What's your fav vintage bow? Used bows from before 2005.

I enjoy shooting my 1955 Ben Pearson #304 T/D longbow and my 1972 Browning Cobra 1.

Any Browning that doesn't have bushings.

75 Super K, 56 Kodiak, Kramer-built Hill Tembo

Ben Pearson Lord Mercury 1970's vintage

Omg, before. 2005 is vintage? I could list an aweful lot of favorites!

1957 Kodiak for recurve Late 60's Shulz made Howard Hill Tembo

My 1970 Carroll's.

Root Game Master, Of course

Hyak (Fred Anderson), Autumn bamboo (Ted Kramer). P.S. Frisky, we already know!

1958 Ben Pearson Bushmaster takedown.....smooth as silk

F.H.Ayres English long bow (circa 1910) ... is that vintage enough :) :)

Ben Pearson Mercury Marauder, Bighorn takedown and bear takedown in no certain order.

By Gosh son I thought my 1998 was modern. I do like a 72 kodiak hunter.

It really is impossible for me to say what one. To many that I love and are great bows either ones I had and sold or still have. It's not fair for me to name any above each other because I have a number of them.I have this bow not many have ever seen other than in a catlog.LOL

I had it redone and its way over the top now. Kodiak Hunter Zebra 58" 38 @ 28. Little more than that with my draw.

What rooty said

Pearson Mercury Marauder Td, Wing Thunderbird and Bear Mag td's

Either a '62 Kodiak or a Tice and Watts Spartan Hunter.

too hard for me to say just one - 62 Kodiak, 70 wood A, 63 Howatt Diablo, 63 Howatt Hunter

OR...

the holy grail with torquise lams :)

Browning nomad and nomad stalker

West Bow Jupiter 66" 45@28

A Bear TD if just one...

Favorite of current stable is 1966 BP Mustang. The fave that I let go was a 1962 Bear Polar.

1962 rosewood Ben Pearson Palomino,absolutely beautiful bow to shoot and not to bad looking either.

Jack Howard made some really nice bows.

Indian Archery Bighorn,there I said it and I am not ashamed! (Mainly because I picked it up at a swap and shop for $10.00). Bill.

1967 Bear Grizzly 45#@28"

Shakespeare Necedah/Root Bushmaster

#2 -1968 Bear Kodiak Hunter

My 1969 bear KH and grizzly.

1966 pearson hunter 709. I love that bow.

Groves Spitfire and Browning Cobra

I like this browning fury II of mine. I think it is a 1970. no bushings white falcon! :)

another pic

My 59 Kodiak

I had a '70 Super Kodiak and Kodiak Hunter at one time. really liked those too, especially the SK.

My '76 K-Mag. with a great northern Fred Bear bow quiver and my Autumn Orange 2016 XX75's.

Elkhuntr that's a really nice looking Browning.

1969 Kodiak magnum and 1971 52" red wing hunter.

The only one I have that is old enough is my early 90s Hatfield Hunter. It was my first Trad bow.

1970 Bear "Grizzly." Same year I was born.

My 67.5 Super Kodiak's.

1956 kodiak

Browning Explorer II. They are the Holy Grail of Brownings.

59 Grizzly , 62 Grizzly

My Groves and Browning Cobra

'66 Browning Explorer, green glass on back, brown glass on belly limbs, small tips....smooth as butter. 58# @28...with that furniture quality gloss. Only shot her a few times but she is pure sex!

keep em sharp,

Ron Herman

Enjoying my 60's Howatts as of late.

'68ish Necedah, '65 Grizzly.

-Joe

Any Groves

Swift Wing for indoor shooting. Great grip and smooth as silk.

Bear 76'r! It brings back my younger years, killed a dandy turkey with it last year!

Damon Howatt, Super Diablo

This is like asking which do I like better, my son or daughter.

If forced to choose it would be a Fred Bear Takedown. This green stripe is one but I really like the Bubinga better.

Armbruster Zebra longbow

At the moment, my American Archery Cheetah, circa 1958, 64", 43# @ 28" but about 48# at my DL which is ideal for me.

"56 kodiak,,,,,,,,,,"56 Root

first of all the newest stick I have is a 2005 dream catcher. All of the rest are MUCH OLDER! Here is a picture of a bow that used to belong to my mother. I gave it to my oldest sister and she gifted it to my wife. So it's not mine after all! LOL. Here it is. If anybody has an idea of when it was made that would be great. Don Jewett said it is an old Del Ray. Any other info would be great!

1962 Howatt Monterey, 1961 Ben Pearson Palomino

Another pic. 40# 69" Del Ray. Nice Shooter.

Here is one that actually belongs to me. If someone could put an approximate date on this I would appreciate it! Howatt Hunter 55# @ 28".

DJ,

Show us the serial numbers and photos of the risers so we can narrow down a date for you.

Dave

This 1965 Bear Tigercat is the only bow I have never, or will ever sell.

I'm with Drewster, it have to be my American Archery Cheetahs. Nice shooters and look great. Jeff F

My 70 ish Wing P11.

