Fred Bear Autograph. ????

[Mr Vic at the cabin]

Was just curious what value people put on a mans autograph.

[ckruse]

With all due respect, it should be worth more to you than anyone else. It's your trophy. Fred's signature is not really rare. He signed numerous photos, books, bows, etc. I never got to meet him, but would have loved to. I've purchased several signed items from sources that I trusted to be genuine. They are all just signed, not personalized. To me these are worth more, because they weren't meant for someone else. In any case something like this is quite subjective. It's what ever the market that day says it's worth. Just my 2 cents. Take care, CKruse

[Mr Vic at the cabin]

Guess i should have wrote it different. Means nothing to me but a piece of metal. The mans handshake, smile, conversation met more. It was not personlized so able to pass it on to someone. I didn't mean to incline i was wanting money for it and needed a value for such,  just curious. Thanks abunch CKruse.

[ckruse]

Vic, sorry if I came off a little heavy. This particular forum has been misused in the past for folks wanting to make a quick buck. That was not my impression of your post, but it has been frustrating in the past to identify a piece of equipment, bow, quiver, etc. only to see it go to ****. Thanks, Cameron

[Earl E. Nov...mber]

Cameron... could not agree more.. Hurts to hear, "This was my grandpa's bow what's it worth?"
If the only reason you biuy a bow on a yard sale is to make a buck on ****, why not just walk on by and let someone else who might appreciated it for what it is have a shot at it.

[TRAP]

I read the previous posts with interest.  

I'm gonna add my two cents and let the chips fall where they may.  I'm not here to offend anyone but would like to add another perspective.

I just recently got interested in collecting older bows and was inspired to do so at least partly because of what I've read on this site.

The pics that some of you have posted of your collection and some of the testimonials like Ckruse's post when he found that 59 Kodiak have been candy to the eye and moving to spirit.

I've been finding bows at garage sales and other places, taking them home, cleaning them up, making them shootable with proper strings and rests and selling some and keeping ones that I feel like I can use. I simply don't have the need nor the resources to keep them all.  If money were no object, maybe I'd build an addition on my house and have them all professionally refinished and displayed, but I dont think so.  

I know from being on that **** site that a great many collectors are purchasing these garage sale finds there.  Is that considered okay while selling them there is not?

I'm not sure Fred Bear intended for one person to tie up 3000 of the fine hunting weapons he produced and hang them on the wall and never take them for a walk in the woods. Whats the deal? Does the person with the most Bear recurves at the end win?

Just wanted to remind everyone that someone elses situation or objectives may not be the same as your own.  Without sellers we wouldnt have collectors.

Daryl

[ckruse]

Daryl, you raise some good points. I never meant to demonize the auction site. I buy, and from time to time sell bows over there. I envy you in that I wish I had more time to hit the garage sales, flea markets, etc. where the truly GOOD deals are found. I have to count on the occasional underpriced "buy it now" or something that's poorly listed. The alternative to those is to be the high bidder.I encourage anyone interested in collecting, and try to be generous with what is sometimes hard learned and hard earned information. What I don't do or condone is when from time to time someone comes on the history/collecting forum asking for information about a specific item in what turns out is an effort to better thier auction site description of the item. I've had this happen a few times, and it is somewhat annoying. I don't claim to be an expert on any of this, but have made some great contacts on here with some very knowledgeable individuals. I like to chime in from time to time if it's something I've had some experience with. I like giving a kid a beautiful nice old bow from time to time with the agreement if he/she outgrows it, bring it back and we'll trade up. My wife is probably convinced that I'm trying to tie up 3000 of Fred and Ben's finest, but truly I'm not! I know guys that have a dozen of a particular model in all weights and variants. The auction site has had a big effect on the market trends of the vintage archery equipment. But to hear some of the really heavy hitters talk, there have been much greater prices paid off-auction for the truly rare and mint. Finally, I really like the way everyone I've known to frequent here has been respectful in disagreeing, and helpful to one another. Sincerely, CKruse

[TRAP]

thanks for your response Cameron, I would not have taken the first step in colecting bows if it werent for what I've read here on Trad Gang. Everyone here has been extremely helpful with any question I have had and I could sit and read these posts for hours on end if family and work were not a priority.

I have recently found a few recurves and have family members scouring the countryside for opportunities. LOL. I dont see it as a profit making endevor but as a way to put a little money together for "trading" up.

[TRAP]

Oops hit the enter key and sent my post before I was done.

Just wanted to add that at this stage in my collecting the real fun seems to be in finding them first of all, cleaning them up the best I can and then putting an arrow on the string and chuckling at how well these old bows still perform.  Some are definitely keepers some go somewhere else.  

I'm having a blast and to be honest it's renewed my enthusiasm about archery.  For the past several years I shot a little before bow season and hunted but now I'm out there every night.  I've been looking for a Little Bear for my daughters to kick around with but for now their ratan bows are entertaining them and me quite well.  TC Daryl

[hs6181]

I have to say that I am guilty of doing just that and I do apologize if I offended anyone.

I have done a considerable amount of research on my own and like to think I know more than the average joe about such things as bear bows.

I also know that I will find more than a few folks here who I  consider experts and I am happy to learn anything I can from them, they know the little details that can make or break "knowing".

most times for me the knowing is worth more than the value of the bow and is what I keep, I have a few bows but cannot collect.

I had been looking for a older bow in truly excellent shape for some time and finally found one, the only reason I haven't already been showing it is no dig camera at this time. I've narrowed it down to 2 years.

Because of THINGS it seems that I may not be able to keep this bow, it breaks my heart even to think of having to let it go. If I do so I know it will be for half of what I payed for it to someone who I think will spend as much time as I have just holding and looking at it.

I was very impressed with what I read and how nice and polite everyone has been. I can only hope that I have managed to be half as nice.

Harold