How do you date a Ben Pearson longbow

[Snakeeater]

A friend has an old BP lemonwood longbow with 502-1-50 marked on the side. Does anyone have any idea of what model and year it might be?

Thanks,

Larry

[wadde]

Most were mid 50's to mid 60's. If it has the poundage stamped into the wood it would most likely be 50's. I believe they stopped stamping the markings around the early 60's and started using decals and such.

[Migra Bill]

"How do you date a Ben Pearson longbow "

? Ask it's father for permission and bring it home on time??

Sorry - couldn't resist.

[SlowBowke]

No offense, but a question I've always had when I see lemonwood bows in posts.

HOW does one know it's lemonwood?    Thought maybe you could help me there?

but...

A 502-1 was a hickory longbow started in 1954 following the also hickory 502 longbow that Ben started making in 42.

Not saying it ISNT lemonwood but the lemonwood BPs were around 1940. Some silk backed some self. Later in the 50s they had "fiber backed" lemonwood bows...but Ill be danged if I know what one would look like and only the model number would give me a clue.


Did he by chance just buy this?  I just saw one (and missed it) on another site.  All the info on the 502-1 Ive found info on were 5'6" yet the one I saw was quoted as 6 ft. Might be something missing in my records if so.

Sorry, the "502-1" IS the model with the following 50 being the draw weight when new.

Perhaps my saved information is not complete but that is what I have from my records. Hopefully someone else may have more info.

Hope that helped.
God Bless

[Sal]

I can tell lemonwood from hickory, its one of the skills I picked up from making bows.  They're not that similar, once you develop a trained eye.

A picture will clarify the issue.

[reddogge]

My parents bought me a lemonwood BP longbow in the mid 50s and it was marketed as being lemonwood.