shooting a collectable bow

[bswear]

I understand there is risk involved with shooting a bow like a '59 Kodiak.  But let's say the decision is made and the bow ends up getting shot.  Does a failure usually come with some warning or does a limb simply break off?  Secondly, don't you then have a wallhanger, ie  couldn't that broken limb be gued back on good enough to hang on the wall?

[Blackhawk]

For me, there's no such thing as a bow for a wallhangar.  If you cannot shoot it, it's kindling.  

I'm lucky enough to live close enough to the Bowdoc where I can make an office visit for a "physical".  Then I go shoot 'em.

Besides, it's not like there's a real shortage of '59 Kodiaks, right?

[d. ward]

I would venture to say I have seen very few bows ever just up and break.90 % of bow damage caused to old bows or new bows for that matter.It's generaly stringing and unstringing them.But when they do break,normly there is some sort of damage occured.My 1959 Kodiak has been in servive since 1959 and is still shoot at least 3-4 times a week.My 1954 K-2 is still shoot at least once a week and running strong.bowdoc

[TRAP]

Bowdoc,  do you leave those bows strung since they are being shot frequently or do you take them down every time? I agree, if I can't shoot em I don't want em.  Daryl

[alaskabowhunter]

they were meant to be bent.... shoot 'em up!  

[d. ward]

99% of the time they are strung.I hardly ever down-string em,unless I am heading out of town.The rest of the time they are braced and ready for action...One of these days I will have to tell ya boy's about the 1958 Bear Kodiak,sorry I had to leave the room and crank up the tunes,it was some Stones,and these old people that live next door to me like to be able to hear it too..oh yeah the 58,I purchased at the flee market about 15 years ago...20.00 bucks,yes 20..1958 60 inch 65#'s...but guess what,she was braced with the original 1958 bear string.I asked the guy how long the bow had been strung,he said it had never been unstrung,his father bought the bow new in 1958 and hunted with it a few years and then it hung in there shop strung until I purchased the bow,the quiver arrows and paper work at the flee market.But you can take this one to the bank,cause I got a good witness.He used to have an archery shop near my house and was also an old bear dealer and love to see the old bows.Once we replaced the string and scaled the bow twice,myself and the ohter guy..guess what...yes it's true,dead-nuts 65#...pretty weird huh.bowdoc

[wadde]

I have broken lots of old bows. Most broke while stringing with a stringer pretty much without any warning. Others have broken while drawing but usually started making funny noises before blowing. I have some that are glued up after breaking for display only.

[Horney Toad]

I had bought a 1957 kodiak last year. Got it in the mail, and strung it. It was really nice and looked fine. I pulled it back and KERPOW! It broke into 3 pieces.

[Bjorn]

Stuff does happen...........IMO the risk is the same-new or old. I had a new high dollar bow blow on me this month and a new self-bow too.
It has been years since an old bear broke.......usually you can tell by inspecting them beforehand.
I know Alaskabowhunter does this with a magnifying glass-honest!-before stringing the first time!

[d. ward]

I actuly have never broken a recurve or long bow using a bow stringer myself....thats not to say I have not broken a few bows here and there.But I for one am in favor of bow stringers on any year recurve.No matter what...it's by far the safest for you and the bow....ask one eyed Larry about bow stringers.He'll tell ya...bowdoc

[alaskabowhunter]

40 power magnifier.... every bow gets a once over...