It is a Deerslayer but is it a Grumley?

[Bjorn]

This came in the mail today
 
It was packed just amazing
 
A masonite box screwed and glued shut!
What was inside is more amazing
 
All things considered the bow is in very great shape
 
Been looking for one of these for a loooong time
 
Osage belly and a layer of light wood-lemonwood?
And a very thin layer of wood followed by a layer of woven glass on the back.
There is no Grumley or Bear Products stamp or writing on the belly-just the Deerslayer sticker. This is the bow that was listed on ebat last week.

[Wade Phillips]

Bjorn -

Your bow is what we call a "Transition Bow", made between around the time Grumley left Bear (April 1948) and when Bear began mass producing the Grizzly in 1949.

An average of a couple or more show up each year on auction. Yours is a latter one. The earler ones don't have the woven glass back.

Most with the woven glass backing have the standard, hickory back, yew core and osage belly. That is what yours looks like, but if you post detailed photographs of the side of the limbs, and I can probably tell you for sure.  

These are Bear's first bows with water transfer decals. There are several here at the Arsenal. The "Deerslayer" is the most common, followed by "Bush" and the very rare decal "Hunter". I have never seen a "Field".

[Bjorn]

Hi Wade great that you are still up!
 
It had water transfers on the back but they are no longer there.

[d. ward]

sweet looking bow BJ real sweet looker hey Wadester old buddy get your ass up and help us out here.Is the hook latch Grumley I'am listing on auction later today also called a Deerslayer ??? help bd

[Wade Phillips]

Doc -

Bear's take down latch was offered on any bow for an additional $10.

So the bow's name did not change, it simply became a TD.

Your bow would be called a TD Deerslayer

[Wade Phillips]

Bjorn -

Under the woven glass backing, your bow is has the standard 3 wood laminations, Hickory, Yew core and Osage Belly.

[Wade Phillips]

Doc -

Can't really see the backing clearly on the TD Deerslayer.

Can you take a couple of close ups of the backing, one from the back and one from the side so the thickness of the backing is clear.

Sort of looks like clarified calfskin, but hard to really tell from the images posted...

[d. ward]

thanks dude I love you man and you know this.I finaly just had to buck up and do what had to be done OMG it hurts to see them leave home to never return.But WTF huh ? you gotta do what you gotta do to keep the boat a float.We outta buckets to bail with.You know the vintage archery tackle game and how it works......fried chicken today but boiled feather tomorrow that sucks.
Again and as always Wadester you kick ass dude and I love you for that and all your hard work and deadacationhoweveryouspellit to help out the lessers of the group like myslef.You rock brother and I love you for that man bd

[d. ward]

oh hell yeah I can right now bd

[Wade Phillips]

Doc -

Thanks for the kind words. What are you talking about... you are the one who has done more traditional archery then most of the rest of us put together.

Checked the thread with photographs and I still can not say for sure what the backing is. Could be clarified calfskin, but need closer, clear photographs.  

 http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=14;t=005142;p=1

[d. ward]

Nelly doing xmas with his family and friends a little early this year bd          

[d. ward]

the best discription I could tell ya'all is the backing on this Grum looks and feels like a razor clam shell ? you no coasties know what a razor clam looks like ?????? and Bjorn what the heck I do not think we ment to hi jack your grum thread we just love em to much bd

[Wade Phillips]

Doc -

I'm sorry I still can't tell for sure.

Almost looks like wood grain with all the lines which would be a very thin lamination of hickory on the back.

[d. ward]

[Bjorn]

Doc That is a seriously gorgeous bow!
Wade thank you your posting all the details on this transitional bow  good know what it is and is not.

[OldSkoolArcher]

Doc, just wanted to say I love that '64 Kodiak!!!

[Wade Phillips]

Originally posted by Bjorn:
Doc That is a seriously gorgeous bow!
Wade thank you your posting all the details on this transitional bow  good know what it is and is not.

Bjorn - The Transition Bows are nice to have. There were many different variations of the Transition Bows made. There are 14 variations of Bear's Transition Bows in this photograph...

 

[Bjorn]

This has been a very informative thread. As always a great group of bows! Thanks for the pic Wade!

[Larry m]

I appreciate you guy's sharing all this good info. In my mind I thought a Grumley was just that and never thought of the transitional period. Wade can I ask if Bear used several different bowyers (any specific information available?) to help in this transitional period and was Nels still involved in any way? I remember seeing your display at the Archery Collectors Show and just assumed they were all Grumley's.
Bjorn, Very nice bow!
Good informative post.

[d. ward]

my god those are beautiful ... there not bows at all but fine peaces of art work.Wade I still can not figure out that darn backing this one it gots me stumped big time.You may be right it may be unborn calf skin.The grainy look looks kind of like brush strokes inthe varnish bd