Help with Pearson bows! Please Quick!

[Rick P]

I have an opportunity to buy a 1963 colt in mint condition from its originally owner!(dude has the original bill of sale!) I'm thinking a value between $200-250 right?

While I was responding to this seller I got a e mail about a gamester that a lady who's hubby passed wants to sell just to have it out of the house....she wants 45 bucks for it! What is it really worth? Is it considered fair game too give the $45 and run?(don't know if I can do that frankly)

If all gose well I'll be purchasing my first 2 classic Ben pearson bows this week! What a great way to start collecting!  

[Rick P]

ooops

[Rick P]

OK now I'm super confused I'm finding colts for as little as $150 and as high as $275.

Not finding hardly anything on the Gamester. I love these bows and just want 1 or 2 classics of my own but I'm also dirt poor and I'm using the proceeds from selling a old truck, this is likely the last bow purchase I'll make for the next 5 years, at least.

Well I'll just go by what feels right on the colt and see what happens with the Gamester.

[PAPALAPIN]

A good colt should be less than $100.00

Watch e8ay, that is where the values are set.

If the guy insists his Colt is worth $250.00, suggest that he puts it on e8ay and see what it is really worth.

Now a Colt is a good solid shooter, and like other Ben Pearson bow, very under rated.  They always have been. However, a Colt is not a rare bow at all.  Pearson probably made more colts than any other model.

The Gamester at $45.00 is well worth the money, provided it is shottable.

I try to pick up Colts off e8ay because they are good solid shooters and a great bow to start new guys off.  The reason I like them is because they can be gotten so cheap.  Up until recently I would never pay more than $50.00 for a Colt but lately they have been pushing $100.00.  They are worth that as shooters, but not as collectibles.

Just my thoughts.

[Horney Toad]

A ben pearson colt is worth less than $100. There are a million of em out there and the tips are not reinforced.

Not meaning to badmouth the colt, they shoot good and the wood is nice too.

[PAPALAPIN]

TOAD

You ain't bad mouthng th Colt, you are giving a new guy some good advice.

Colt's have been bringing $100 on e8ay lately, but no where near #250.

The Colt is a great bow.  I love 'em, but they are only worth what they are worth

[Rick P]

Thanks guys you just saved me a ton of money(that I don't have see sold a truck to do this) and a major chewing out from my wife.

Also I have a back up bow that based on what I could find is worth the asking price. It's a vintage browning that I'll do some more research on. Looks like a really good bow for $200. Its is a short radically curved hunter style bow, with Glass and accents that look like ivory. The tip overlays also look very much like they could be ivory. If the gentleman with the Pearson will accept fair value I'll get both(provided research on the browning hold up).

This experience has taught me a few things.
1) do your research!
2) If you have sever insomnia make sure you have had more than 3 hours sleep in 48 hours.(got about 4 last night)Before you do said research.
3) If possible verify through a third party said research.

[Rick P]

OK really want one of the Sovereign series anyway, I'll check and see what they are going for.....thanks again!

BTW Which Pearson's should I look for? Like I said earlier I'd just like a bow or two I really can't afford to start collecting. Also I obviously don't have a clue when it come to this aspect of archery.

[Horney Toad]

Find out which Browning model it is. Sounds less valuable than $200.

[Rick P]

Almost positive it's a explorer and it too seems overpriced. Frankly wasn't thinking of buying a classic bow till yesterday when my truck sold. I now have one of those rare chances to get a toy or 2.

[Rick P]

OK hope you guys read this I really want to thank you. Here's how the whole story went ......so far. Go back 5 years, two of Tracy and I's favorite people in the world were over for dinner when Justin mentioned he was thinking of selling his ford, "dude no I'll trade you some custom furniture for that truck". I promptly informed him. So Justin and Kari kept the truck and I kept asking "what do you want to order?" 2 years past and we had been sharing the truck for hauling firewood and such when Justin stops by with a very long face. "I'm moving outside Bro" I was stunned "and Kari and I want you to have the truck." So without even being able two processes that my hunting and fishing pard and his wife were leaving Alaska forever I became the owner of the ford. Yep they gave me there for f250 that runs like a top and left Alaska apparently for good. Last thing I said too them was "I'll see you 1 year after your first kid is born, You'll want to raise her here." Have to admit for a long time I mooped around like my puppy had just died.(before you poke fun at me for having a hart Keep in mind I'm a 6'4" 220lbs Alaskan who regularly hikes from 200 feet above sea level to 5,000 in less than 3 miles chasing sheep and Goats. Thanks ;>)   )

Kari, Justin and Vivian, there 13 month old daughter, have been back in Alaska now about a month and a half. Soon in addition to Being a stay at home Dad and artist I'll also be watching one of the cutest little ladies on the planet Vivian Rose my "niece" (In Alaska you often form a new family with your freinds a family you get too hand select!)3 days a week so that both kids are always with family.

