need help with my new recurve!

[jesmith18]

Hello all!  I'm new to the site and am really glad I found it.  I've recently been given a BEAR Grizzly recurve by my generous father-in-law.  I've been wanting to get into traditional shooting lately but haven't had the funds to buy one, so him giving me this bow came as a huge surpise!  Anyway, he bought the bow new in he thinks 1970 and probably only shot it for a year or two.  The bow has sat in his basement for I'm guessing over 35 years and I want to take it out of retirement!  the problem I'm having is finding what length string I need to get for it.  The bow measures 58" from tip to tip, but the AMO says 56".  I don't know what length would be correct, a 52" or a 54".  Could someone please help me out?  Thank you and I got a feeling I'm gonna learn alot on this site!  

[MJB]

WELCOME    

[d. ward]

When ordering a string you should use the AMO-56"...That string would only measure around 52" plus or minus a 1/2" But you would want to order a string for a 56" AMO.That is the standard...bowdoc

[vermonster13]

Make sure you order a Dacron/B50 string also. No Fast-Flite

[jesmith18]

Thanks bowdoc, but I just want to make sure I'm getting this right, I'm a little scared that if i get too short of a string that i'll crack or snap a limb.  Your saying to disregard the fact that the bow actually measures 58" and stick with what the AMO of 56"?  This would be so much easier if the darn bow would just measure the same as the AMO.

[J.Williams]

I have a '70 56"AMO Grizzly.They were made that length '68-'70 and have been 58" ever since,I believe.You should only shoot dacron on that bow,since the tips weren't built to handle low-creep strings like fastflite,D97 etc.,and you need a 53" string.They're a good little bow...have fun with it.

[troutms]

I've been          D97 on a Ben Pearson recurve made in the 60's with no problems.

[troutms]

I meant to say          D97

[Dick in Seattle]

I may get a lot of disagreements or "not necessaries" here, but I'm kind of super cautious.   I'd get two strings...   the ultimate right one and one a tad longer, and string it with the longer one and shoot it for a day or two that way.    I'm always leary of putting an old bow that has been out of use directly to full brace height and/or draw.   I like to exercise them just a bit in case there are any problems that aren't immediately visable.    Of course, i developed this approach messing with old lemonwood bows, but even with glass, it makes me feel just a bit more secure....    as does wearing a bicycle helmet for the first few draws   I may feel foolish, but when a bow breaks, it's no joke.    One guy on the Hill list had a really heavy selfbow break and hit him in the head and ended up in the hospital in a coma for several days.