Every time I think I've figured out Browning serial numbers and years, I'm not convinced.

The bow on the left is "Baby" my Explorer I. The bow on the left is another Explorer I now in the shop and mid-way through a restoration.

Which do you think is the older bow?

Here are the serial numbers. Baby begins with a 4 the fixer-upper with a 1.

i would say the one on the right is older..thanks

The fancier one. Before they started to cut corners to speed up production! Serial numbers arn't to reliable on Brownings...and like early Bears they started over every so often.

The earlier Explorers (pre I & II) were 62" and solid wood. But no 5/16" accessory insert.

Mine is a 1966 (I believe) and the serial is as the image:

I agree with SB. IF..we buy into the first digit being the year the right bow must be a '71 because I don't think they were being made in '61. I'd always assumed Baby was a '74, partly because Stab bushings didn't become common until around 1970. But having a later built bow with so much more cosmetic detail seems somehow wrong.

Unless somebody knows more, I'm now thinking Baby is a 1964 putting it ahead by a few years of the other brand top-model bows with black/white riser overlays.

But Stumpkiller's '66 ? doesn't have the bushing, but mine does...hmmmm.

Make sense?

Rick

I have most of the Browning catalogs and around 30 Browning bows. I am certain that the bow with overlays was made later than the other bow. The 4 does mean 1974 and the 1 is a 1971. I really love those Explorers and also the Cobra II's.

The bow on the right is the older bow simply because of the riser construction- early Brownings did not have laminated risers. Early Explorers I and II series did not have overlays on the handle back.Another give-away to earlier Ex I and II is glass colour- everything from about '70 on is black - before that there were other colours used. My current Explorer II starts with a 9 and is a '69 in green glass with solid rosewood riser and no handle overlays. DCW I think ,has it right. Yours is a '74 - the fixer-upper is a 71, which may have been the last year of solid risers. I bought my first Explorer II in 1972 and it's riser was like Baby's. I don't think Browning made the I and II series in the early sixties. Let's wait for George to weigh in. Fred

Ok, so far it looks like I was right before deciding I was wrong which seems as though I am now right in thinking I'm wrong and should have stayed right.

Perfectly clear. (Grin)

Anyone seen a Gordon/Drake/San Diego built Browning like these newer than 1974?

Cloth, I think I understand your point about glass colors, but the Wasp wasn't built 'till the '70s and all I've seen were grey glass.

Rick

Y5 - Sorry for the confusion. I was only referring to the Explorer I and II. I'm attaching a picture of my deceased adopted brother's bow- a Wasp in black glass and Shedua handle, which he purchased in 1969. There were some strange things going on at Browning. I also have a Fury in brown glass,like a Safari, but this Fury has tip and handle overlays in white and brown glass and a solid Brazilian Rosewood Handle. Maybe DCW has the catalog years in question and can look it up.

All My Best, Fred

I'm with Clothyard. The belly lams showed up late in the Browning Explorers, and early ones were solid risers. The bow on the right is the older model for sure. The bow on left is near mid 1970's...but I don't have any catalogs except the 1963.

Y5 -I'm going to correct myself- My other brother must have gotten the date wrong that Alex purchased the Wasp. Just found the serial # and it reads 1-T2084. Should be a '71 Fred

Here's a photo of the 1963 models, and they aren't the same riser shape.

I always thought the Explorer came originally as a re-named Safari like bow and then when the Explorer gained the "horns" on the riser backside, the design George's '63 catalog IDs as Explorer once again became the Safari.

Ok, Baby is a '74, like I first thought and the other a '71.

Would still like to know when they first started building Brownings. '61? '62? and when did they stop? '74? or later?

A '71 Wasp matches my belief they were not built in the '60s, but somewhere I read someone saying they were built '72-74, so once again, conventional wisdom is faulty.

Rick

York,your right about the safari being the old explorer.I always heard that Wing archery built the later Browning's though,especially the one's with the Quiver and stabilizer insert's.

The 1971 Robinhood catalog list both bows, the Explorer and the Safari.

The Exporer came in two lengths 56" and 62" and the Safari came in 54" and 60". They also listed the Nomad, Nomad Stalker and Cobra in thre hunting models.

