I have owned a number of different vintage bows over the years. I always find myself very impressed with Ben Pearson bows. They are noticeably smoother and quiet. The speed varies between the different models but overall a very pleasant bow to shoot. I feel like they don't get the credit they deserve among the same bows of the time.

Agreed...lots of bows do not get the credit they deserve

DDave

I think some of that may be due to mediocre fit and finish work later on. I that may be where BP cut some cost, so that they could offer good equipment at lower prices than many of their competitors. Just speculation mind you. That said, I've also owned and seen many BPs with fairly nice finish work. Just seems to me that most were earlier ones. Many of the later models were super performers, but just lacked the blingy finish and carefull contouring.

I think they made some spectacular bows around 1965... like this 60" version of the Mustang. It shoots like a dream, too.

Those 50's and 60's BP's were/are excellent bows. When BP went with Marblewood risers, they seem to be faster shooting, but I had some with very sloppy finishes. Bears weren't the only great bows back in the day. I've had the pleasure of owning and selling some of them. The new Bear retro bows are a home run.

I just picked up a Buckmaster it is 52"45@28. It is smooth stack free, fast and you can get away with not having silencers on the string it is so quiet. I am in the process of refinishing the bow as we speak. I plan on getting it in the woods when I am done with it.

Put the first coat of finish on it today. The woods is purplish and the center piece looks kinda like it was future wood that didn't take the resin. Did they have their own type of staining/future wood?

Wow Robert! You are getting good at the refinishing. That is lovely!

It's marblewood, Blake. They may have used dye on it before finishing. I know they used to dye wood to make it look black in some of their bows.

Great bows,always thought they were top of the line.

Thanks Aaron.The bow is in excellent condition the finish was just bad. I think it will come out nice. I was expecting a loud twang without the string having any kind of silencer on it but was surprised. It is gonna be a great ground bow.

Amen fellows your correct a lot of classics are like this too Rob. I have a few of them I like zebras.

blake -

Old news...

Viper out.

I know a lot of trad shooters who give Ben Pearson plenty of credit. I have a zebrawood Hunter that is a lovely bow.

Viper my mom picked me up a Raider too for fathers day a few years back for $40. It may be old news but it is good news when it far exceeds your expectations. I have repaired 2 for friends and have owned 3 others. The 5 different models I have had my hands on were better feeling then some of our other beloved bows of the time. I like that zebrawood Hunter too just haven't picked one up yet.

Viper, If I had to guess, I'd say that maybe six of the eight bows in your picture are from the George Birnie era at Pearson. Can you give models and dates on them?

I believe they were made in Pine Bluff Arkansas. Correct?

crookedstix -

Here you go, most are early 1970's vintage, and a few a little later. Don't recall the exact years for each, some were bought used. There used to be a few websites that had the dates of production.

blake the Raider is a hoot. I usually don't like bows that short, but there's something very cool about it. Just meant "old news", that a lot of us back then (and now) really liked the BP bows.

Viper out.

This is a Ben Pearson Cobra. It really is a good shooter and I have only seen one other one. Any more info on it would be appreciated.

The designs he developed between 1927- 1967 can be seen in other company bows. This is my 1966 Colt. That is why he was one of the first in Archer hall of fame.

Viper, Very nice collection of the best of the Ben Pearson recurves of that era..

The Raider is one I haven't seen..

The other day, Geo Stout put a post up of a bow on EBay that looks similar with the treatment of the riser to the Raider pictured..but I Beam riser and laminated wood not phenolic.. No nomenclature on it..

I thot it might be one designed by Birnie.. I won the bow and it's enroute as I type..

One of the first longbows I ever shot as a kid many years ago was a hickory longbow made by Ben Pearson archery.. I know more about care of hickory bows now than I did then..:)Jim

Man, some wicked looking BPs here!!! Stumper: Those Hunters are one of the best kept secrets in traditional archery! You can grab one for around $100 and have the perfect all around hunting bow. Short, stable, inexpensive and pretty. How can you go wrong????

Pearson Centurion target bow.

1972 Ambusher. 56@28 Only made em for two years. 48" AMO

I have some old Binghams plans for a "Bobcat" short recurve. Looks similar to the Raider pictured above.

Just purchased this Pearson Hunter> Along with a very cool Leather Quiver> And A Dozen Wood Arrows With brand new MA3L Broadheads. Shoots Excellent. Any idea of the year it was manufactured?

ANOTHER PICTURE

Scale of 1 to 10 9 1/2 to a 9

Based on available catalogs the 709 Hunter was made from 65 to 67. In 66 it had green glass, in 65 and 67 it had brown glass. Made with zebra.

In 68 and 69 it was called the 7090 Hunter and had black glass. The 7090 also had more of a palm swell grip.

My first bow bought new in 1963. A Ben Pearson Mustang with zebra wood I beam. 46#@28. Very smooth shooting bow that I still shoot almost daily.

Sailor, I think that might be a '64, based on the on-line catalogs for both '63 and '64 at the BP website. But it's a beauty; the Mustang was their top-end hunting bow in both '64 and '65, selling for around $70. Love that Z-wood I-beam in the sight window!

...Of course, that doesn't mean you couldn't have bought it in '63; catalog year and calendar year aren't always the same I realize. I'm interested in the specific dates mostly because I'm trying to figure out who was the first with the big forward triangles of wood in their risers. Here's what BP's 1964 catalog said about it...

