Blemishes on new bow

[Grumpyfoot]

I’ve been shooting vintage Ben Pearson bows since I started shooting traditional about 7 years ago. I’ve always wanted a Bear Grizzly, but could never justify spending the money on a bow I don’t “need.”

I finally ordered the bow I’ve always wanted from 3 Rivers, a 50# Bear Super Grizzly. It’s better than I expected. Shoots where I’m looking and I couldn’t be happier.

There is a blemish on the back of the bow at the bottom of the riser, the width of the bow about 1 1/2 inches long. Looks like a sanded area that didn’t get completely smoothed out before clear coating. You can’t feel it or see it when there’s a glare on it.

Let me say, I don’t care about the blemish. Its character in my opinion, and although I’ve only shot the bow about 25 times, it doesn’t seem to effect performance.


I’m just curious, is this common? Has any one else seen this? Is there any reason for me to be concerned?


Grumpy

[Pine]

I think it's OK but you might post this on the bowyer's bench and see what they say.

[buckeyebowhunter]

Even the mass produced bows are still sanded and finished by hand, its likely someone just missed a spot before it went to the spray booth. I would venture to say that mass produced bows aren't looked over quite as meticulously as a handcrafted custom bow.

[Trenton G.]

I've seen a lot of topics on multiple forums about the poor finish quality of Bear nowadays. If I go to the local sporting goods store and look at them, nearly every Bear bow on the rack has streaks or scratches or something on them. Lots even have stress cracks in the finish already running perpendicular to the limb. QC could use a bit of improvement.

[Blackstick]

Yep, unfortunately that is the way Bear now does business. They can't even get their most expensive line of LES bows to market without flaws. Three out of four were not suitable for me. I'll never again buy another Bear bow, at any price!   

[Larry m]

Yes, pretty much the same issue.

Recently picked up some new Bear #3 limbs and was fairly excited to get them in the mail and on a (pristine) C Riser. My plan was to set up a smooth pulling 3-D shooter. Unfortunately the belly side of the top limb had three small light marks (about the size of a pencil eraser or less)  just at eye level. To my way of thinking I had just spent 400 on limbs that had a flawed appearance. The more I thought about it and knowing this probably would not have happened if it were custom I decided to send them back. Glad I did.

I'll also add this.

Several years ago I ordered a Black Widow longbow. After I received it I noticed a line in the glass that went the length of the upper limb. At first I just wrote it off and called it character of the bow but in the back of my thoughts I was a bit disappointed. After a few months I reached out to Black Widow with a light hearted explanation of my thoughts. Ken Beck had me send the bow to him and after receiving at the shop I got a call from Mr Beck stating, "we can certainly do better then this". A new bow arrived in the mail shortly after.............       

[Maclean]

Sadly, this is how once well respected companies die.

[Grumpyfoot]

It is unfortunate. I will keep the bow, it does shoot great. I think it's just cosmetic. I have always wanted a Grizzly. For the money, I did expect a better finish, but, I do really like the way it shoots.

[Wudstix]

I have a 1978 Grizzly, 70#@28" and drawing this bow back you don't pay any attention to the cosmetics, believe me.  I got lucky and this one is very clean.
 

[Ulysseys]

If it makes you feel any better I had 2 very high end customs show up with major flaws. One I sent back and it didn’t get returned much better. If it’s not a structural issue, which it doesn’t sound like it is, and it shoots well then I’d just overlook it and call it character.

[Terry Green]

If you won't bloom is free you need to order a custom bow.

[Grumpyfoot]

Agreed Ulysseys, it is just a blemish. I'm absolutely sure I'll do much more "cosmetic enhancement" to it myself, after all it is a tool. Honestly, it shoots lights out, and that's all that really matters anyway. It just saddens me that a company that bares the name of the man that made so many advancements for the sport of bowhunting, and archery in general, isn't beholden to what I'm absolutely sure was his standard.

I will say, looks aren't everything. The bow performs as advertised.

[Wudstix]

I don't mind the character, as long as I put it there.
 

[Trenton G.]

My thoughts are the same as Wudstix. If I put a ding in my truck or scratch the paint, thats on me, but if I go to buy a brand new truck from the dealer and it has a dent in it already, I'm not buying it.

[smoke]

Interesting discussion.   I had a new Bear bow a few years back and wasn't happy with it and returned it.  Didn't think I would buy another but just a few weeks ago I picked up a new 59 Kodiak on a good sale.  I really like the 59 - well made and shoots great. Last year I got an old Wing Slimline Pro Redwing that was marked "blemished".  The blemish was small but noticeable.  But despite being over 50 years old and a blemish, that bow really shoots!

[Grumpyfoot]

I get the new truck analogy, and I agree. The difference being, I'm not ordering a truck over the mail.

I could send the bow back, but I'm just rolling the dice again, maybe I'll get a blemish free bow, maybe not. It is just a blemish. and as good as this bow feels and shoots, if I send it back, will the next one?

The blemish is only noticeable if you're looking for it, and of course, when it showed up, I was looking.

Besides, I've registered for the warranty, so I've got a year to put as many arrows as I can through it, and find a weakness. If I put that many arrows through it without an issue, I win.

If this were a custom bow, I would not have even started this thread.

[Wudstix]

Chris;
Enjoy your bow, I'm in Texas also and who knows we may cross paths.  Like to see it.
 

[Grumpyfoot]

10/4 Michael. Thanks man.

[buckeyebowhunter]

When I think of a blemish, I think of a large scratch in the finish or a nick in the glass or perhaps an area that didn't receive finish or not enough finish.

Some "Blemishes" are inevitable no matter what. Many of them are not controllable by the bowyer, for example a streak in clear glass is almost impossible to see until the limb is glued up. I have a Widow(A world class bow)that I bought brand new with a few streaks in the glass, it is what it is. 

Bows are made by humans and still many of them entirely by hand. They're all going to have "blemishes" but most aren't noticeable by anyone but the bowyer.

[Grumpyfoot]

Good point Buckeye. I do agree. I never really considered not keeping the bow. It is just some color differences in the finish. I cannot feel anything when I drag my fingers across it, completely cosmetic, and truth be told, I have cosmetic issues of my own but everything still works.