The 1971 Robinhood catalog list both bows, the Explorer and the Safari.

The Exporer came in two lengths 56" and 62" and the Safari came in 54" and 60". They also listed the Nomad, Nomad Stalker and Cobra in thre hunting models.

Thanks for the confirmation Lonfitz. Not too long ago there was a published interview with Bob Lee. Trade bows were mentioned, like the wing-Colts, nothing about Brownings and I'd think that would be too important to not be mentioned, no wait.

That would have been in the AMF timeframe after Bob was no longer in the archery business. Hmmm, there ARE certain similarities like tip shapes. And there are Browning labeled trade bows obviously made by someone else plus I always wondered about bows like the Backpacker.

And too, I was told AMF stopped building stickbows in 1974 which would have accounted for not seeing a "regular old" Browning dated later than '74 AND it would also explain a dramatic up-tick in cosmetic quality of Baby versus the '71.

Confirmation would be great, but it DOES sort of make sense.

Rick

I believe the Brownings were made through 1975. The earliest Wasp I have seen is a 1971

by the serial numbers it would appear one is 1974 and the other 1971 as Explorer I were introduced in 67 to replace the longer 62" model...which was JUST the EXPLORER. Now that is if the serial numbers are not incorrect...

paper I have shows Explorer I made 1967-75.

That being said in transition years I have seen the wrong labels put on bows.

I found an old Explorer without the horns as the Safari was the precursor and when they changed designs of riser they changed name to Explorer...but in transition years some said both....Safari was from 1963-65......

Here are some other dates for Brownings for your review

Browning Recurve Lineup 1960's to 70's

APACHE 48" 1963 - ??? (Youth bow - draw weights 10#, 15#, 20#)

APOLLO 66” 1963-1971 (Hunt/Target bow 30#-60#)

BACKPACKER II 60” 1970-75

CHALLENGE 66”, 68”, 70” 1967-75+ (Top of line target bow 30# to 60#)

COBRA 50" 1969 (Hunting bow)

COBRA I 50" 1969-75 COBRA II 58" 1969-75

DIANA 64" 1963 (Ladies version of Apollo 25# to 40# draw weight)

EXPLORER 62" 1963-67 (Top of line hunting/target 30# to 60#)

EXPLORER I 56" 1967-75 (Short version replaced Explorer) EXPLORER II 62" 1967-75 (Long version replaced Explorer)

FOLDING HUNTER I 56”

FURY I 54" 1972-75 FURY II 60" 1972-75

MEDALLION 64" - 1963 - 69 (Target bow 25# to 55#)

MOHAWK 54" 1963- 75 (Youth bow 20# to 35#)

MONARCH 66”, 68”, 70” 1969- ??

NOMAD 52" 1963-1965 (Short hunting bow 30# to 65#)

NOMAD I 54" 1966-1975 NOMAD II 60" 1966-1975

NOMAD STALKER 52" 1969-71

NOMAD STALKER I 54" 1966-1975 NOMAD STALKER II 60" 1966-1975

OLYMPIAN 66" 1963 - ??? (Top of line target model in 1963 30# to 60#)

PREP 62” 1972-??? (Youth beginner model)

ROVER 64” 1972 - 75 (Mid-range target model)

SAFARI 54" 1963-65 ( High end hunting bow 30# to 65#)

SAFARI I 54" 1966-1971 (Short version replaced Safari) SAFARI II 60" 1966-1971 (Long version replaced Safari)

SPARTAN 62” 1963-1979 (Adult beginner bow 25# to 45#)

TROPHY 66" 1963 - ??? (High end target bow 30# to 60#)

WASP 56" 1969-1975

Here is my Safari (Not I or II).

Anyone have an idea of the meaning of the "I" in the above picture of the Safari? (Below the 54" mark)

That is for the Safari I model designation.

by serial number it is a plain Safari....1964. Sometimes they would put wrong labels on limbs or use leftover items but the serial numbers were always (almost) correct. I have seen a Safari style bow with Explorer label on limbs during their transition period of plain riser to one with horns we are more familiar with as an Explorer.

