New member, old guy with old bows.

[FirstCav]

Hello traditionalists!!!
Just found out about this site from a friend who mailed me a copy of Traditional Bowhunter Magazine.
If anyone would care to tell me a little more about my bows and value, I'd sure appreciate it. I shot these bows 30-40 years ago and the conditions are close to factory new.
These are the markings:
1.) Bear Kodiak Magnum AMO-52",50X#, Grayling, Michigan, raised silver medallion, and has a beautiful green colored wood riser. Serial number reads...KU19957.
2.) Wing "Gull" 64", 29lbs, serial number E 3872 but not sure about the "E". Likewise this bow is just about factory new. Really pretty wood with multi-laminated rosewood? tips.
3.) Ben Pearson "Javelina" markings show...CAT 966, LGTH 5'6", WT @ 28" 45XX, SER J10528. Condition average shootable.

Have another strictly target recurve that was the first recurve to shoot a perfect 300 score but another time.
Thanks in advance.....Joe
[email protected]

[PAPALAPIN]

FirstCav

First let me welcome you to TRAD GANG and traditional shooting.

Bow #1.  is a '70's model Kodiak Magnum 51#.  This is determined by the "K" in the serial number.  50X indicates 1 # over the marked 50, or 51#.  The wood was called future wood.  It is probably hardrock maple impregnated with rosin to make it more dense.  I think Bear was the first to do this.

Bow # 2 is obviously a Wing Archery "GULL". target bow.  Wing serial numbers are harder to date, so I don't have a clue as to the year.

Bow # 3 is one of the most underrated bows out tere, as are all Pearson bows.  The Javalina was one of many models that Pearson put out in the '60's.  They were a lot cheaper than bears and never got the respect they deserved as being solid shooters.  Bear had the name and Pearsons were considered at the time to be "lesser bows".  Again it is hard to date a Pearson by the serial number, but their are diehard Pearson collectors out their that can probably do it.  45XX indicates a 47# draw weight.  I think the Javalina was a fully recurve bow as apposed to a COUGAR which was a semi-recurve.  The 5'6" (66") length was considered by some as too long for a hunting bow, 60" & 62" being the most favored.  The Ben Pearson COLT was a 62" bow and more popular than the Javalina, and could be had new for $32.50.  What a deal.  The JAVALINA. was a bit higher price than a COLT.

Back then the standard models were the Palamino, Pinto, Javalina, Cougar, Colt, Hunter, Pony, Colligiate, and a few others.  These were also accompanied by Peasrsons other Brands of Locksley and Golden Soverign. The Loksley models were about the same as the Pearsons, but the Golden Sovereighns were the flagship of the line.  

In later years, Pearson put out many differnt models.  You can go to ebay and see many different model of Pearson bows.

As far as your target recurve, the first to shoot a perfect score, what is it?  I seem to remember Stanislosky doing that with, I think, a Carrol or a Golden Eagle, or Jim Pickering with a Bear HC 30.  Of course that was decades ago and my memory is not what it used to be.  

Enlighten me.

[FirstCav]

HI Jack....thanks for the reply and all the info. I'll do a little more research and maybe get a value.
The perfect score bow was the Golden Eagle "X300".
I was shooting a Bear Tamerlane HC-30 at the time I got the X300.....what a differnce in the smoothness and forgiveness. My X300 is 70" and 32lbs @ 28". Saw one on ebay a few weeks ago and it sure looked the same but it was NOT the X300. Got to be careful.
Once again, many thanks and I hope to be asking more questions in the future....Joe Salomone.

[PAPALAPIN]

JOE

So who was the shooter.  I nailed the bow down as a Golden Eagle, but I will be surprised if I got the shooter right.  I know Jim Pickering did it, but I don't think he was the first.

The best shooter that I have ever seen personaly was David Hughes and Rick Gilley from texas.  They would make local shoots to raise their NFAA handicaps so when they went to the bigger shotos, they would place better .  "SANDBAGGING".  They made our little club shoot in Houma, LA.

They did not shoot great on the course (that was intentional), but on the practice range they bet a coke on who would be the first one to miss the "spot" on the 65 yd target.  They both shot about 8 rounds of 4 arrows each before one missed.  It was great to watch.  Rick Gilley (Mickey Gilly's cousin) was tall and lean.  Looked like a scarecrow, but he was rock solid like a statue when at full draw holding on a target.  Both shooters were "string walkers"  If I remember correctly, they placed 1st & 2nd at the NFAA nationals that year. Of cours that was based on higher handicaps than they deserved.

As far as values for your bow, I always say that prices of bows are like prices of antiques.  They are worth what someone will pay, no more, no less.  The best guage is to go to ebay and find your bows in the active and completed auctions.  See what people are paying for those models.  That is what they are worth.  Now the recurve market is kind of soft right now.  Bows are selling lower than they would when the  market is higher.  It is a buying time, not a selling time.  I find that the bow market follows the economy.  When money is flowing, bows sell higher.  When money is tight, the bow market is soft. My rule of thumb.  However, all it takes is two bidders that really want a particular bow for the price to jump.  

I recently bought two '63 Kodiak Doglegs on ebay.  $150, and $200 respectively.  Between those two one sold for over $400.00 and were in no better shape than the ones I got.  There just happend to be two guys that really wanted it at the same time.

[FirstCav]

Jack.........You brought back memories and I remember those names, especially Pickering but I'm having a momentary lapse of sanity and can't remember the name of the first 300 shooter. If I find out I'll let you know.
In your third paragraph you mentioned "string walking".....I haven't heard that term since the 1960"s. Knew a guy then, I believe his name was Frank Gandy that was winning all the barebow NFAA hunter shoots around Alabama at the time. He showed me how to do it and it does work.
I agree with you totally re: the value of the bows. Don't really need to sell them. Just wanted an idea in case someone were to try and pressure me into it. But I'd rather save them for my grandson. I'm sure he would appreciate the sentimental value and in another 15-20 years the bows will most likely be worth a whole lot more.
Best Regards.....Joe.