Kodiak Deluxe

DDave

Here is a pic of the ser # for the Hunter. The Del Ray only has 40# @ 28" 69" AMO nothing else anywhere.

I really enjoy shooting my little Browning Cobra I 50#/50". In spite of its shortness, it shoots amazingly well.

Bear green stripe TD........plus several other Bears!

Sorry for the poor attempt at the photo of Serial #'s. The Hunter has: HH8306. I had two guys that worked for Martin for a very long time say that the Hunter is fairly old. I'm guessing mid seventies?

DJ

Post a pic of the risers so we can get a better idea when it was made. Based on the photo you just posted I am guessing your Hunter is not from the 70's, the DH decal was normally right under the serial number and weight info. My 1995 Hunter has the same writing and DH decal position as yours but we really need to see a photo of the riser to nail down a date for you.

Dave

I'm not telling. But they are as scarce as hens teeth and no one has mentioned them in this thread yet! - John

I'm waiting to see what Tom Baldwin posts; he's been through just about all of 'em in 40 years of looking for the "best" recurve.

I've only been through six or seven dozen so far, and have kept just ten of them... and can't find a thing wrong with any of those ten keepers. If push came to shove, I guess the last one they would pry out of my fingers would be the 1962 Monterey.

Ok, here is another pic of the risers. Sorry for the multiple posts. If we don't get it this time I will just pack them down to Larry Hatfield and see what he says. Thanks again. DJ

Dang it! There's the pic.

DJ...you got a 98.

Wow not as old as I thought. Bob, you're speaking on the Hunter correct? Thanks for putting up with all the posts.

Don't own any now, but I liked Howatt Hunters and Diablos, Wing Thunderbirds, Bear Super Kodiaks, and a few Brownings.

Concur with Bob, the Hunter is a 98. The Del Rey is a little tougher, maybe Larry Hatfield can chime in and give us the year on that beauty.

1970 red stripe takedown Bear

An English Longbow carved from yew wood by master bowyer Don Adams in 1991 in the same design that these bows have been made for a thousand years.

My favorite vintage is right around 1967, plus or minus a couple of years either side. I like their quality, the woods and stains used, and the riser styles. My current favorite brands of that vintage are Wing and Bear.

my 2 current fav's I own are the 68 Grizzly and 60 Kodiak.

that's easy Herters cv 17, right up to when it blew up last yr, rest in piece my friend

I like the Red Wing Hunter. Had one and liked shooting it so much I built an updated version of it. This is a picture of the one I built.

Shakespeare Purist X-4 35# 66", Black WidowT-600 33# 69",Wing PresentationI 35# 69" I would like to change the law so I could marry the Presentation I,it is that Pretty. All of the above shoot better than most new bows I have tried.That said I have been shooting a Samick Phantom 35# 62" and am impressed at a mid price bow with sexy lines and solid performance.

4nolz, What is a 1970 Red Stripe Bear takedown?

1960'S Shakespeare x-22 Custer 45#

John Schulz Built Longbows

I like some mentioned, but have another to add. Elburg Mite

1968 Bear Kodiak Magnum.

Elkhunter,

Very good looking bow.

1973 Bear Kodiak Hunter

70's Howatt hunters and venturas(long risered hunter)and 69 T&W. All great shooters. Oh and lets not forget GM Jets.

73 Bear grizzly. I would rather sell a kidney!

1968 Monterey

Damn that Monty is nice!!

DJSHowatt, yes it is, and it still hunts and draws in bucks like a magnet.

Hatrick, now that 68 has some shizzle for rizzle! Wow did I just type that? :)

Have a good one

1966 62" Browning Explorer.

Though right now I'm shooting a 58" Shakspeare Necedah and liking it a whole lot as well.

Timberline longbows made by Pete George

My '61, 43# bubinga risered Kodiak is super smooth and really fits my style. I shoot Easton Trads .600's and pull 26 inches. Like the '61 Kodiak better than any of my other '59 to '62 Bears, even the '62 Kodiak, which is really good looking. Second favorite would be my '62 Kodiak Special. I can shoot it all day, everyday, and twice on Sunday (after church).

Used to collect golf clubs and traded with several club makers when I worked as a traveling turfgrass consultant in the Southeast for the USGA, and later Golden Bear, and its funny how two sets of clubs, or two putters that are the same model and year made in the fifties's and early sixties can be so different in feel and how they set up.Had jack Wulkotte, Jack's club shaper with MacGregor make me two persimmon drivers in the mid eighties and took the best of the two based on how they felt. The same with my Bear Kodiaks and K. Specials, cause they were made by hand even thpugh they ere production bows. The '61 and '62 should shoot very similar, but I like the '61 spits out an arrow better than the '62. I also like my '59K. Special better than my '60 K Special, both of which are 45# and 64-inches. Got the '60 K. Special 'cause I liked the larger round grip than the straight low wrist grip of the '59, but the '59 shoots as smooth as butter. I use he '59 a lot for 3D.

My fastest is a 52-inch, 45# Head Red Wing Hunter. Great bow.

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