Too each his own as far as bows go. I own 5 and not one stands head to head with BEAR or some of my other vintage bows. I've shot them all and none have that special magis. Magic defined by SUPER KODIAK, KODIAK, GRIZZLY. My Grovers Spitfire, WING chaparral , Super Necedah. Pearsons sit on the bench. Best one I've owned is a BP 709? I gave to my cousin as a gift. They never impressed me. I have tried to find a better VINTAGE bow then my SUPER KODIAK. it measures up on shooting to my BLACKTAIL. Not talking lipstick.

Thanks crookedsitx, I couldn't remember exactly when, its been a few years. I hunted with it while in highschool and I graduated in 1965 so I was thinking 1963 but it could have been 1964.

They're wonderful bows...I have quite a few...

One is a BP H-30...kind of an odd one in that it looked like a lot of other Pearsons but it seems they only made it one year and mine has a serial number that's unlike the others.

I have a couple of Javelina's...I'll post pics of one with outstanding wood..

Also a Mach 1, and couple of old Hunters and a Hawk. All of them are equal to other bows made at the time in their unique way.

dire wolf the Raider only ran for 2 years. Looking at it you wouldn't think it was a 60's era bow. It is real futuristic looking bow for the time. Another good shooter.

Acadian to each is own is correct although a nice bow I have never really been all that impressed with the SK or the Blacktail for that matter. I don't think their are very many prettier takedown bows then a Blacktail but, I think a Predator is a better bow IMO. We all feel different about different bows.

Another pic of the BP H-30

Here's the Javelina...beautiful wood and a tack driver!

Another Javelina pic...

Stepping out on a limb here but I own a '69 Super K...shot my first deer with it...beautiful bow..but most certainly not the fastest, smoothest or best balanced I've shot since I've had the chance to shoot many other bows.

I'd grab a BP 709 Hunter first any time to hunt....shoot paper with the Super K now.

My first recurve was a BP Cougar. 40#@28". It's the only bow I have that will never leave me.

I love that thing. I know For me, I would rather have a BP rig, and am always looking.

I still enjoy shooting my 1955 Ben Pearson #304 T/D longbow and my 1969 BP H52 recurve. I've always liked Pearson bows.

This is a good thread - we need more Pearson photos though!

I remember looking at the Bear bows in the store when I was a kid, and they were all short, hunting-weight bows. And, expensive (for a kid) The catalogs didn't offer much for beginners either, as I remember. There were the Patriots and others but I wanted a wooden bow. The salesman encouraged me to get a 64" 29# BP All-American and I still have it 40+ years later.

Heres a 1956 Pearson long bow i really like and yup the other things are pearson also ........... J.R.

My first laminated bow I shot was a Javalina 66" 40 lbs when I was 12 y/o. Seeing these pics of old BPs brings me right back to 1978! I remember it as SUPER SMOOTH (especially in comparison to the other bow I then shot, my friend's 52" Kodiak Magnum!)

Here's a pic of a Colt Hi-Power 56", 55# that I just refinished (see the 'Refinish Colt Hi-Power' thread for the full refinish-along). I was just told it was the same bow design as the Browning Explorer-1 and may also been the same as the Ben Pearson Cobra. I've also heard that Harry Drake may have designed this bow. So I have two questions:

1. Is this the same bow as the BP Cobra?

2. Did Harry Drake design this bow?

GREAT THREAD and THANKS! CR

Colt Hi-Power strung.

1. Is this the same bow as the BP Cobra?

2. Did Harry Drake design this bow?

GREAT THREAD and THANKS! CR

I love the old B.P's. Heres a couple of 50's models. Ben Pearson Safari front and Javelina in back. Even though there nearly 60 yrs old, they still shoot with the best of them.

Early '60s Palomino and Pinto.

I am always looking for a top of the line early Pearson in excellent condition. In my quest for the perfect early Pearson, I have acquired 5 bows of the same modal. I am still looking for the perfect early Pearson.

I have not named the modal as I do not want to influence the price. Each of the 5 bows has been more expensive than the one before.

My favorite Pearson is a hunting recurve which has a massive riser similar to risers found on target bows. The bows are almost indestructible.

Great looking bows.

Here is a pic of my BP-52.

I am looking for some 35-50# bows as well. Love my old beat up Cougar.

Thanks for the pics of the old Ben Pearson bows. I've always wanted a Pearson Renegade but no mention of that model.Are there any pics or opinions of that bow.I've bid on a few on ebay but haven't won. Usually go for alot and don't see alot for sale.Thanks jerseyman

No idea what year this BP Cougar is, as it's been refinished, and has no original stickers, but still shoots very well. Amazed at the quaility of the bow for a "entry level" Economy model recurve, Smooth drawing and hard hitting. It's the bow on the left, the other bow is a 1972 Darton Fury. Anyone have any idea what wood was used for the Cougar's riser? Beautifull!

Neat thread, here are two of the takedowns, a Silencer and a Signature

My Collection of Model 707 Colt's. 3 Righties and two lefties. I also have a model 960 colt (semi recurve as they called it), two Palomino's, Two Collegians.

I love Ben Pearson Bows.

Here's my Pearson collection. 2 renegades, a predator, a bph-90 and my favorite, a 709 hunter.

Just picked up a 48" Equalizer at a local show. Looking forward to maybe using it some this upcoming season.

My old faithful Ben Pearson Colt, 52#, 62" AMO. Nothing fancy, but a low cost, old hunting bow, looks better refurbished.

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