old metal bows

[mwmwmb]

seems like i remember someone mentioning collecting them.
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[mwmwmb]

and
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[d. ward]

oh yeah the old metal bows.They shoot like they look.Those were the original take downs too..bd

[Wade Phillips]

Doc - Several US Take Down Bows date back to the 1800s. They usually have metal handles, but have wood limbs.

Here is E.S. Morton's which I am still looking for...

Ever seen one of these???

Looks like the middle of the grip could incorporate a fishing reel...

How about those "Bird Head" horn nocks... they were likely cast from metal.

 

[d. ward]

I should have said 3 piece take down recurve.Wow interesting bow pic that would be worth keeping both eyes open for.bd

[jester]

Hm, I've seen this or a similar design before – but where? I will try and find out …
Anyway, I believe this is a "folding bow", the "fishing reel" in the middle of the handle being a kind of hinge, but I am by no means sure.
German archery magazine "Traditionell Bogenschiessen" had a series of articles about old steel bows recently, but this one wasn't mentioned ...

[Wade Phillips]

Jester - If you come up with an 1879 Morton Bow, I would be interested in making you an offer for it.

Doc - 3 piece take down recurve, boy now you are making me think... Would depend on what is considered as the 3 pieces...

Arguably, it would be H.F. Lake's Double Shelf... complete with a bow sight... Bow marketed under the name Grimes...

July 1947, probably not many of us reading this were even alive then...

 

[mwmwmb]

one of those above is a grimes i think. maybe not that early though.

[Wade Phillips]

Mickey - Grimes and Par-X are the two that seem to show up most of the time. Several variations of the Grimes are in existence. I don't collect the old metal bows but have accumulated some over the years.

Hinkley probably has more metal bows than anyone else that I know of.

Doc - If one would consider the True Temper or the tubular metal take apart to be a 3-piece, or to be a recurve, both would predate the Grimes.

My favorite is the 4-Piece Take Apart or the Triple Hinged Bow...

This is the tubular take apart made by a couple of companies...

 

[JavelinaHink]

The Grimes: I believe this one would match the patent , with fiber arrow rest.
 
 
Notice how the limbs are set in handle, the early Grimes is setup more like a static tip bow straight limbs but with curved tips.But both styles have the center cutout handle.
 
This Grimes was Takedown hunting bow Composite limbs-maple core, mid 50's(Cliff Coe limbs)
 
Then Grimes made a Grimes Jr. with round fiberglass limbs.Mid 50's. The other Grimes metal handle Composite limbs-maple core.not sure of year.
   
 
 

[mwmwmb]

nice pics Bill. Maybe you were who i was thinking of that collected metal bows.

[JavelinaHink]

Yes might have been me....always looking for unusal ones to add. There was alot of different makers of them at one time so you never know what will show up.

[Cody Roiter]

Bill, I just think it's funny how many of then old metal bows  where made here in Michigan, I only own one of them as of now..Lets see Grimes made in pontiac, And Par-x made in Jackson...

I am sure othes  metal bows where made in other states...

Have any of you guys ever shoot them ?
The Par-X I have I only shot a few times.. Which I know people say not to shoot them as the  metal could blow up on the shooter..

I will say they do shoot ok..

take Care,

Cody..

P.S Bill how many old  metal bows  do u own...

[JavelinaHink]

Cody, yes a lot of bows were made here in Michigan, it was a big manufacturing state and archery was big here also which helped.

I’m still organizing the collection and still looking for info to go along with the 50 + metal bows. There’s one right now I’m looking for and I believe the bow was called Stag made by the Metal-Lite Products Inc. but that’s all I have for it right now......Bill

[JavelinaHink]

[d. ward]

Cody I've shot several of them myself and kind of did not like the way they shot.Seemed to me like lots of hand shock on the heavier draw weight models with aluminum limbs.The ones with fiberglass and wood core limbs seem to shoot pretty good.
Also if you check the pics of the two on gbay right now you will see one of them the bottom limb apears to have taken quite a set at some point in its life.bd