dads old bow?

[arjory]

It says "Wards western field special hunter"
62" XX55 @28" draw. Very staight,so I put a string on it and it shoots great. This is the first time I've ever shot a recurve and I instantly fell in love. I was wondering if anyone knew anything about the age or origin of this bow!

[woodchucker]

I believe that your bow was made by Ben Pearson Archery under contract for Montgomery Wards.As for age.....I would say 1960's to early 1970's.

(In the late 70's Wards started carrying compounds and I do not remember seeing any recurves on display,or in the catalogs at that time)

You could try going to your local library and look through some of the old 1960's catalogs,You just might be able to find it in there.

p.s. If it was your Dad's.....it just might have alittle MOJO in it  

[Eric Krewson]

Usually the XX means the bow is close to 55# at 28" but not exactly.

[Tom Mussatto]

Add or subtract a pound for every X, depending on which side of the number they appear.

XX60@28 = 58#
60X@28 = 61#

Many times the actual weight of bow can also be found hand written underneath the strike plate. Common practice of several manufacturers.

[woodchucker]

If I might add.....The name "Western Field" was Montgomery Ward's "Trade Name". (Sears had "Ted Williams") Guns (and archery equipment,rifle scopes,etc.) would be made under contract by a manufacturer (i.e. Mossberg Firearms) and stamped with the "Western Field" name.

Some people have said that "Western Field" bows were made by Indian Archery and that is very possible. However.....I have spent MANY hours of my youth "window shopping" and "daydreaming" in our local Montgomery Wards store.(It broke my heart the day it closed)The only bows (recurve and compound) that I can ever remember seeing were Ben Pearsons.

[bayoulongbowman]

When I was a kid I ordered archery catologs Ben Pearson, Bear, Browning, Wing, etc. ...I remember proline and American archery( Art LaHa company) too..

[arjory]

thanks guys!