Inherited Bow

[Jonathan Brandt]

Greeting!  My wife inherited this bow from her uncle who got it from my wife's grandmother.  The best I can tell it's from the 1950's.  I took it to my local archery shop and the gentleman directed me to this wealth of information forum.  I searched around a bit for something similar and couldn't quite find what I was looking for.  Any information about the approximate year the bow was made would be great.  Also, I'm interested in the brace height.  My wife is intent on learning to shoot on this bow as her grandmother did and I want to make sure she has some skin on her wrist left after her first shot.

 
 
 
 

The writing underneath the arrow rest reads "6774" and "43#" (guessing draw weight).

Thank you in advance!

[shreffler]

That's a beauty! Definitely 50's, although I'm not a Bear dating expert so I won't try and guess the year. 50's for sure though.

Good luck and welcome to TG!

Alex

[kadbow]

Post this info on the Trad History/Collectors forum on this site, you will get all the info you need.

[SELFBOW19953]

It's a 50 or 51 Grizzly with the aluminum lamination.  DO NOT let your wife shoot it!!!!  They have been known to delaminate.  Bear nearly went broke because of the aluminum-the glue didn't hold and he had a guarantee on his bows.  He had to replace hundreds of bows and it nearly broke him.

DO NOT SHOOT THIS BOW!!!  It makes a nice display piece.

[shreffler]

I didn't look closely enough to see the aluminum in there. Here's a good thread with a little bit of info...  http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=14;t=003763

Seems like if it's held up to this point it could be ok, but considering it's an inherited piece and your wife is the one wanting to shoot it - I'd just put it up on the wall. No point in risking an injury with a 65 year old bow.

[mangonboat]

I agree with the DO NOT SHOOT IT recommendations. In addition to delamination, which should have been an obvious concern at the time of design due to differential in expansion with heat and cold and heat transference between aluminum and wood laminations, the other , much bigger, risk is that aluminum , especially the alloys available back in the 50's, has a very rapid stress-cycle deterioration to end-of-life failure. The Grimes and other bows made with solid aluminum limbs simply blew apart under stress after far fewer cycles ( drawing and releasing the bowstring) than wood or fiberglass bows , then and now. Grimes switched to take-apart bows with aluminum handles and solid fiberglass limbs, and that was the model for metal-risered bows from the mid-50's right up to today. But aluminum in the limbs was a recipe for disaster. They were noisy as all get-out, too.

[creekwood]

In addition to all that has already been said, 43 lbs of draw weight might (read most likely) be a lot for a beginning archer.

[Jonathan Brandt]

Thank you for directing me to the History/Collectors page as well as the valuable information about the lamentation issues.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

I agree with the others.  Display this bow proudly and buy another one.  If she is set on a similar style, you could get a mid fifties Bow and shoot it but I would recommend a late 5o's or a 60's model.

Start at 30 or 35 lbs and move up in weight as needed or desired.

I love shooting with my wife at 3D shoots.