Bear Grumly Bow Find Story

[Larry m]

Picked this up in an Antique store in the late 80's for a whopping $29.00. Along about the time the late Mr. Reader came out with his articles in Traditional Bowhunter I made a visit to Mr. St. Charles Northwest Archery Store/Museum (WOW what an archery collection)and spoke with his son who recommended this book. This is pre net days so the lights were a bit slow to come on as to what I had lucked into. This bow now hangs on an Elk Shed Bow Rack in my dining room.    
 

[d. ward]

thats a sweetie right there bd

[Jack Shanks]

Great find Larry! I feel very fortuntate to have acquired a Grumley earlier this year from a friend. It is my most prized possession in my archery collection.

 A friend of mine once bought a Grumley at a garage sale for ten dollars. Nel's grandson, Joe Vincent ended up with it later so it stayed in the family.

[bowhawk archer]

I saw Nel's other grandson Scott Grumley over this past weekend at the High Country Shoot in Colorado. He had two of his grandfathers bows, and I got to handle them. They were beautiful. One that he had was one of the last bows that Nels hunted with.

[Jack Guard]

Maaaaaan !!!  

What a beautiful treasure you have there.

[Horney Toad]

That is really cool. what is that bow backed with?

[Larry m]

I just don't know but perhaps someone like the Real BD or a Grumley expert would know the backing. The book speaks to silk and rawhide. I know the wood is Osage. Not sure what the back of the static limb tips are. I would like to know more about this bow myself.

[PEARL DRUMS]

I think I may have just found what I was looking for. It appears I have one of these bows, its in great condition. Mine is yew I think? looks just like it though.

[KYArcher]

Very Interesting! KYArcher

[PEARL DRUMS]

I can e mail pics if somebody cares to post them for me. Thanks

[johnnyrazorhead]

Larry,
 The backing appears to be rawhide and the tip build ups are most likely yew although it's hard to tell for certain from the pictures.Nice.

[Bjorn]

Very nice bow!

[NancyVTAS]

where is Wade?  He will know the woods, and backing materials.  Dick

[Wade Phillips]

Larry -

You have a very nice solid osage Deerslayer. Not a lot of Deerslayers around that are branded like yours. They are some of my favorite Grumley bows.

The backing appears to be rawhide with great patina but would have to see a better close up to say for sure. A close up of the back, quartering into the edge of the backing were it looks worn would probably be the best image. The brush nocks look like they are yew with some of the lighter sapwood still showing. The overlays are macarta.

You made a great buy for the 1980s even if you would have paid 10 times the price.

[Larry m]

Hi Wade
Not sure if this is what you had in mind for a close up. If this is not helpful please let me know and I'll try again. Truly appreciate your input......  

[Wade Phillips]

Larry -

Thank you for taking the additional photographs, they are at the perfect angle and very good quality. The only thing I forgot to tell you was to have an artificial light shine on the backing so as to be able to clearly see the detail of the texture and color of the backing.

The backing looks like rawhide from what I can see. Sort of looks like the surface of the back is very irregular and the rawhide is formed into the lows and over the highs of the back. That is typical of Grumley's rawhide backing on osage bows with some character on the back.

The color of some of his rawhide backed bows is almost translucent, others are almost a creamy yellow, and some like yours with light and dark. Clarified calfskin vs rawhide from various animals may be the explanation for some of this color variation.

It is wonderful to see the many variations in features of Grumley bows.

Nels was, and still is, truly the Michelangelo of bowyers for all time.

[Larry m]

Great Wade
Thank You so Much for taking the time and giving me your in depth perspective. I think the biggest enjoyments in my small hobby is the pursuit and then the discovery of what I have come up with. The knowledge you share is truly valued.
Happy Holidays

[bro-n-arrow]

LARRY! I think it is a counterfit so you might as well just give it to me.

[Lucas K]

I love the way Osage looks as it ages. You have quite a piece of history there, thanks for sharing it.