OK back to the Bows. Justin refused to take back his truck so I decided that my good Karma should not be wasted and offered it up for sale or trade for gear or cash "to a good home" In the amount of $500, the truck blue booked at $1,500, but again wanted to pass it down. The goddess smiled on me guys The gentleman who purchased the truck was in the middle of the same hard times that brought the truck too me so he was helped. The Gentleman with the colt was very understanding and unless I miss my guess I'll be picking it up from him tomarow for fiar market price. A early 90's Damon Howatt that belongs to a college student literally fell into my lap and for the first time since my son was born I'll be depositing money into our account. Life is Truly wonderful folks!

[TRAP]

Cool story, Good Luck with your new bows.  I love happy endings or in this case....beginnings.

   

Trap

[PAPALAPIN]

RICK

What happened to the Explorer.  There is an Explorer I that is about 54", and an Explorer II that is about 62".  Some are solid riser, and the later ones have an accent strupe.  In good conditiont hey are worth $200.00.  Those are about the best shooting bows that Browning ever made, in my opinion.

Glad th see the "Family" is back together.  Hope y'all have a good winter.

[Rick P]

Papalapin

Well A opportunity to help a college student and get a Hoawtt cheeper came up. In retrospect should have got the explorer. The Howatt had a "temporary" camo paint on it. I was able too strip it off fairly easily with my thumb nail and the kid and his Dad seemed like good folks, so I accepted there assurances that it would come right off. Honestly I don't think they thought it would cause me any problems, well after 4 hours of scrubbing with hot water and soap as was recommended I now have a Howatt Hunter that looks like Damon finished it by beating it with a chain soaked in white wash!

The Colt Is perfect, has over 100 Caribou harvests under it's belt and due to weather I'll be trying to run a shaft through a bear with it instead of Goat hunting tonight. It is a sweet shooter and The owner took wonderful care of it......My Wife love the bow too.

BTW the explorer had a ton of hand shock but was supper fast. IMHO

[PAPALAPIN]

You got bad advice on cleaning off the paint.  This is bvst donewith acetone (fingernail polish remover).  It wil ltake the paint off easily and not hurth the finish underneath the paint.  Often times the camo paint will have aided in protecting the original finish.

Cleaning it with soap and water leaves too much chance of getting water soaked into the wood...especially if the originaal finish had ben compromised.  The chain beating effect will not hurt the shooting of the bow, but coud have breached the finish and allow water into the wood.

That is an impressive record for the Colt.  Is it a Ben Pearson Colt, or a Colt Firearms brand like a "Plainsman" or a "Frontier"?

Sounds like you are well on your way.

Enjoy the ride.

[Rick P]

Papalapin

Well the Yong man and I both learned from this experience. I want too make it clear that I feel he honestly believed the paint would come right off. He was strait forward with me and has since expressed his surprise and disappointment that I had issues with the bow. It will make a cool winter project. BTW it doesn't shoot the same now either...unless it's just me not sure yet.

The former owner of the colt was a amazing individual. He asked if Gunther wanted to go see his bear. My 2 year old loves stuffed mounts and immediately got excited so off we went to see "the bear". All 11 foot 2 inches of him in a full mount! I scan his walls and count 6 Dall sheep all but 1 over 40 inches and 10 years old! When I asked he shrugged and said "My 45 inch 12 year old is at my boy's place" He paused and thought for a second "I think that ones the nicest." So I asked "what has the Pearson harvested?" Well 5 Bou a year for 40 years take a few out for being sick lest say 100 bou's." "That blackie" he says pointing out a 7 foot rug!(Big for Alaska) "Half dozen moose, little light for that by the way". "A musk ox and hell I don't know what all else." All said as mater of fact as "I had a hot dog for lunch today". Very neat guy and one of the finest trophy rooms I've ever seen. BTW did I mention the mount of the number 3 Goat in Alaska?

[Rick P]

You guys saved me money and helped me on my first classic bow purchase, seems thanks are in order and I've yet to meet a trad hunter I couldn't get along with. Besides the wider your network of folks you know the bigger your hunting area. Moose opens up in the last of the GMU's next week, he could be almost anywhere.

I have a choice of a "3 brow tines or >50 inches" or "spike fork" hunt in my back yard. Or a registration hunt for "any bull" starting September 2.