Old Bear Bow Question

[Kbob]

Anyone have any idea what the shelf life of an older Bear bow is?

I recently had a couple of new bows break on me (design flaws) and it really shook me up. Scars are fading but I've caught myself obsessing over the finish and a few scuffs in the fiberglass on my late 70's bear grizzly (my go-to bow). Does anyone have any tips on how to assess if and when an old bow is going to fail? I'm starting to feel like a grandmother fretting over it. I realize without pictures any advice is taken at my own risk. Just don't want to go out and buy a new grizzly when the one I have is perfectly fine unless I need to.

Also, if the bow is going to last me a while longer I am considering having it professionally refinished, any recommendations??

Thanks everyone!

[Petrichor]

I still shoot a 1970 bear and it’s just fine. They last a good long while and I would say we need pics of the fiberglass to really help you out. When you say scuffs is it just the finish or are you having raises in the actual fiberglass? How long a bow will last is anybody’s guess. I usually address small finish scuffs with a light coat of superglue or some other easy to apply finish.

[Pine]

I have a 1973 K-Mag that is just fine.
I have a Bear Cub that was made in 1955, still just fine.
I have heard that heavier bows like over 50# have a shorter lifespan.

[Kbob]

Petrichor, Just scuffs in the finish I think. I'll refinish it and see if that changes how I feel. Like washing and waxing an old truck... always drives better  .

Thanks Pine, This one is 70#. I don't really have any excuse to doubt it beyond sitting down for the knitting club.

[Pine]

I strongly recommend that when you string it and go to pull it back, that you pull a couple inches and let it down.
Repeat going about an inch further and listen carefully for cracking sounds. The sound can be very subtle. But just because you do hear cracking doesn't necessarily mean that the bow will fail.
Be cautious.

[Petrichor]

Petrichor, Just scuffs in the finish I think. I'll refinish it and see if that changes how I feel. Like washing and waxing an old truck... always drives better  .

Thanks Pine, This one is 70#. I don't really have any excuse to doubt it beyond sitting down for the knitting club.

I'd let a bowyer that specializes in repair do a complete refinish.  For scuffs here and there a little wax could help protect it from elements if it's not in a place that see a lot of touching. Main thing is protecting the bow from moisture entering the bow.

[Trenton G.]

I've got an old Bear that was made in 1966 that still shoots great. I don't worry about shooting it at all.

[Orion]

those are sturdy bows.  Always a good idea to have a back-up though.

[TIM B]

A 59 Kodiak is my main bow and I have no worry’s about it
Tim B

[mahantango]

No way of knowing, too many unknowns regarding how a bow was treated and stored over the years. That said, I have a '55 Grizzly that gets shot on a regular basis.