Samson Black Swan ???

[NumPls]

I have picked up a Samson Black Swan Special (target bow) and wondered if any of you experts can provide me with some information of the history behind the bow and/or bowyer. The bow is 68" long, with a long riser (35" between the tips of the fadeout) and a lot of "hook" in the limb ends (you can see it in the photos, below; the limb hook reminds me of a Jack Howard Gamemaster Jet). The small triangular shape of the limb tips reminds me of those on a USAC bow. The back half of the riser is Brazilian rosewood, the next riser lam appears to be East Indian rosewood, I cannot identify the third riser lam wood, but the belly overlays appear to be ebony (very dark, and very difficult to see the grain). Here are some photos:

The Information:
     

Riser Woods Close-Up:
     

Lower Riser Belly:
     

Mid-Riser Back:
     

Upper Limb:
     

Lower Limb:
     

Limb Tip Overlay:
     

Limb Tip Underlay:
     


Thank you, guys, for any information that you can provide. Tell me what you think.

Ray I edited the Subject line. I'm hoping that one of our Howatt experts might be able to enlighten me. 25 Aug

[NumPls]

I just realized that I had too many photos, so one of them (the one of the riser) did not get posted. Here it is:

Riser:
 

I wonder if Larry Hatfield might know. Larry, where are you?

Ray

[d. ward]

thats a pretty cool looking bow there Ray.bd

[Yule08]

"Tell me what you think."
1. have no idea of history, but a very sweet looking bow &
2. hoping you're right-handed and the bow will be in the classifieds soon   :D  

Nice find...
Yule ( a lefty LOL)

[NumPls]

James -

I picked up the bow because it seems to be a very nice one and 2 of my 3 kids are left-eye-dominant (all 3 of my kids are cross-dominant - crazy mixed up kids). I have a few nice lefties that I have picked up, so send me an email and let me know your particular interests (my kids probably would not know the difference).

Ray

[NumPls]

Still lookin' for information.

Ray

[larryh]

we did not employ anyone by that name, ever.
there are some elements that look familiar, but the same can be said of root, wing, and other long target bow makers of that era. (i would guess somewhere around 1961).
there is brazilian rosewood on the back, i would guess bubinga or padouk for the reddish stripe, and possibly black walnut for the alternate colored wood. it was common in risers at that time.
sorry, doesn't ring a bell at all!!!!

[NumPls]

Thank you, Larry Hatfield, for that information. You have definitely settled any speculation that the bowyer trained with or worked for Howatt.

I still hope that someone will be able to provide some information on the bowyer.

By the way, the belly overlays have some very subtle graining in them, and I suspect that they are ebony.

Ray

[AALLFAB]

Cool bow. I have no help for you here. Jim

[NumPls]

I am still looking for information on this bow, so am bringing it to the top in case someone new has some information.

Ray

[PAPALAPIN]

Been looking a year. you don't give up do you.

[NumPls]

No, Jack, I do not give up; a year-and-a-half, now. I figure that one day a member will come along who knows something about these bows.

[dropbear]

Hi guys..I'm new to this forum and found you while searching for info on one of these Black Swan bows. I have just picked up one of these models from an old retired archer who was clearing out all his old gear which has been sitting in storage for many years now. he shot back in the 60's and 70's and this was one of his first bows so would be a very early 60's model.
I don't have much info myself but can tell you  who made it and where he was located.
The old archer said the bowyer was a good friend of his coach
The bowyers name was Rob Sampson and he was located in Adelaide which is the capital city of the southern Australian state of South Australia so it's an Australian made bow but unfortunately that is all I know at this stage but I'll keep searching and trying to pick the brains of old archers over here to see if there is anything else I can find out.

Cheers Chris (member of Geelong Archers in the State of Victoria in Australia)

[dropbear]

I've taken a few pics of my Black Swan

 http://s1341.beta.photobucket.com/user/aliennemesis/media/BS5.jpg.html?sort=3&o=13

 http://s1341.beta.photobucket.com/user/aliennemesis/media/BS4.jpg.html?sort=3&o=14

 http://s1341.beta.photobucket.com/user/aliennemesis/media/BS3.jpg.html?sort=3&o=15

 http://s1341.beta.photobucket.com/user/aliennemesis/media/BS2.jpg.html?sort=3&o=16

 http://s1341.beta.photobucket.com/user/aliennemesis/media/BS1.jpg.html?sort=3&o=17