58 Kodiak

[Ken Sorg]

My 58 is here and I'm wondering what I do with it now???? I have strung it once and shot 4 arrows thru it, but I'm scared poopless to shoot or re-string it again. With the exception of 2 small stress lines, it's in excellent shape and I'm toying with the thought of trading it for something I'll actually shoot. The tips are solid, but man are they tiny. I love the thought of preserving history, but I feel this bow would be better off in someone else's hands. What do you guys think????????

[TRAP]

To be honest I've had the same feeling when shooting vintage bows on ocassion. Trust comes with time.  

I feel if they are sound they arent at much more risk of blowing up than newer bows.  

I'm sure some other collector/shooters will weigh in on this one so you'll get other perpectives.

I like shooting bows and won't keep one very long that I dont feel comfortable shooting.  

Ultimately it's your choice,  but don't feel alone because you have reservations about shooting a bow that is 50 years old.  I think most of us have those reservations from time to time.

I've heard they are "meant to be bent" several times on this forum.  I'd say some are meant to be bent more than others and some people feel more comfortable bending them than others as well.

Good Luck with whatever choice you make, Trap

[Jeremy]

If you think the tips are tiny on a '58 Kodiak, you should see them on a '58 Grizzly.  Every one of those I've seen is smaller than most of the modern longbows that have past through my hands.  

All I shoot anymore is bows that are pre-1960.  I will admit that I hesitate to take my '59 Kodiak out of it's sock b/c the thing is in such good of shape, let along shoot it, but I twisted a new string for it today!

"Meant to be bent"

Oh, I just sold my '58 Kodiak, so, uh, if yours is 64" and 50+#, then, uh, don't shoot it.  Just send it my way and I'll take good care of it        

I'd say take it out stumping in the woods, crawl through some thick briars and get a few more scratches on it.  Then you won't feel so bad about shooting it anymore  :D

[Ken Sorg]

I spent probably 30 minutes shooting it after reading Trap's response and I was not as nervous stringing up this time. I will say this is the quietest bow I own and even at the 41 lbs I'm getting at my draw, it sends an arrow swiftly and accurately........Me likey!!!!!!
Where can I get a 15 strand flemish string with serving the fits a 5/16 nock perfectly?

[d. ward]

I always figure if the gals been around for 50 years she's gotta have something good going for her.I've shot bows of all types and makes.But I keep comeing back to the 40-50 year old stuff.If the bow has no damage and is overall good condition,it should last another 50 years.There really is not that much stress on a bow at full draw.What generally causes them to break is mis-stringing or actul damage to the corewood or fiberglass from being ran over or falling from tree stands whatever.But if they lastest 50 years and are still solid,no reason to not use it for what it was built for.....bowdoc

[BobT]

Or you could just swap it to me 'cause I need one for my '58 collection, then you wouldn't need to worry about it!

Bob

[Bjorn]

That bow is just as likely to blow up as a new one.

[Ken Sorg]

Guess what bow this is happening to
 

 

While stringing it today watched it lift a little,,,,,bummer

[Bjorn]

Flinger......while it is a bummer when stuff like that comes along it is an easy fix. Allow some instant glue to seep in, and wipe off any excess.
Let it sit for an hour and you are good to go.
I mask off the wood and other places to keep the glue off.

[Jeremy]

Don't clamp that little sliver of glass too tightly.  The last one I did I just used a cheap $1 plastic spring clamp and it's held up.  Easy fix.  The brittle overlays are even easier to fix.

[Ken Sorg]

It's the 58 on the rack and what you suggested is exactly what I did. I used emory clothto clear or clean the grit or grime, air nozzled, then loctite and a el cheapo clamp..........250 arrows +/- thru it since and all is well. Strung and re-strung a million times also