Fred Kibbe-Wolverine Archery

[Rick Enos]

There has been some interest in dateing Kibbe bows.There were 4 differant stickers that Fred used that I know of.The first sticker was a small oval about the size of a dime red & green in color.(circa 1925)The second was a large shield, gold with red trim used from about 1930 -1935---The third was a smaller sticker gold black & red with a small bullseye target at the top. Used until 1940...The last sticker was all red & white with a long streched out W on the wolverine,This sticker was used the last 2 years of Wolverine... This was the 2nd largest archery manufacter of archery equipment in the USA in its time.Lou Stemler being the largest.

[Lucas K]

So what happened to the company? to Mr. Kibbe?

[Rick Enos]

Mr Kibbe closed shop in 1942 & went into the service.He became a captain.After that he moved to florida and was seeking a political life.I'm told after that he went into a printing business, printing place mats.I beleive he died here in Coldwater Michigan in 1980..The building still stands here in Coldwater where Wolverine archery began & is a automobile repair shop now.This building was the first indoor archery range in Michigan,Fred had a huge sign painted on the rooftop of the building that read Archery Coldwater Michigan.Frank Scott told me the first bow that fred Bear made came from a stave from the Kibbe factory.Fred Bear & Kibbe became good friends.Hunted togeather & Bear sold leather goods to Kibbe-Also Russ Hoogerhide shot Kibbe equipment.

[Rick Enos]

Here are some pictures of Kibbe sticker and Kibbe bows in my collection.

IMG]http://i680.photobucket.com/albums/vv166/renos53/100_1025.jpg[/IMG]
 
 
 
 

[JavelinaHink]

Rick......Thanks for the pictures, nice to see the decals for dating the bows. Looks like I'll have to shake the bushes some more and find some of these models for the Michigan displays...Bill  

[Rick Enos]

I went back & researched all I could when I learned about the company.Talked to former employees.& anyone that would give me a tidbit of info.Tried to scrape up all the History I could find.I found an employee up north, Now passed away, that gave me a bow & several broadheads right from the coldwater Kibbe plant.There was a small game head a large game head a convertible & I even have a prototype 4 blade broadhead that in my opinoin would never have worked.Very heavy.I will post a picture of the broadheads soon.
 

[Rick Enos]

Here are some Kibbe arrows with the small game heads & a large game head.
 

[Rick Enos]

Got an extra pic in there sorry.

[Bojangles]

Hey Rick,

Glad to see you made it here.  That is a great collection you have.  Where exactly was the Kibbe Shop?

Bo

[Rick Enos]

The first factory was on South Clay St.& then moved out behind the old bobber factory on West Chicago St.