Hard to beleve the head ski and amf wing's ever produced any Browning's.The Browning quality is too superior to those bow's. Often wondered what type oh finish(gloss) that Browning put on their bow's,it's very hard and durable.similar to their guns.

Anyone remember the brace height for a Nomad?

I wish someone had a picture of a Wasp older than 1971.

When was the firedrake made? Just got a mint Firedrake its a sweet bow. Thanks JE.

Lonfitz,

I'm not endorsing the possibility that wing made the later Brownings, but take a look at this photo of that '71 Explorer about ready to be sent home alongside a Wing built Colt Huntsman Hi-Power. Food for thought anyway.

Yeah very strange,isn't it. still a dynamite shooter though!York what year did Browning start to put piano style overlays on the face of their Bow's?most everyone else put them on the back.

The guess of another poster above is the overlays appeared in '72 Lon.

I don't know anything about the FireDrake except that it obviously refers to Harry Drake the designer

And to the Nomad question basic low starting point for brace height is AMO length divided by 8. But that is less applicable when bows get real short. In the case of the Nomad that'd be 54" divided by 8 or 6 3/4". Personally, all my shorter bows seem best above 8" brace. When I set the '71 above up to test shoot, 8" was too low.

Rick

All this talk made me go look at the serial number of my Safari I

7C900 L-43# 54" I

If the 7 means '67 thats about right, I got it when I was 12 and I still shoot it! Still keep it in the thin canvas sock it came in!

yep that is correct.

Here's my 1975 Explorer II - how does it shoot? I don't know, I'm pretty sure it's never had a string on it. Upon close inspection, the finish has some issues - I expect that in 1975 the bowyers had already gone through a number of layoffs, and the remaining workers knew their time was nearly up.

FOUR Maple Lams!!!

Thanks Golden Trout.

Here's what I now "think".

Brownings were first "officially" introduced in 1963, but there may have been a few produced earlier as the deal between Browning and Gordon Composites was developing.

We still don't know exactly what Harry Drake's role was whether designer only or hands on production/bowyer.

This is the first 1975 I've seen. In those pre-computer days, a 1975 catalog would have to have been type set in late Summer of '74 so was likely finished before AMF decided to stop producing them IF indeed it was AMF/Wing making them. And I'm leaning more and more toward yes they were.

AND, I'm beginning to doubt the repeated rumor some of the Colt Firearms trade bows were made by Pearson as well as Wing.

Here's why. The Colt Huntsman above has the same riser lamination design as some Wing Presentation models. AND check out this photo I picked off e-Bay this morning.

Based on this, it appears Wing was making at least one Pearson labeled bow, the Pearson Cobra. Who'da thunk it that Wing was making some Pearsons? But it sure looks like it.

Here's another. Identical markings on this Pearson as on the Wing/Colt

It is my understanding that until 1973, when Browning bought out Gordon Plastics bow making facility entirely, GP was producing bows for any number of companies. This might be why many of the Browning models and others are so close in design and looks.

FROM THE GORDON COMPOSITES WEBSITE on the history of Gordon Plastics:

In 1973 they (Gordon Plastics) sold the bow company to Browning Arms.

Their archery accounts during the late ‘60s and early ‘70s included all of the leading companies – Root Archery, Bear Archery, Wing Archery and Ben Pearson Archery.

Wasn't it 1963 instead of 1973?

Thanks Jaz, that too makes some sense, although I can't think of a Bear model that would "fit".

Rick

True enough Lon,

Even if the Gordon site says '73 and not '63 as we all believe to be true, we can't trust web sites. Heck, the last time I looked the Martin site couldn't even get Damon Howatt's death year correct.

Rick

***********Wasn't it 1963 instead of 1973?*****

Gordon Plastics began building bows for Browning in '63 (And had been and continued to build for others as well). In '73 Gordon Plastics wanted to focus solely on providing laminates for other makers and sold their entire bow manufacturing to Browning.

My guess is you won't see the types of similarities this thread addressed after 73.

The plot thickens.

Ok, sometime after '71 we find some Brownings, notably the Explorer I and II got much improved cosmetics and as I look very closely at Golden trout's '75 it has one more limb lamination (5) vs. my '74's (4), both signify high quality.

