Author Topic: Wing Experimentals by Stewart (Read 983 times)

sticknstring+ · « **on:** August 15, 2009, 09:23:00 PM »

These are the experimental Wings by Bill Stewart I dearly love the Bear EXP's but some of these Stewart/Wing creations are way up ther in my personal ATF list.

I did most of my research on the EXP Bear collection, so the info I know so far on these wings has lots of gaps in it for sure. PLEASE help me with any knowkedge you can too help get the descriptions as complete as possible. Thanks alot, Greg

19?? Red Wing Hunter EXP
PRFG Handle??
52" 49#

Anybody know what PRFG could mean? How about a possible year RWH it was the EXP for?

bowhunterfrompast · « **Reply #1 on:** August 15, 2009, 10:49:00 PM »

Beautiful bows

I really like the way the grain of the wood pops out at ya on the first bow.

fatman · « **Reply #2 on:** August 16, 2009, 07:54:00 AM »

Plywood Reinforced Fiber Glass? :rolleyes:

Kelly · « **Reply #3 on:** August 16, 2009, 10:44:00 AM »

When did Bill Stewart work for Wing? Seems to me Bob Lee told me it was during the Head Ski era while Bob was still running Wing for Head Ski. Also, most of the bows that Stewrt designed were when Head Ski was owner. The Slim Line line of bows was designed by Bill Stewart, such as the Slim Line Red Wing Pro, Slim Line Vantage Pro, Slim Line Master and the Presentation I. Furthermore, the 52" Red Wing Hunter was not built prior to 1967 so it is my guess that the bow you have was built in 1967 as Bob Lee sold Wing to Head Ski about mid year 1967. The limb tips and handle shape resembles those of the 58" Red Wing Hunter made prior to Head Ski with bubinga handle and bubinga/maple tip overlays.

sticknstring+ · « **Reply #4 on:** August 16, 2009, 06:38:00 PM »

Kevin "Plywood" That's a pretty good description. It's an amazing lamination job for sure.He has 50 layers in this bow!! They each seem to be 1/32".

Kelly Thanks very much for your sharing some of your Wing knowledge and info on dates and models. You are right on and a step ahead of me with the Slim Line's!

I'm not sure when his start date for Wing was. If this bow is a 66-67 his work for Bear and Wing seem to overlap at least a few years. I hope more of the facts come out so this stuff can be sorted out correctly for the record. Did Bob Lee ever say if it was him who hired Stewart?

Here's a pic of the newspaper that was in the box with this bow.

And another shot of some Stewart art

fatman · « **Reply #5 on:** August 16, 2009, 06:44:00 PM »

according to the newspaper, it was settin' up to be quite a weekend in Dallas....

Novaln1975 · « **Reply #6 on:** August 16, 2009, 06:59:00 PM »

Darn! The Ballet would have been my first choice. Off to see Miss Christa...

They don’t make plywood like that anymore.

Simon

Kelly · « **Reply #7 on:** August 16, 2009, 10:39:00 PM »

Yes, Bob Lee did hire Bill Stewart.

At the very least we know that Bill put it in that box on or after April 24, 1970. When it was made-exact date-might be determined after finding out when he started working with Wing.

TimZeigler · « **Reply #8 on:** August 17, 2009, 08:42:00 AM »

The EXP riser looks an aweful lot like what the Thunderbirds turned out to be. Very nice.

sticknstring+ · « **Reply #9 on:** August 17, 2009, 03:17:00 PM »

Here are some Experimental Wing Slim Lines. As Kelly mentioned earlier, Bill Stewart designed them for Wing. The ad I found is from 1971, but I'm not sure that was the year they were introduced.

1967 Wing Experimental Slim Line Vantage Pro
52" 55#

sticknstring+ · « **Reply #10 on:** August 17, 2009, 05:44:00 PM »

1967 Wing Experimental Slim Line Advantage pro
60" 50#

Kelly · « **Reply #11 on:** August 17, 2009, 07:44:00 PM »

Interesting in that these EXP model Slim Line's are made with Micarta/bubinga. This particular combination was only available to the public in the Chaparallel, which was only made by Head Ski. Furthermore the shape of these two EXP Slim Line bows is also Head Ski vintage-meaning the bows were marketed via Head Ski. Also the 60" Vantage Pro was never marketed. 52" and 62" were the only lengths available in the Slim Line Vantage Pro and the handles were solid micarta with a few small stripes through it. The AMF versions resembled the handle shape of the EXP 60" but had either rosewood/bubinga with maple stiped handles or two colored Wingwood, which was colored and epoxy impregnated maple.

Doubt that these bows were made in 1971 as that was just about the end of the Head Ski era. Again think these would date closer to the 1967 year or whatever was Bill Stewart's first year with Wing?

sticknstring+ · « **Reply #12 on:** August 18, 2009, 01:17:00 AM »

Kelly Thanks for the dating help once again. It seems his first time with Bear ended sometime around 66-67 and the job with Wing started right away, sometime in 67. After Wing I've read that he went back to Bear for another seven years. I'd really like to know how long he worked at Wing. It seems like it was only a couple of years if he designed the handle for Fred Bears takedown latches in the late 60's. What a change from designing the beefy Kodiak Hunter, then right into the Slim Lines. The grip on the Vantage Pro's are some of my favorite.

This picture is Bob Lee with Bill Stewart,dated 1968

196? Wing Experimental Slim Line Master
66" 40#
70" 37# matte finish

SlowBowke · « **Reply #13 on:** August 18, 2009, 05:42:00 AM »

Just awesome looking bows and, as always, the history of these bows is almost as amazing as what you guys know about it.

thanks for sharing.

fatman · « **Reply #14 on:** August 18, 2009, 08:02:00 AM »

beautiful contrast on those risers....

Kelly · « **Reply #15 on:** August 18, 2009, 10:31:00 AM »

The very first Kodiak Hunter was 1967 1/2 and 58". Then later years were all 60". Don't know how Bill Stewart could be in two places at the same time but I know bows are designed before going public, sometimes many years before.

Most likely Bill Stewart was at Wing during the Head Ski era, which was very short-4 years or so-my guess is these bows were boxed up when he left Wing-probably at the time it was sold to AMF. Same time as Bob Lee left Wing, too.

sticknstring+ · « **Reply #16 on:** August 18, 2009, 03:09:00 PM »

Kelly It almost seems like his work for Bear and Wing overlapped in 67 and again in 70 or so. But, if he was in on the Bear Takedown design it seems like I read Fred Bear was using the protos or experimentals in 68 and 69. I've been trying to get this timeline figured out for awhile now. I hope some of the guys that have worked with him may still be around and have some of this, and even more knowledge to share.

The latest dated paper I've found is may 1970. The boxes have Allied moving stickers on them and were being shipped from Texas to ?.

ps. did you see the his three 67 1/2 Kodiak Hunters EXP's in the Bearied Treasure thread?
Greg

sticknstring+ · « **Reply #17 on:** August 18, 2009, 04:14:00 PM »

1968-69? Wing Presentation I EXP.
66" 37#

sticknstring+ · « **Reply #18 on:** August 20, 2009, 04:53:00 PM »

The experimental Presentation I with fifty five layers laminated in it is the heaviest recurve, by far that I have ever picked up.

Here's a experimental Wing Nighthawk and two experimental Colts built by Wing.

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Author Topic: Wing Experimentals by Stewart (Read 983 times)

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