Bow Stringers

[fatman]

Seeing the "Safety Glasses" thread has made me wonder as to the advent and development of the Bow Stringer.  I saw an old thread with pictures that Hink had found a stringer that was mounted on a bench...but what about "portable" stringers?

Now, I own a static-tip recurve, and can't imagine tryin' to string that thing without a "limb-block" style stringer.  When you look back at all the old Grumley's of the '40's, plus the radical static tips on selfbows from the early days, it makes me wonder.  I would assume since they were all-wood bows, they were un-strung after each shooting session.  Also, some of the cats "back in the day" were known for shooting pretty hefty draw weights, which would have made step-through and push-pull a real chore.....    

Were there early patents on "Bow stringing devices?"    


thanks  

[fatman]

?

[d. ward]

oh yeah Kev I'am in on this one.Gee's I don't know where to start.OK lets go back several hundred years.Straight limb long bows were normaly strung over the back.You would use your butt to bend the bow which was over your shoulder and at that time they used a timber hitch.You would have to be able to bend your bow and tie a loop at the same time.
OK the dude Bill out here near me who built the eygiption type bows ? which have massive recurve to them ? he showed me a pic I swear he said was taken in a tumb or something.But again as you mention the Hink pic of laying the bow face down with only 2 contact points touchig the limbs near the tips and you would push down on the handle bending the bow until the string reach the noc.
Then if we move up a couple hundred years we come to the early days say 1920-1930's most of them old boys was push pull stringing style.Straight limb long bows again could be done over your back and or push pull.
Now we move up to the dealy eye popping full working recurve.Push pull on them should only be done one why and that would be to keep your head below the tip point of the limb.Then if the limb sleps like John's did the point is above your head because you are bent over at the waist.The full working recurve could also be strung in the style of the Hink pic 2 contact points and push down on the handle.Not real practal out in the field carring the huge wooden bow stringer with you.So now we move to the leg stringer which was a small looped belt that went around your leg.The bottom limb went into the belt to prevent twisting the limb using the step through style of stringing.Then came the leather cup stringer(I got one somewhere)it only worked on certin recurves.The upper cup was very tiny and only fit certin limb tips or it would slep off as well.Then came the rubber wedge block type stringers.
OK Kev something along those lines pics soon.bd

[fatman]

thanks, BD

[reddogge]

I was a "Golden Ager" and guarantee you I used a stringer from day 1.

[d. ward]

I saw my buddy Larry get the crap knocked out of him once by a 60# Red Wing Hunter.Man that thing wacked him upside the head and his glasses went flying across the room in 2 pieces and gave him the Johnnyboy shinner.Bow stringers are good.bd

[TRAP]

You can tell Elk season is gettin close for Doc.  He's full Of Piss and Vinegar lately.

You da Man Doc!!!!  Not sure how that elk will fit in that Vette but you can worry about that when it's on the ground.

Trap