The question then is by whom and where were the later ones built? Browning buying the bow building business doesn't necessarily mean they ran the San Diego shop. And including a reasonable amount of inventory, you could fit the whole shop into a single truck.

Well....Wing seems the most logical. We know Wing built the Colts in the '60s and we have an identical Pearson, and the Colt Huntsman riser I show plus the Pearson, match the lamination pattern of some '60s era Wing Presentations.

That does not explain why the Browning Explorer is a match of these other bows however, other than these guys really DID copy one another and both came on the market at the same time (as far as I can tell).

Anybody else know something?

Rick

It has been more than ten years ago but I recall someone selling a partially finished cobra riser on ebay. The seller claimed he pulled the riser out of a dumpster behind a shop in San Diego while he was serving there in the Marines in the late sixties. He said the shop "made bows for Browning" and that the riser was a prototype. Wish I knew who that seller was today.

I have a 1968 Explorer II that has taken an impressive number of animals. I'll never sell that bow because it has so much sentimental value.

"Ok, sometime after '71 we find some Brownings, notably the Explorer I and II got much improved cosmetics . . . "

That is a matter of taste. ;-) I don't think you can beat solid rosewood without plastic/Phenolic contamination.

I put the earlier Explorers at a premium.

Not sure if this will work.... Kind of disappointing, for some reason, I always thought Brownings were made in Morgan, Utah.

Nice story. Doesn't bother me. J.M. Browning was a brilliant gun/rifle designer, but other folks knew a lot more about bows. ;-)

I had a Browning rifle that was made in Belgium. Wish I had kept it.

Thanks Goldentrout.

It answers a lot. But it also adds confusion. What is the date of the article? Obviously in the early 1960s, but conflicts with Jaz's comments about Gordon making the bows for many companies including Browning.

Stumpkiller,

OK, beauty is in the eye of.....

How about: Sometime in the early '70's the Explorer received a new cosmetic treatment with a laminated Rosewood riser and overlays that became popular on the top model bows of others such as Bear and Wing.

The story is from the Jan-Feb 1967 issue of Bow and Arrow Magazine. Thanks to Shawna for providing this info...

Looks like an Explorer on the cover shot too. Thanks GT.

Rick

***but conflicts with Jaz's comments about Gordon making the bows for many companies including Browning***

It's not my comment....it came straight from the History tab of the Gordon Composites website.

I talked to Don Gordon at the AMO show in Columbus, O. several years ago about my Gordon collection. He told me he sold his bow division to Browning at the end of 1963, and they moved it all, including the boyers, to Utah.

Tom Frick

That's very strange. The article I posted suggests a NEW facility and a new "Browning Archery Division" located in San Diego. The story mentions the Challenge (target bow), which my source indicated was not cataloged until 1967. But clearly there were browning bows prior to 67 - I have an electronic version of the Browning 1963 catalog - the cover of the catalog says "Introducing Browning Archery Equipment", suggesting 63 is the first year of Browning bows. Also, in the catalog there is mention of a Browning "Archery Division". The address for Browning is given as St. Lois, MO. But I seem to remember that Browning made their bows in Morgan, Utah (but that could have been just compounds? I really don't know). Could Browning have moved their production from Morgan to San Diego in 67? Or, is it possible that Browning opened up a SECOND manufacturing facility in San Diego to accommodate growing demand? When did the San Diego facility close? There is the possibility that there are elements of the story that are just flat-out wrong!

From the Browning website: "The Browning line of bows and archery gear were actually manufactured in large part at our own facility in Morgan, Utah a few hundred yards up the road from our business offices."

Also from the Browning website: "In 2001, for assorted business and competitive reasons, Browning entered into an agreement with PSE in Arizona to have them take over the license for Browning Archery products. At that point production ceased in Utah and was moved to PSE facilities." (in Arizona I presume)

So, at some point, Browning did make bows in Morgan, but we just don't know what bows, or during what time period. Tom's conversation with Don Gordon suggests recurve bows were made in Utah, and the Browning website suggests bows of some sort were made in Morgan, Utah from ??? to 2001.

