Obviously, late 40s or very early 50s, just from the glass alone. The tips look like a Bear transition bow I have that I believe was made right after Grumley left. I had a few and saw a lot of Cliff's bows back when I used to visit him in the 80s. Cliff would sometimes try some of the designs that Bear had used, just to see what was there. I remember one time he was making us a pot of coffee in the kitchen and there was a waste basket full of bows standing there. One was "obviously" a Grumley static tipped bow! I picked it up, asking "what's this?" He looked kind of ashamed and said "that's just something I tried to see what they really had going over there." It was a beautiful bow, and I thought a dead ringer for a Grumley. He said no, not even close.
Cliff raised Tennesee Walking Horses and made beautiful violins-called them fiddles. He was a true craftsman.
Another funny story about visiting Cliff. He had no phone but never missed answering a letter, and promptly. I traveled for business and my schedule changed a lot. But,to be certain of finding him at home, I had to write him to say when I was coming, and then SHOW UP!! If my schedule changed, I couldn't get a letter out in time,and I couldn't get there on the day I had planned, he'd write me to find out if I was OK! He expected you to keep your promise! He was a humble and wonderful man.
Topic: Cliff Coe longbow (Read 1113 times)
