in the riser that look like they were from sights that were on the bow at one time. Other than that it is an 8 of 10.
(http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp107/lotusf14/IMG_1828_zpsdw6jmw1b.jpg) (http://s402.photobucket.com/user/lotusf14/media/IMG_1828_zpsdw6jmw1b.jpg.html)
(http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp107/lotusf14/30e0a18f-c289-4a1c-aefa-5cce6efd3c32_zpsh88dxwlk.jpg) (http://s402.photobucket.com/user/lotusf14/media/30e0a18f-c289-4a1c-aefa-5cce6efd3c32_zpsh88dxwlk.jpg.html)
The second is not marked as to the model. It is what his dad claimed was his hunting bow. At 60" and 53# that makes sense, but the white limbs are strange for a hunting bow. The riser is all black as you can see in the pictures, which is unlike most of the nice woods I have seen in other Groves' bows. The bow has some small nicks in the finish but appears shootable (limbs straight, no stress lines and no delamination) - maybe a 7 of 10.
(http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp107/lotusf14/IMG_1825_zpsogbz236q.jpg) (http://s402.photobucket.com/user/lotusf14/media/IMG_1825_zpsogbz236q.jpg.html)
(http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp107/lotusf14/IMG_1826_zps1p2dwugj.jpg) (http://s402.photobucket.com/user/lotusf14/media/IMG_1826_zps1p2dwugj.jpg.html)
(http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp107/lotusf14/5722aade-8e40-40e9-b751-ed60ae20127c_zpsxjprkvhl.jpg) (http://s402.photobucket.com/user/lotusf14/media/5722aade-8e40-40e9-b751-ed60ae20127c_zpsxjprkvhl.jpg.html)
So can you tell me what the bows are and their approximate age? His Dad told him the 60's. I could find nothing on line that deciphered the Groves' serial numbers. I know that a bow is worth what someone will pay for that particular bow on any given day and he has no intention of selling them since they are a family heirloom, but could you give an estimated range for them?
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I am guessing the bows are circa 1964-1966. All Groves bows at the time could be ordered with the take apart handle for a few extra dollars. Your target bow sold new at the time for 130.00. The other sold new for 117.00. Todays market is all over the place but in an auction setting with two people wanting them they could bring 150.00-250.00. The holes will hurt the value on the target bow and would lower the estimated price by quite a bit.
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Obviously these can only use Dacron strings.
Should the standard 4" less than AMO length work?
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That is correct. I like Flemish strings so you can twist them up and play with the brace height a little.