Author Topic: draw weight designation ? (Read 1485 times)

brmize · « **on:** July 26, 2007, 02:30:00 PM »

Can anyone give me a definitive answer on what the x's after the draw weight mean. For example, 40XX or XX40. I have heard that each X means subtract 2 pounds and I have heard that it means to add 1 pound.

Thanks,
Brian

oldgriz · « **Reply #1 on:** July 26, 2007, 06:56:00 PM »

Depends on what side of the number it is on..
After the number add... before the number subtract
I was always told it was 1 pound...

brmize · « **Reply #2 on:** July 26, 2007, 07:01:00 PM »

Thank You very much. I wonder however if the # of pounds is different for different makers. I have a Kodiak Hunter that is 40X# but under the strike plate is 43#.

Thanks again,
Brian

Falk · « **Reply #3 on:** July 27, 2007, 04:02:00 AM »

You can read about the meaning of the 'X' in the AMO-Standards. Actually it is worth 2#!

If the bow says:
45# it can mean one pound plus or minus: 44-46#
50# means therefore: 49-51#
and the middle in between would thus be 45X (47#) or X50 (48#). Your example of the Kodiak Hunter is thus correct there.

What always escaped my mind is WHY the 'X' was ever introduced?! It is such an unnescessary and idiotic thing to have ...!
It must have been way more then a "fashion", to be able to mark bows in "true" 5# steps, which lead to the definition of this encrypted poundage designation back then.

PAPALAPIN · « **Reply #4 on:** July 27, 2007, 07:20:00 AM »

OLDGRIZ has it right, in 1 # increments

Falk · « **Reply #5 on:** July 27, 2007, 08:14:00 AM »

Hmmm!?

Here is a quote from the AMO standards:

Example:
Bows weighing 19 - 20 -21 lb. - will be marked 20 lbs.
Bows weighing 22 - 23 lbs. - will be marked 20X lbs.
Bows weighing 24 - 25- 26 lbs. - will be marked 25 lbs.
Bows weighing 27 - 28 lbs. - will be marked 25X lbs.
Bows weighing 29 - 30 - 31 lbs. - will be marked 30 lbs.

brmize · « **Reply #6 on:** July 27, 2007, 08:48:00 AM »

Thanks Falk. I appreciate the detailed answer.

Brian

TonyW · « **Reply #7 on:** July 27, 2007, 10:27:00 AM »

A Bear dealer in the 70s sold me a Grizzley marked 40X", and under the strike plate was 45. A 1976 Super K has 50X" on the riser and 53 under the strike plate. My draw length is 29, so I get a little more X, but I bet the number on the risers of these is the designer's weight (Before the bow was actually drawn on a scale) and the number on the riser was a notation by a second final check of the draw weight using a bow scale. Why else mark it twice?

Falk · « **Reply #8 on:** July 27, 2007, 12:50:00 PM »

Tony,
I have a '76 SuperK which says 64# under the strike plate and 70# on the riser!
I would guess that Bear did bend the "truth" sometimes to fill some orders?! Or the person with the marker just added or substracted the age of his/her little daughter or whatever ...?!?

Especially for Bear bows there is a very nice film from the Fred Bear Theater: Rural Route One
Whoever has the chance to watch this little movie should do so! It's an real eye opener as to how they did produce their bows in the 1970th. I like it a lot! Each time I watch I discover an other detail

Actual scaling is shown and also that draw weight was noted at strike plate position on the unfinished bow. This is the "real draw weight" at 28 inches.
Prior to spraying the finish all the next person had to do was, to duplicate the number down to the riser, add serial number etc. Why THAT was so difficult, I don't know

PAPALAPIN · « **Reply #9 on:** July 28, 2007, 11:23:00 AM »

FALK

I have to defer to you about the AMO Standards. However, when did the AMO come into existance, and when did the standard go into effect. In the late '60's as I recollect. Prior to that, an X stood for one pound above or below the marked weight depending on if it was before or after the weight written on the bow. Even afte AMO, many of the bows were simply marked the actual weight. 51, 52, 53, whtever it was.

Also, not all bow makers adhered to the AMO standards, especiall independent bowyers.

I have two early '60's bows marked with 3 X's. one is 40XXX and one is 50XXX indicating 43 & 53 #

In any case, BRMIZE did not indicate the make, model,or year of his bow. That is key to answering his question.

BRMIZE

This is absolutely the best place to get your questions answered about trsditional archery equipment. Collectiveely, the members here know "EVERYTHING" there is to know about the subject. What one does not know, someone else will. Everyone will give you the answer to the best of their knowledge. If someone posts a wrong answer, someone else will correct it.

For my part, I just learned something from FALK that I did not know. Thank you Mr. Lehnhoff for furthering my education.

That is why I love this forum, I have learned a lot here, and continue to learn.

ckruse · « **Reply #10 on:** July 28, 2007, 09:35:00 PM »

I have several that I think were "hedged" up or down a little to fill an order. I would say in the case of 40# vs 70#-- someone's four looked like a seven! Good point about the forum here Jack. Everyone seems to correct and validate each other's answers in a good natured, helpful manner. That's just another reason I like to hang out with you guys!

CKruse

bkupris · « **Reply #11 on:** July 29, 2007, 03:13:00 AM »

Interesting but a bit confusing all the X's. My Herters bows have the exact poundage @28" written on them but saying that Herters tended to do things a bit different than most...

Falk · « **Reply #12 on:** July 29, 2007, 07:27:00 AM »

Jack,
glad I was able to provide some info YOU did not already had. I am convinced this will not happen to often as I think you are a true expert in these fields

Falk

PAPALAPIN · « **Reply #13 on:** July 29, 2007, 08:46:00 AM »

Whether it is a 1 or 2 # increment, I don't know that the bows were rated that accurately anyway.

My confusion lies in the following.

If it is 2# per X, and a bow was marked 45XX that would make it 49#. If a bow were marked XX50, that would be 46#. I'll just leave these complicated philisophical questions to those with more brain power.

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