Really, I need to drive up to Morgan, find the offices of Browning, and start demanding some answers! Better, yet, one of us needs to hire someone like the 'History Detectives'. The history of Browning Archery is just too complex, there are too many unanswered questions.

I think its pretty clear the "Wing" angle is wrong anyway. And the article published in '67 makes it pretty obvious they were still in San Diego (Gordon's home) at that time.

In my research for my books, I've found that Web pages are unreliable, especially since a generation or two passed between the history and there even BEING Web pages.

Don Gordon could have easily meant "sold" in '63, which we all agree was the first year a catalog appeared; EVENTUALLY moving to Utah and that might not have actually happened until the '70s.

We still don't know. Heck, Is it significant or just co-incidence that I've yet to see a Browning dated '73? '71, '72, '74 and '75 yes. No '73? Hmmm.

Rick

I have a Nomad Stalker I, 52", 50#, ser. no. 3W 4050-1. No stabilizer bushing. I try to mimic this bow's grip when modifying other bows.

-Joe

Thanks JLB.

I think a lot of this speculation started,when quiver inserts(in the limbs)and stablizer inserts began to appear on Browning's in the 70's.Several Companies used these type quiver inserts,made popular by Wing Archery.So it was assumed they made the Bow's.The explorer design shared by several companies(colt,Pearson,Browning etc.)was a Harry Drake design.Just knowing the reputation of Browning quality,as evidenced in their guns,it's hard to think they would trust their production to someone else,but you never know though.

I've got an old Drake and another on the way. Too bad that I cannot upload photos right now. I'll jump back in here in about a week since there are som knowledgable folks here. One has no writing or numbering and haven't seen the other yet. The first mentioned was quickly identified by someone who knew Harry Drake. We live only a few miles from Lakeside, CA where it was built. My friend lost almost 100 bow blanks in a big fire in our ares in 2006;all made by Drake.

I've changed my mind so often on this that I may have missed something obvious. Namely my assumption that since Wing built bows for Colt and the quality is so high on the Huntsman Hi-Power AND the Pearson Cobra, they must have been both Wing built.

My bias was showing. It is perfectly logical that BOTH the Colt Huntsman and Pearson Cobra were Pearson built and Wing had nothing to do with either bow.

This general design shows in other Pearsons and said plainly, they were far more likely to "borrow" a design than Bob Lee.

Rick

PS. We may also have overstated Harry Drake's involvement with Browning.

Hey Golden Trout, That article in B&A Mag. was written by C.R. Learn under his pen name, Steve Bard. The plant was the old Gordan bowshop plant (just new owners). I know because I would occasionally visit it when I worked as a bowyer for FASCO BOWS in the San Diego area.

"We still don't know. Heck, Is it significant or just co-incidence that I've yet to see a Browning dated '73? '71, '72, '74 and '75 yes. No '73? Hmmm"

I had to go check my Newest Browing. It's a Cobra II and the serial number begins "4"; so I guess 1974. By then they could no longer get the lovely wood in large enough sizes and had to piece the risers together. :-D

I don't think it's possible to image a Browning serial number with a flash!

****I talked to Don Gordon at the AMO show in Columbus, O. several years ago about my Gordon collection. He told me he sold his bow division to Browning at the end of 1963, and they moved it all, including the boyers, to Utah.******

You either heard wrong or he misunderstood because there are just too many sources that place Gordon / Browning at their San Diego location far beyond 1963. Additionally, I have a friend that worked for Browning at the Gordon location well after '63. I will ask him the next time I see him exactly what year it was.

Browning Firearm Supply Company is listed in the county assessors records up until 1984. Don't know exactly what that indicates.

I have a browning explorer #6d756 46# 62" solid wood, no bushings. green glass on back, black on belly. The limbs and limb tips are narrow and smaller than a older explorer 11 that i have. Is this a 1966 year. Thanks jack

The question remains WHEN did Browning stop building bows in San Diego. Pretty clear they were making some bows In Utah overlapping San Diego production and we have several hints they may have moved out in the '72 time frame.

But it is also possible there was an overlap in "where built", for example the "new" Explorers that appeared in '72 could be Utah built while other models were still built in the old Gordon bldg.

