In a moment of impulse I bought this Drake recurve. I haven't received it yet but it is a 54" Hunter Flight. Never owned a Drake before but I though it looked interesting, and was intrigued by recent postings about the Drake bows. It appears to be in decent condition but I'll know for sure when I get my hands on it. Amy info about the bow, brace height, date of manufacture, tips, etc. , would be appreciated. The number on the bow is 78xx, it has the Drake label, but no draw weight info. Supposed to be around 50#@28". I was interested in picking up a short hunting bow.

good looken Drake bow you'll love the way it shoots they are one of the best bd

Yup you should love this bow I have 3 of them now and can't get enough of them. Be careful with the tips they are tiny while stringing it up. You have the rarer ones the shorty is prized. If and when she needs to leave dial me up in a PM.LOL

Looks to be in excelent shape as well too.

Wow...that is a lot nicer than Frisky's "holy grail" bow. LOL

LOL The Holy Grail bow was my inspiration to buy this...... Don't tell Frisky though!!!

your bow may have been manufactured around 1964-1966-ish just after Harry sold out to Fasco bd

You wont regret it. I have several and they shoot like rockets. The time line from Bowdoc is correct. The early ones sported the Carribean blue glass often.. I have a few with red, olive green, burnt orange, and brown glass. Harry Drake had his S*&t together.

Ed Holcum's replicas are no slouches either.

This bow looks to be an early version (no thumb rest or palm rest). Probably made in the late 1950's.

Mart Mathew did a major share of the work at Drake' shop. I'm pleased that the traditional archery crowd is finally discovering the greatness of Drake and his bows.

It's an interesting and beautiful bow. It's not nearly as cool as my Holy Grail though, regardless of what any senile old men say. Anyway, I have number 7749. If serial numbers ran consecutively, mine is older than yours, but yours lacks the pistol grip that Skookum says came later. Yours also should have the poundage written on it. I'm suspecting a refinish of a 50s Hunter-Flite? Maybe not. Maybe they just didn't put the poundage on that one. Skookum says they were made of African Crapwood and yours should shoot crappy, being a 54" flight bow. Of course, Skookum is old now and can't see well enough to know bow wood or hit the broad side of a bull's butt with a scoop shovel.

Joe

Unless you string it like the old men do, you'll need to get a Bateman stringer. You can find one for under $12 shipped and they fit those tiny tips perfectly.

Skookum says to brace at 6.5". The bow will be noisy at that height. Put it at 7 and 1/8th inch and you'll be fine. When I'm done developing my new silencing system, you'll be able to brave it low and have it whisper quiet.

My 45 pounder likes a 500 spine carbon. You'll find your bow to be fast. I've been shooting 10 to 12 grains per pound of pull and it's still fast. However, as smooth as they feel on the shot, I tend to get fliers. That tells me I have to work on my release. The increased string angle puts more pressure on your fingers. It feels almost identical to shooting my 60" Deathmaster, but the longer bow gives me a perfect release, shot after shot without fliers.

Joe

Thanks for the info.....I'm anxious to give it a try. I unfortunately have to heas off to Asia for a week and will have to wait till I get back. I also suspect a refinish for the same reason in addition to it looking to be in perfect shape but the person I bought it off of said that it didn't look like it was refinished. It has the original Drake round sticker on it as well as some very mild stress lines in the finish. I draw 26' so I am hoping that finger pinch will not be too much of an issue. I normally shoot a 58-60" bow.Frisky,On being a flight bow.... I only need it to shoot less crappy than I do.

Typo above. I meant "brace" it low.

At 26", you probably will get a good release. I draw 28". That darker wood toward the fadeouts looks like Brazilian rosewood to me.

Joe

I left a message for Mike he has just about all of Harry Drake's paper work from before the days Harry sold out to Fasco He purchased all the paper work order forms and letters to suppliers about 10 years ago off ebay it was a storage unit clean out after Harry's passing.He may have more info on the date of manufacture the serial numbers don't help to much as Harry repeted them a couple times bd

I found some more Drake's to feast on bd

and then bd

all different I'am not sure Drake Archery ever made 2 bows alike bd

Frisky, I resemble that remark. 8^)

LOL! George, you have to admit the Drake kicking off this thread is lacking the birdseye maple wedge and turquoise glass that make mine the Holy Grail of bows.

Joe

Geez Rick, those are beautiful!

here is another good looking 1956-1958 ish Drake bow bd

bowdoc- those are all beauties! We need to get some of that Drake info here on the forum. Hope you can get us results.

Joe

Little Delta- When you get the bow, we can induct you into the Holy Grail Bow Shooters club.

Joe

did drake also become the bower for Browning in the early 70's ???

Bowdoc- What's the wood in that very black bow, center of your first picture? Never seen one quite like it...

...and congrats, Little Delta, that's a beauty! Much nicer lines, and more tastefully restrained, than a certain Hunter-Flite we've all gotten tired of looking at, LOL!

--Little Delta- When you get the bow, we can induct you into the Holy Grail Bow Shooters club. Joe--

I just bought it and haven't gotten my hands on it yet. I'm off on a business trip to China for a week and it should be waiting for me......Can't wait to shoot it!!!

"Much nicer lines, and more tastefully restrained, than a certain Hunter-Flite we've all gotten tired of looking at, LOL!"

I'm deeply hurt by that statement. The real Holy Grail bow has contrast and character. This one looks more like a short Deathmaster.

joe

Finally got a chance to shoot the Drake. Braced it at 7 1/8" per Friskys advice and mounted a feather rest. While it's a little on the heavy side for mr at 55#@28", it's exceptionally accurate and fast. I was surprised how well I shot with it. I don't usually shoot short bows but this 55" feels pretty good with no stacking or finger pinch. Put my first six arrows into a softball sized group at 20 yards. For my 26.5" draw I used 27.5" cedars spined at 60# with 125gr blunts. Doesn't appear to have been refinished. It's in great shape. Harry sure knew how to design a bow!

Well, Doc, I've got about that many more waiting for a makeover....whenever you're ready! My phone still works. You know the number.

Well, Doc, I've got about that many more waiting for a makeover....whenever you're ready! My phone still works. You know the number.

If it's a bit noisy, go up to 7.5". I'm just under that and have a quiet bow.

Joe

Joe, it's actually a very quiet bow, i'll play with the brace height though. Thanks.

I know this one was made prior to 1963.

Jaz, Nice bow. Does your bow have a draw weight written on it. Mine looks like it's in original finish, but doesn't have a weight on it which raises a question about this. It does have the Drske sticker which appears unmolested, Arr

Mine has the following written in pencil on the handle where a wrap would cover it: 50@31 5'-10" x10

If I is like mine it just has a stamp number above the riser on the right side. Mine didn't have a draw weight written on it.

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