Russ Willcox recurve

[MT Longbow]

I have a Russ willcox  fiberglass over unknown wood(looks like Yew) recurve Take down from the 1945-50's that was my Grandfathers from The Schenectady NY Bowmen.  Do any of the "seasoned" bowmen on this site know of Russ Wilcox bows?  

Thanks

Patrick Hover

Grandson to Earl  C. Hover from SCH. NY and the 1946 State Archery Champion!

[AALLFAB]

I just sold a couple of them to a collector but Ed Holcomb knows quite a lot about Willcox spelled with 2 L's written on the ones I had. Jim

[Tox Collector]

I assume that you have one of his bows that is referred to as a duoflex bow, which he - with assistance from Dr. Hickman - designed, but which Russ made.  

There is an excellent article on Russell Guile Willcox and his famous duoflex bows that appeared in the most recent issue of the "Journal of the Society of Archer-Antiquaries", Vol. 53, 2010 entitled "A Duoflex Miscellany in Words and Pictures" by the late Roy King, a world reknown traditional bowyer.

Russ's bows were especially favored in Europe.  There is one Englishman who was buried with one of Russ's bows - he liked it so much.

If you have Dr. Robert P. Elmer's book - "Target Archery", there is an excellent write-up on the bow along with pictures of Russ.  Russ was from So. Egremont, Massachusetts located in the corner of MA, CT and NY.  Dr. Elmer, one of America's pre-eminent archery historians, thought very highly of Russ's bows.

I just wrote a short article for the "ARROWHEAD" [a newsletter of the Society of Archer-Antiquaries] on Russ that will be published shortly] detailing my encounters with Russ.  He was also a master woodworker and made minature furniture for collectors.

His bows were designed in a way that maximized the "working" area/length of the limbs.  They were fast bows as well as light in hand.

It sounds like you are the fortunate owner of a very special bow.

[MT Longbow]

I will take some pics and show and tell, My late Gradfather "Slim" (was his nick name) and Grandmother had a small Archery business in Sch. NY and my Father made arrows and string strings for the family business way back when. Big time competitive archers...Im sure he loved the R. Willcox recurve.

I really appreciate your insight on this and it makes it more special to learn of the History.  I will post some pics tomorrow.

Thanks

Patrick Hover

[Tox Collector]

Glad the info. was of help.  I was born in Schenectady and lived there for 12 years until I moved to Binghamton, NY.  Do you know where the Schenectady Bowmen actually shot?

[MT Longbow]

I will find out from my Father.  Pics comming soon.

Thanks!

Patrick Hover

[MT Longbow]

Here are some pics of my Late Grandfathers Russ Willcox, Russ labeled it Slim for my Grandpas nickname.(he was not a small guy)
 
Both tips delamed a bit thats only thing I want to get fixed, everything else looks great.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Tox Collector]

Nice pics!

[MT Longbow]

Tox Coll. What kind of wood is that?  also How would I know how long of a string (B-50)I should use? what should the brace height be?

I have the same questions for  an old Smithwick that my dad had from a childhood .

any ideas on fixing the tips?

Thanks!

[AALLFAB]

These bows were made with Urac glue and it is suggested to not shot them at all. Jim

[KENDALL TECHAU]

The wood looks like Osage.

[d. ward]

I think it's osage also and I would be very careful shooting that one.It has crossweave fiberglass on the back and if there are any glue voids in the limbs in my become a wall hanger bd

[MT Longbow]

Well, shoot, or maybe not....thats not good news....they shot the living daylights out of these bows back then, ....