The "old" bow

[Bow Bum]

I've been looking for a new bow, or almost new bow. I've also been shooting a mid 70's K-Hunter. Me and the K-hunter have come to an agreement in the past months that we will get along well and shoot nice together. I'm glad this finally happened. You see, for the past 2 years we have not been the best of friends together. Little K-hunter did not always perform up to my expectations and It took me a while to learn how she liked to be held.

Either way, I was shooting out of my practice tree in the back yard and smacked the top limb on the tree. I can climb in the middle of the crotch of a 100yr old maple. I get about 10 feet up MAX and shoot from the relatively tight quarters. Its good practice. Now, back to the limb tip; I hit it pretty good. She's a tough old bow, with proof of having been to more than one rodeo, and survived more than one "incident". She faired quite well. This incident caused me to re-think my new bow mentality. Now mind you, I do think a bow is a tool for the most part; but appreciate the looks and work put into the building of a fine bow enough that if this "incident" had taken place with a "new" bow that cost some real cash, I would have been down that tree and administering CPR and beating myself up for such a dumb mistake! Now, this old girl did not cost alot(Its about 80%, not a real true blue collector) has put up with me cussing her, and talking down to her. She's fought back, grip feeling odd, acting cold and like a stranger. But we've kept on shooting together. 2 new strings. I've worked out her twisted limb. She's consistently held up her end of the bargain, while I've string plucked, short drawn, and dropped my bow arm. I felt bad for not paying attention. I apologised, and thanked her for taking one for the team again, and promised to be more careful. After this she was still letting me drop them in the 10 ring at 20 yards from up in the perch of that 100yr old maple.

This got me to thinking? You see, there are so many serviceable "olde" bows out there just waiting to be put to work, ready to be banged against that limb, rained on and scratched. They'll take the beating and keep on slingin arras. Why spend so many hard earned bucks just to bang it against a limb, or tree while shooting or hunting? Trad archery is supposed to be simple, and its more simple to afford an older bow. Don't get me wrong, I still would like a new bow, but not quite as bad. Maybe a new older one would do quite nice. I just hope if I do get another, that little miss K-hunter will not be too jealous.

Here's to old bows!

Enjoy,

Brian

[Stoutstuff]

Well put...   This could also mean you can own many diferent bows too!

[JimL]

True story but when you get a little older and you been to a bunch of rodeos, lots of bump thumpins, your slower and pretty well used: there is nothing that will get your blood pumpin and get you chasen around the country more than a nice new, pretty, partner that burns when you look at her.

[rdoggsilva]

I still shoot and hunt with my Pearson Hunter, Astro II and now a Wing Gull( willed to me) so something special. Each scratch, bump and bang on them is a memory of hunts past and good times. They are like old friends that I can not abandon. So will keep using them and adding more memories.

[LONGSTYKES]

Brian, Thanks for the Tread. Their are many an old bow lying around that need new homes. I for one am always looking.

[ron w]

Nothing wrong with a old used bow......or a newer used bow. If you want to get a back-up or something different.....that's OK, but for just a few dollars more you can get a custom bow used and get to try different stuff. Don't get me wrong ,I like old Bears, Brownings, Red Wing Hunters and such. But when you can pay $175 for used old bow and get a custom one used for $235 I makes you think. Have fun in your journey, that's what's important!!

[David Mitchell]

JimL,      

[hefty hunter]

my bow is like me, built for comfort not for speed. she is not to pretty any more, and sorta boreing as all she everdoes is kill things. she has had the same arrow/ broadhead setup since 1978. she cant handle the new faster strings, but thats ok as the old b50 keeps her quiet. she is what you call a keeper.