A review of Shorthair's date/model list shows about 10 models that either ended production in '71 or began to be cataloged in '72, adding more "probability" of a location shift in that timeframe.

I think we've pretty well nailed that the Gordons sold the shop and production to Browning in '63 and made bows for others BEFORE that date with the mis-date from the web site of '73 perhaps being when Browning finally left the building in Sdiego.

And that at least until Browning decided to license the name to PSE, no one else was making Browning bows other than Browning.

Rick

Here is what I found.

http://www.gordoncomposites.com/pdf/CM_508_gordon.pdf Composite Manufacturing Magazine quoting 1973 sale to Browning

http://bowhuntamerica.com/pdf/Oldpdfs/~Inside%20Archery/IA%202007/I A094-2007.09%20Sep/Gordon%20Composites%20Sep%2007.pdf Bow Hunt America Article quoting 1963 sale to Browning

http://www.gordoncomposites.com/history.htm Gordon Composites Website history section quoting 1973 sale to Browning

My Brownings currenty on racks...left to right

1975 Wasp, solid riser 1966 Safari II, solid riser 1970 Explorer I, solid riser 1968 Explorer II, solid riser 1973 Cobra II, laminated riser

i have a browning but it only says 94g9 66'' 66# any info?????????

what model?

likely 1969 model....

I have been scouring the internet and you guys are the first to come up with any helpful information so let me first say THANK YOU! I have my father's old Browning Medallion bow and plan on starting to use it again for pleasure (target shooting mainly). My father is deceased and I always remember him having this bow but wanted to get more info on it before I started doing anything to make sure that I didn't put it in harms way. The serial number is 1H368 or IH368, 26#, 64". According to your earlier post, it sounds like it was built between 1963 - 69 which would date it about right; I am guessing that he bought it in the early 70's. I have not done any serious archery in over 30 years so I would appreciate ANY advice that you could offer on care, history, etc.

THANK YOU AGAIN!

Ngk,

I believe shorthair's listing of models and dates came from catalogs. But in those pre-computer days there were very long lead times between type-setting a new catalog and the actual production year.

What I "think" is what was actually built versus what was printed did not always match up. For example, we have yet to see a Wasp with a serial number earlier than 1971.

So based on that, I'd speculate your Dad's bow was built in '71 based on the serial number.

Rick

Rick I think you are right...probably a 1971 model. What happened to Browning recurves after 1975? Just closed down production? They must have made a bunch of them in 1975 because it seems like you see more 1975 models than any of the others. Both of my Cobras and both of my Explorer 1's are '75 models. I think the early 1970's models were built better before they put the bushings in them. All of my Wasps are bushingless.

I Do think '75 was the last of the one piece recurves, but I'm unsure of the takedowns like the Backpacker, and there was a weird folding bow with a metal riser. Remember '74-75 was the first Arab oil embargo and we went into a recession plus the compound bow was now what everyone wanted. You couldn't give away recurves.

Guys like Al Reader were buying barrels of them for pennies on the dollar.

Rick

The story of Gordon and Browning … from the fella that was in the Gordon office at the 1st. contact from Browning . Is anyone ready for this … other than " kh.2 wheels"and Dave Gordon,Jr. ? I will tell it if you ask.

Jerry Amster

Let's hear it.

Yes, please tell!

Jerry, by all means start a new thread and tell them that great story!As you've probably noticed by now, many of us had mistakenly assumed that Harry Drake was somehow connected with Gordon/Browning in those days. It would be good for you to give us the "Hell, I was there!" version. Kerry

TTT

I'd like to hear it as well Jerry...

I'd love to hear it as well..its a lineage of outstanding craftsmanship in addition to fine-shooting bows.

I have a couple of Challenge tournament bows, nearly identical to each other, at 70" and pretty "beefy." But here's one I think is also a Challenge that looks much more primitive to me. Fashioned from a massive single chunk of what I believe is cocobolo, and weighing in at over 4 lbs (65oz). It's also 70" and draws 44#. To me it looks like early to mid-'60s, just after the beginning of the Big Riser movement (this one is 32" fade-to-fade).

Riser close-up ...

