Indian Archery Recurve

[BAPilot2]

What do y'all know about Indian Archery recurve bows?

Are they any good?  When were they produced, what years?

[dbd870]

Back in the 70's when I was playing with recurves I had Bears and Pearsons, etc. but I never even had my hands on an Indian; can't help you.

[BAPilot2]

I've seen them listed on auctions.  They look cool with the silhouette indian head striker plate.

[Kip]

Here's one They were fairly popular in the 70's
5 or 6 models some models were fairly good bows.Kip
   
I have a camo shade on it now and is in my bedroom at my camp.

[rwbowman]

I have an IA Mohawk that I used to shoot regularly. It's a 52", 55# and when I shot it regularly, I became rather accurate with it. It has now become my bowfishing rig.

 

[John Scifres]

Made in Indiana.  'Nuff said  

[BAPilot2]

Kip,
That's a cool lamp!  Great idea!

RWBowman,
Nice shooting.  Was the snake on the move or stationary?  Also, was it fairly close or a few yards away?

Like I said, the striker plate is novel and cool.  I've entertained the idea of purchasing one but wanted some input on their quality.

[rwbowman]

Thanks. The snake was doing a slow head weave (side to side). Luckiest twelve yard shot I'll ever make.  

I see Indian Archery bows for sale all of the time and often entertain the idea of maybe picking up another. The one I have is rather plain, but for me, that kind of adds to the ideology of that which is traditional archery. I like the simple, plain looks of some bows.

[Jack Hoyt 75]

Made in Evansville, Indiana I believe.  Company sold off long time ago.

They are nice but never considered high end bows.

I learned about them in the Vintage Bows books by Rick Rappe.  Good info about Indian Archery in there.  Give him a call and he will tell you all you want to know.

This is his website, great guy!   http://classicbows.net/index.html


If you are looking for a vintage bow TradBow is good place to look and E-ay of course.  You will find Indians there on the auction site for sure and they should not be to expensive.

If looking for a shooter consider a vintage Bear, Damon Howatt, Browning or Groves.

[shag08]

I have a Deerslayer IA. My buddy picked it up for me when he was working in Michigan for 25 bucks. It's a pretty good shooting old bow. The grip is a little bulky for my liking. I plan to do a refinish on it sometime this winter when I'm cooped up inside.

[Chuck Jones]

The Indian Archery Deerslayer was my first laminated bow. I bought it back in 1969. It was a lot cheaper than the Bear Kodiak or Grizzly, but still cost about $30.00, which was a weeks pay for me at the time.
It was well made, and shot just fine. I sold that bow, but still have a 50# that my wife bought at a yard sale.

[MCNSC]

I had one when I was a boy. It was my constant companion for years. I remember a man that was at my grandfathers house he shot my bow and I was amazed at how well he could shoot it.  Wish I had it back. Often thought about picking one up just for the memories.  I don't remember what model mine was but it was rather plain and if I remember correctly it was 35 lbs at 28.

[swamp donkey]

My first bow was an Indian. They were good bows in the 60's and sold fairly cheap. Watch for delams at the fades if you go to buy one. I have had that problem with a couple I had in my collection.

     
      Btw, Indian never went out of business. They went to just making bow kits for kids ,over seas mainly, for a while plus all the other sports stuff they still made. They then changed their name to Escalade Sports . They now own bear archery.

[mj seratt]

My wife and I donated an Indian Hunter to Southern Traditional for one of their charity events.  It was 52 inches, 55 lbs., and shot very well.

[myshootinstinks]

I bought one of their recurves as a kid back in about 1969. 35#, orange glass w/ a maple riser. It was my first store bought bow. I wish I still had it but lost track of it many years ago.

[swamp donkey]

Btw I still have that first indian of mine, and it still shoots like a champ.

[Shakes.602]

You Go John!! I have one myself!! Indiana Indian Shoots like a Dream, and has for Many Years!!

[BAPilot2]

It seems that the consensus is Indian Archery bows are an all around good bow.  

I posed the initial question because I like their look.  I shot one a couple of years ago and it didn't seem very fast but fast ain't everything.

Thanks for all the comments and remembrances.  It's the history that places things into perspective.

[Greyfox54]

I did odd jobs and delivered papers and saved all my money and ordered an Indian Deerslayer from a Cabela's catalog which was little more than a newspaper leaflet at the time for $32.00 , It was my constant companion growing up . Sadly even though it was a Deerslayer I wasn't for many years .

[mjh]

My $3 found at a garage sale bow is an IA Cochise.  Keep it strung pretty much year round in the garage, its ready to shoot right now.  I can shoot about 9 yards in the garage with the door closed.  The bow is 40# @ 28in.  Perfect form and practice bow for  me.  Could hunt with if I wanted.  As you can see from the photos some models have some pretty nice wood.