Looking for info on a metal bow

[dagwood64]

My Dad acquired a metal bow. It has:
  THE PAR-X BOW
  Park Tool & Die Co.
  Jackson, MICH

Does anyone have any info on this company, and what type of bows they made?

Thanks, Duane

[Herb Calvin]

Hi Dagwood, used to own a Par X. If I remember It was a noisy bow when it was cold outdoors. Hope somebody can give you information on it. Interested in it myself. Herb Calvin

[adeeden]

I know they were made in the early 1950's but thats about all I know about them, other than the first deer ever taken in Indiana's first archery season was taken with a alluminum Par-X.

[matthewp]

I recently aquired an all aluminum bow.  It is green and all aluminum limbs and riser.  The limb tips are very thin.  My uncles said that there was originally a metal string with the bow.  Does this sound like a PAR X bow?
  Thanks

[vermonster13]

Be cautious shooting aluminum limbed bows. The aluminum fatigues and can snap.

[monterey]

They will break!  When I was about 10 yrs old I saw one break while my uncle was shooting it.  Thing is they don't just collapse like a stick bow.  When they go they can hurt you bad.  My Uncle was not hurt but it was close.

When I was 18 I came across one and bought it.  shot it a bit but at 55# it was slower than my 45# lam bow.

[dagwood64]

Thanks for the info. It does seem pretty stiff, so I figured it to be in the 60#-70# range.

[wadde]

It is a 1950's bow and it is a collectors item. Par-X made several models as well as Grimes and other companys in the 50's. Some of them were very intricate with nice detail in the limbs. They also came in several colors. Aluminum, green, red, and black. None had a metal string. The majority would fail after time with some shooters being injured. You can see pictures from archery clubs in the 50's and every shooter on the line would be shooting one of these metal bows. It is best not to shoot them today and keep them as one of the few surviving metal bows from the 50's. Value varies depending on color, maker, and detail. I have sold them for as little as 15.00 to as much as 50.00.

[dagwood64]

Thanks Wadde. I'll let my Dad know that.