The tips are tiny, much smaller than the later Challenge bows.

The specs don't say much, and are very hard to read. This is roughly a 2x blow-up.

There is no doubt it's a Browning. With a magnifying glass the top of the first two letters under the Browning logo could be "Ch" ...

My (presumed) later Challenges have the model name in a horizontal (not sloped) configuration.

Here is one of the later ones for comparison.

... and its decal ...

... and its specs. The A.M.O. marking sets a limit on its year of manufacturing.

Hope I;m not jumping this thread but does anyone know the year(s) of a Browning Monarch 62" zebrawood?

Awesome thread.

Hey Dave...that early Challenge made in '66 could be characterized as a Gordon to Browning transition bow...how many limb lams does it have and are there tip wedges?

I thought I would post an update for the record about my assumed early "Challenge" bow. It is how clear from my research and that of crookedstix & pdiddly that this bow is either a Monarch or more likely an Olympian. The leading "6" in the serial number denotes the 1966 production year. The next character in the serial number, "A," was used to designate the model. Browning used A for both the Olympian and the Monarch. On the partial decal, under a magnifying glass, the first three letters of the model name could be "Oly." The model name part of the decal is sloped; Browning changed to a level horizontal model name decal right around 66/67, judging from other bows I've examined.

The Monarch and Olympian appear to be identical in construction, so I think it was a name change rather than a new model, and that the transition happened between 1966 and 1968. Based on serial number data, I believe the Olympian came first.

Nice work David!

I re-read this thread with the benefit of looking at a number of bows that may yield some wisdom. For example, Rick's wonderings about Colt <> Ben Pearson and the BP Cobra. I've now seen five completely different bow designs with the same BP Cobra silkscreen, and I'm convinced the Cobra was simply a designation BP used to sell bows that were either surplus bows made for Colt or in some way not up to Colt specs. Based on the quality of the Cobra bows, I suspect the former. As Jerry Amster has shared, he and Jack Bice were busy coming up with designs for Browning in 1962 that lead to Brownings inaugural line up in 1963. The first Browning Explores took its design elements and evolved from the Gordon Plastics Knight and Royal Hunter and when the Explorer sprouted horns, the design was carried forward in shortened version, in the Browning Nomad and Safari. I've never seen a 1963 Browning Olympian, featured in the 1963 catalog. The Challenge came into the picture in or around 1965, with horns. The 1963 Diana, designated by H in the serial number, became the Medallion in 1964, complete with H serial numbers. My best guess is that 1967 was the move from what had been the Gordon bow-making facility to Morgan Utah...in the meantime Gordon never stopped making fiberglass laminates. One thing is certain..some really outstanding bows were made in the 1960's and I'm lucky to have the opportunity to shoot them and learn more about them.

I was surprised to see this 3 year old thread pop up. Mark (mangoonboat) has added good info, but if I recall from this old guy memory, I believe the move to Morgan came later and there MIGHT have been some overlap with bows built in both places for awhile.

Then there is the newer info that when I interviewed Larry Root (Ernie's son) he had just found bow design prints for Colt bows in Ernie's garage attic.

Rick

I think the bows were built in San Diego past 1967. I look at the style and tips and suspect it was early 70's.

I am also persuaded that Wing may have built some later Brownings...the later Explorer's have a lot of Wing attributes.

Glad Mark reposted as it show we have figured out quite a bit since the first post. Now have a lot better knowledge of dating and models

From figuring out Brownings we were able to crack Shakespeare dating code.

Based on its serial number, I believe that this Browning Explorer was the 27th Explorer built in 1962. It is the earliest Browning-labeled (Gordon) bow I've seen.

Yes...this Explorer is one of the first built indeed...even though the first catalog was 1963 they had to have bows made in advance and this is one of them.

Jerry Amster provided a lot of facts since this thread first appeared and dispelled the notion that Harry Drake was involved a great deal.

I also wonder how many recurves, if any, Browing built in Utah.

I have a box for a 1975 Wasp that shows the bow was shipped from the B.A Company in Arnold, Missouri in January 1975. The box was being shipped to Marysville California.

So B.A would be Browning Arms but the box said Browning was located in Morgan, Utah and Montreal, Quebec!!

