59 strike plate reproduction

[Novaln1975]

The nylon washer trick BowDoc gave us to engrave the lines did not work well for me so I came up with an alternative method.

 

Top left corner : 4 nails hammered apart the width of an old gig saw blade.

Top right corner : Blade, dull side down and a wet piece of tooling leather lightly scored with a nail 1/4 inch apart.

Bottom left : Score in leather aligned with the dull side of blade and clamped down tightly for a good 20 seconds.

Bottom right : Did the same thing 4 more times and the end result is straight lines, equal depth and ready to trim for the final shape.

-Simon

[SELFBOW19953]

Simon,

Thanks for posting what you're doing.  I'm debating about doing my '59 Grizzly.  You're posts will be very helpful.

Phil

[d. ward]

Great job Simon nice work.I love it bowdoc

[Hoof]

More one way to skin a cat for sure... Mad Skillz Simon ...Thanks Hoof

[Wade Phillips]

Simon -

Great idea for making the lines. I believe using your technique, the lines could be made to be very close to an exact replica of the original lines...

Most of the replica 59 Strike Plates that I have seen are far from an exact reproduction of an original.

Unfortunately, the ones with the best lines are not even close to the color or texture of the original 59 strike plates.

Now that I have probably offended nearly everyone who has ever attempted to produce or sell a replica 59 strike plate...

I want to apologize for being a picky old man, but the definition of "replica" in my dictionary (Webster's 1995) is..

1. an exact reproduction..
2. a copy exact in all details : DUPLICATE

Even though the original 5-Line Leather Strike Plates vary somewhat, I have never seen a "replica" that is an exact reproduction...

If someone is selling a "replica" with the same color, texture, thickness, lines, and size as these originals, let me know. I'd like to buy/trade for several of them for some of my old Kodiaks that do not have originals...

 

[Novaln1975]

Here is the finished plate. I treated the leather with sunflower oil, the organic kind to be as period correct as possible.    

 

Wade. I have never seen an original 59 strike plate other than on the net. I just tried to reproduce as best I can relying on pics and would not consider the reproduction an exact replica.

I appreciate your exactness in terms very much as I think that only the right words can communicate ideas and concepts in a clear way. English is not my main language and just writing this post  is harder for me than I would like. Not only do I learn about archery on this site, I also get to practice a second language.

-Simon

[reddogge]

Simon,
I think they look great.  Bear must have used a die to press the lines in but yours are pretty darn close.

[Wade Phillips]

Simon -

You have a lot of talent. I was more than impressed with your template illustration for the Grizzly leather grip. These are the types of patterns that can be made to be exactly like the originals, which can then be used to reproduce more accurate replacement items.

I have just scanned an original 5-Line 1959 Strike Plate that I removed from a broken bow. Figured a scan would give you more of an exact size than a photograph.

I enlarged the strike plate to give more detail, actual maximum width is 2.08”, actual maximum height at forward edge is 1.47”.

The exact width of the lines is hard to measure, but appears to be very close to .030”.

The exact thickness of the leather is also difficult to measure because of glue residue. It is between .045” and .050” thick. I know that is not the proper way to measure leather, but measuring by ounces has not proven exact for me.

The thickness of the leather at the bottom of the line is .040".

Simon - I hope this scan helps you or someone else in their efforts to create a Replica of an Original 5-Line Strike Plate. I’m certain you will get better as you make more of them.

If anyone needs any scans of any other original Bear Leather strike plates, let me know, I will help if I have them not originally attached to a bow.

Note that this strike plate is slightly irregular at the top left. Leather work is seldom as precise as some metal work.

 

[ckruse]

Simon, I too am impressed with your work. My only suggestion would be to trim in the arch to meet the slight contour of the riser as shown on Wade's example. I once thought this was done bow to bow, but I have a new one in the Bear package that also has the arch. I will try to get a picture up later. It might just have to become the new pattern for our current reproductions! CKruse

[ckruse]

Here you go. The plastic package is a little rough, but the plate is new. Don't offer to double my money on the marked price either!    CKruse
 

[yellow bow]

looking good Simon!  

[Wade Phillips]

ckruse -

I have a 1962 Kodiak that needs your S-435 plate...

How many items from these original dealer dipslay cards would it take to get you to send that S-435 to me?
 
 

 

[ckruse]

Yikes! I've suspected it for a while, now I KNOW who outbids me on this stuff! Back to the matter at hand. Wade, all my 62 Kodiaks have a 6 line plate in the same dark brown finish, what gives? Are you sure mine would be right, anyway? CKruse

[Novaln1975]

Camron

The plate has the curve on the bottom. It’s hard to see on the pic but it’s there. I just did not set the plate as low at it should have been. I kind of wanted to let some extra space in that corner between the feather rest and the riser for the fletching when I shoot...

So is the Kodiak and Grizzly 59 strikeplate of different shape? The Kodiak riser looks wider than the Grizzlys.

What type of leather is that? Is it tooling leather? Does not look like it. I have tested on a few different leathers and the lines just don’t stay engraved other than on the tooling leather.

I was thinking of doing a homemade die for the lines using a multiply slotted hardwood block and 5 jig saw blades so that the result would be equal distanced lines and it would be faster too.

-Simon

[Wade Phillips]

CKruse - All of my 61 & 62 Kodiaks have 6 line plates on them, but I have a lot of 62s plates that look pathetic.

Hey, I haven't bid on much of anything for the past couple of years.