Grandpa's Old Longbow Refinish and ID Help

[SEMO_HUNTER]

This is a mirror post of one I started in the Bowyers Bench. I think with both questions it could be either place? Not sure where to go with it?
Anyway, I inherited my Granpa's old longbow, and was told that it's thought to be a Pearson. I have no idea because there's no name on it, no poundage rating, draw length, serial or model #, absolutely no identification what so ever. It appears to be quite stout, but I haven't made a string for it yet because I'm afraid to pull it.

The back is some type of glass which has little cracks all through it and I was wondering if this was a structural problem or cosmetic? I'd like to refinish this bow and build a string for it so I can shoot it, but I won't if there's a chance it could break.

I took a bunch of pictures of it so maybe some of you would recognize this bow and give me some help on it. Can it be refinished? Is it shootable? Or is the fiberglass backing FUBAR?
I have no idea what the belly wood is or the laminated handle either, but the handle is delaminating so it will need a new one glued on before I can go ahead with the restore effort.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

 

 

 

 

[SEMO_HUNTER]

More pics

 

 

 

 

[Blackhawk]

It would be a treasure for me to have my grandpa's bow, but I would just hang it in a place of honor and do nothing else with it.

[d. ward]

well that ai'nt actually your normal grandpa's bow.99% of those type bows had paper backing rather then fiberglass.Yours is fiberglass which is why is has cracks as the paper backing did not crack.As for restoring it I would say this it is not going to get any better as is.It will get worse with time and kind of just keep drying out.You might think about a little light coating of gun stock finish surely would not hurt anything bd

[SEMO_HUNTER]

Thanks for the replies fellas.

[tishtail]

hi i'm writing in with similar quetion your bow other than the two i'm looking at has glass but one of my friends has paper back i just found out from the real bowdoc didn't know what it was and the second is stained bamboo both look other than your glass back as same wood, three layer handle, if you take the leather wrap off handle there is proble a thin handle piece on back side of glass both of these are ben pearson very small label at the fade belly side i'm not sure of wood but these are real works of craftmenship hope you can find out what its made of i'm leaning to think osage have a great day.lawrence

[d. ward]

I'd love to see a pic of the stained bamboo backed bow.That may very well be a good one bd

[tishtail]

hi my computer is having problems with attachment at this moment hope to have it repaired tonight will ether post or send direct to you saw you posted to semo hunter thats how i found out about paper backing on one of these bows the bamboo on this looks nice as well as the craftmenship, will post asap

[JJB]

I'm not an expert on these old bow but I sure do like them.  I'd guess it's a Ben Pearson also.  Here's a picture of my Dad's that looks similar to yours.  This one doesn't have anything on the back though.  We think this one is from the early to mid 1940's.
-Jay