Browning never built many things but marketed goods made by other manufacturers under their name. Would not surprise me a bit that Wing built their later bows.

Look at the early Howatt Hunters. They got fancier with more lams in the mid 60's. Bows did get more intricate lams in later years to a point. They really didn't start cutting corners till the 70's. That's when you started seeing more maple and less exotics also.

I have an explorer marked Morgan Utah as is the box with original bill of sales it bow string canvas bow sock and papers are still new. dated in 1974. It was a second and bought by a worker in the spray booth. I bought it off ebay about 7 yrs ago. Bow has builders name on it but no ser#. Seller did not let me know that it was a second but did send me a mint 1968 Explorer to make up for it. He lived in morgan. I wonder how many more Brownings he had?

Hey GLF...it is true the first true Howatt Hunters had walnut risers with rosewood "bumps" on the belly side of the riser around 1958-59 and were rather plain. They were followed by the pure rosewood riser models made with two or three lams. But before that and at the same time bows like the Monterey were being made that very complex risers with multiple laminations. The 1958-1962 Montereys were an example. The Explorers in the 60's had solid risers then in the 70's ended up with intricate lamination combinations in the riser but the quality control slipped in 1974 and 1975 and, like you stated, the real nice exotic hardwoods were gone. Falcon...where on the bow is that 1974 Explorer marked with Morgan Utah? Dies the end of the box have Montreal as well?

Re-read the entire thread. Certainly tells us that historic print media, catalogues and boxes with receipts are far more accurate than info on websites and remembered conversations.

The knowledge increase in three years has been dramatic.

We know, through Dave and Kenny's early Explorer's, that the first Browning was made in 1962.

We know for certain that the first number was the build year.

We now know there was a letter in the serial numbers that indicated the model.

We better understand the evolution of the design.

We have also learned that the bows were designed by Jack Bice and that the role of Harry Drake was largely overstated.

What still needs to be figured out is if bow production was ever moved to Morgan Utah.

The box I have coming from Missouri makes me wonder.

The next breakthrough will be when we get a chance to talk with Dave Gordon Jr....Peter and I will have to make time in next year's Colorado elk hunt for that very pleasant errand!

Pete & George - here's one of those "plain" Howatt Hunters from the late '50s. Plain but elegant risers. BTW it's a (pre-A.M.O.) 66"!

Peter it does have Montreal on the end of box as well as Morgan, Utah and made in USA,Morgan Utah is on the riser near the lower fads and on the opposite side of the rest side is the name Al Flitton On the belly side of the lower is Browning Explorer I and made in USA all writing in gold great looking bow but does have a couple of flaws. also in the box was a string still in clear plastic with label Browning Route 1 Morgan, Utah 84050 and a Browning bow instruction and guarantee booklet

ttt

That is interesting falcon...

David...saw a Howatt exactly like yours pop up on eBay today for $150! 66" with white glass

It did not last long!

I picked that one up Peter. It matches my 62" hunter, only this one is a little older. Guessing this one is 58 and the 62" is a 59? with all the writing on the limb.

Took me just about 10 minutes to realize I "needed" this bow, but I am sure my wife would disagree!

Was hoping David would let me know what length string to order for this bow. Might as well have one made while I am waiting on it to get here.

Cueman I will measure the string on my 66" tomorrow morning and let you know.

Peter - I don't know if you can tell from the riser photo, but that Hunter has turquoise glass. I didn't show a photo of the glass for fear that frisky would jump in and lecture us on the benefits of that material.

Kenneth - I sent you a PM, but in case anyone else is interested my 66" Hunter has a 62" B-50 string. It has stretched to 62.25 under tension on the bow, and gives a BH of a little over 7-1/2".

I have a fancy for turquoise glass Howatt's, in spite of Frisky's known bias.

However, unlike the old kitchen table top used on the Turquoise Terror, this is 3M glass, the best ever made!

Front to back is a 1962 Monterey, a Wasatch that is a 1962 Hunter clone and, in the front, a 1960 with the rosewood bumps like Dave and Ken's above.

Here's another view...

Looks like dark green junk glass to me.

Joe

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