Willis Barns

[Rick Enos]

I am looking to purchase a Willis Barns bow.Made in Sturgis Mi. in the late 40-50s--His business was called The Taxoflight...Most of his bows were stamped-- BARNS--

[JavelinaHink]

Hello Rick...your location maybe the place to look, I believe I only have one and one of his personal hunting arrows signed. I'm always looking too for bows made here in Michigan....Bill

[Rick Enos]

Thanks Bill.Have you heard of Fred Kibbe--Wolverine Archery & takle--Coldwater Mi

[JavelinaHink]

Rick...yes I have a bow of his and the broadheads he use to make along with a catalog he put out. he was in the printing business.

[Rick Enos]

I have a lg. collection of Kibbe bows +++ do you know year of the catalog.

[JavelinaHink]

Its Aug. 1930...Bill

[Rick Enos]

Thanks Bill, Rick....

[frank bullitt]

Hey Rick and Bill, how about some pics of these bows? Im sure others besides myself, would like to see!

[Rick Enos]

I'll go down & take a picture.I've never posted on this site so we'll see what happens.

[Rick Enos]

Bill how on earth do you post a picture.

[D.Sheppard]

YOU NEED TO UPLOAD THEM TO A PICTURE HOST SITE LIKE PHOTOBUCKET, THEN COPY AND PASTE TO YOUR POST. SEND THEM TO ME AND I'LL PUT THEM UP IF YOU NEED.
                        THANX, SHEP

[Rick Enos]

Well Shep,My wife ??? Thinks she got them to you.I would app.you posting them.They are all Kibbes.

[Wade Phillips]

Rick, Haven't heard from you in ages. Glad to see that you are sill looking for old Michigan Archery tackle.

Last year, I picked up a real nice 1938 Barnes bow with his "BARNES" brand on it. Also have a Barnes arrow with the same brand. The Barnes bow looks similar to some of Herman Stroud's Wayside bows.

Many of the Waysides are some of my favorite Michigan bows from the 1930s.

Haven't picked up much additional Kibbe stuff since we talked last.

[Rick Enos]

Good to here from you Wade.Just found out about this site.Trying to get some Kibbe pictures on here with no luck.If you ever find an extra Barns I would love to have one.I remember going to an archery shop in Goshen Ind.?? I think thats where it was.He had a bunch of Waysides+

[Rick Enos]

Wade.. I'd love to see a picture of the arrow & bow.Thanks Rick....

[Wade Phillips]

Rick, Will try to get some Barnes Photographs this evening. I probably have a half of dozen Wayside bows and need to sort through them to see what I want to keep. My favorites are his crowned belly bows and the self horn nock. The ultimate is the self horn nock with the horn wedge insert. Like many woodworkers, Stroud had a remarkable imagination to complement his skills.

[D.Sheppard]

Pics up for Rick. Now that is a collection of sticks right there !
 
 

[Wade Phillips]

Rick - This is the 1938 branded Barnes Bow and the branded Barnes Arrow...

Note the belly of the bow is crowned and his branding iron did not get a clean brand imprint. The R & N are deepest which are at the peak of the crown, the B is weak. The E & S are overlapped as he likely repositioned the branding iron during the branding process.

The brand on his arrow is a little cleaner.

In 1938, Barnes made this bow for William VanVorst, the man who killed the first deer taken on a Bow & Arrow License in Michigan in 1937. This is inscribed on the back of the bow.

Barnes made archery tackle well before 1938. Other collectors probably have some Barnes bows that pre-date this one...

 

[Wade Phillips]

Distinctive 2-color leather wrap on the Barnes bow is the original. Pretty cool for 1938.

VanVorst made and used his own bows, which helps explain why this presentation Barnes bow survived in nearly unused condition.

I have several bows made by VanVorst, they are not nearly as nicely made as the Barnes.