Running my thread about Cocobolo around yet again got me thinking about the rosewoods one of the nicest being the Brazilian variety...Brazilian Rosewood does not always have the most grain character but it has a richness about it that draws you to it...when I went to take this picture I was thinking I had 4 bows, my 1960 Kodiaks...a little further thought reminded me I better include my 1962 Kodiak Magnum and my 1963 Kodiak Special...so pull out your Brazilian Rosewood and let's show some of the new folks what it looks like

DDave

Fedora 560 with funky accents.

Here's a fairly early use of Brazilian Rosewood as the main wood in a riser, a 1960 FASCO Phantom Pistol Grip. Just completed a re-finish. Nice shooter, too.

How about some pics of the '63 Kodiak Special??..

My 1965 Herters Match Hunter....

1962 Kodiak Magnum

1959 Kodiak. I am a sucker for interesting grain in the same piece of wood.

Same bow,same piece of wood, above the shelf.

Lots of bows with Brazilian Rosewood in the More Monterrey thread.

Here is one of my favorites, the Jack Howard Gamemaster Jet. Photo courtesy of my friend, DF.

And, used to own the middle bow. Notice it only has 2 white stripes in the handle, something that is very rare in these bows.

more

last one

Here is another of mine, Browning Appollo.

1963 Howatt Hunter.

My '62 Kodiaks...

Not my bow, but I wish it was

What would you say these woods are?

Like those Pete George bows; He made a great bow

Some of those Jack Howard game master jets are out of this world beautiful

my brother has 4 of them

The really neat thing about Brazilion rosewood is the fact that it doesn't oxidize like Cocobola and lots of other exotics.

My stepson's Pearson Mustang; cost $70 new in 1967. Show me a prettier production riser ever made at that price... and I'll buy you a beer.

Whoops, here's a better picture...

here is some rosewood models I've been getting ready for some new finish bd

and bd

and

and then and the bd

and how many rosewood models did you wantta see Dave ??????? bd

Wow Bowdoc now that's some Rosewood. Here is my 64 Hunter..

and bd

and bd

this one could be East Indian rosewood bd

and then bd

1962 62" Wing Custon white fiberglass with brazilian roserwood it has some new finish over it bd

and then and then bd

Wow pretty bows, I haven't figured out how to whistle on here yet. JF

wow now that is one good looker Hunter Bob bd

63 Howatt Catalina.

1963 Diablo

You know I was kind of expecting a half hearted response to this thread...well thank you all for proving me wrong...those of us who appreciate nice Rosewood apparently love to show it off...one thing I never even considered is your huge response bowdoc...so good to have you back...I have often said you have forgotten more about old bows, particularly Bears, than most of use will ever know so the answer to your question is go ahead and post until you get tired of it...so here, well into the game, is the picture I intended to post first...I guess I now need to separate out those bows and post individual pictures eh

DDave

1965 Safari II with both heartwood and sapwood of Brazilian rosewood in a one-piece riser...Jack Bice and those Gordon boys knew what they were doing!

And here's a 1966 Safari 1 with the same thing going on...

Here is just a teaser of my Kodiak Magnum showing that a matte finish can really make that Brazilian pop

DDave

I call these two The Twins...consecutive serial numbered 1960 Kodiaks

DDave

Does it get any better than Brazilian Rosewood with Zebrawood and purple heart accents...I have said it many times...the bowyer who made this one was having a very good day

DDave

A Palomino that galloped briefly through my life...

A nice old Pearson Mercury Hunter I probably should've hung on to...

Never regret sending a great bow to a great new home...Rosewood bow people are truly a family and the strength of any family is based on the ability share

DDave

'64 Diablo

Other side

Exactly right, Dave-- I've moved a few board-feet of rosewood on to some other LW guys, but you can bet I took pictures of all of those bows to help me remember. Just looked on my computer and realized there's about 20 more I could post... but so could lots of other guys; once you start down that rosewood road, one is never enough.

I will say, however, that the old Howatts rate highest of all with me for the use of rosewood. I know some guys like a big solid chunk of it for a riser, but for long-term stability combined with beauty, it's hard to beat those laid-up risers-- either the 3 rosewood strips by themselves like the Hunters and Hi-Speeds, or the ones with maple accents between the rosewood strips, like the Monterey.

Some beautiful bows, good to know others are afflicted with the same desire i have for these finely crafted tools.

Kerry - sure, those multi-lam risers are very nice, but Howatt knew just what to do with a "big solid chunk" as well!

Here's another example of the "big solid chunk" approach. Maybe not quite as elegant as the Del Rey ...

The SABO looks like it was carved out of a single 4x12x36 piece - about 12bf of the stuff, more than half ended up on the shop floor.

Where most Browning's made in the 60's rosewood?

That is a big bow.

Here is one of my Hunters.

Ha, that's why I posted early Dave-- I knew your personal rain forest of rosewood would be showing up soon! That Sabo is just sick, sick, sick... love it!

Howatt Vigilante

Thanks folks for making this a thread to remember...and I have a feeling me may just be getting started...I will check in tomorrow

DDave

lonfitz - here's an early Browning, I thin a Challenger model (half the decal is missing). Looks like another big chunk of Brazilian Rosewood to me. This monster weighs in a just over 4 pounds.

my delray, alotta rosewood:-)

that's del rey..:-)

holybeegeeszus Dave lookey here what you went and done now....Rosewood popping out of the wood work man oh man there are some beautiful bows showing up bd

Don't take tem out of the country unless you can meet the requirements of transport on the CITES listing. Otherwise they WILL be confiscated.

Best wishes.

let me see where was I.......oh yeah I remember now rosewooden bd

and then the mighty 1962 Kodiak bd

and

trimmed with rosewood bd

and then

the other mighty 1962 Kodiak bd

and what would a rosewood display be without a little rosewood something by Bob Lee.I really do love the looks of the P-2 and once this one has new finish it won't look the same.I always always sand all rosewoods but more so brazilian rosewood just before spraying to get that rich dark color to pop bd

1964 White Wing.

I could look at 1959 Kodiaks all day long the good the bad and the ugly bd

and bd

and bd

bd

and then bd

The special to go with the 1959 Kodiak beautiful rosewood in the specials as well bd

and then bd

and then bd

and then and then bd

and then and then bd

ok so the tips ? how in the heck did that happen ? they ai'nt rosewood but they should be replaced on older bows built before 1959 - 1960 ish some manufactures used paper micarta actualy up until the mid to late 1960's by some...the paper micarta did not last long as an endless loop string could saw the tips overlays right off by the sawing action caused during shooting bd

Pair of 62's Hunter and Monty

62 Catalina

good griff did DH have it going on back in the day or what ? those laminated riser are some of the best of the best bd

in somewhere around 14 to 21 days and somewhere around as many as 14 and as few as maybe 7 hand polished coats of clear finish I'll repost some pics of the 1959 Kodiak Special plus the Wing P-2 and you won't believe they are the same bows bd

Bowdoc you the man, I'm with you show those risers when they are in all there glory. Bob W.

yeah Bob the doctor cut me loss to go back to work part time but Mrs.Bowdoc has other thoughts maybe a little overtime like 12 hours a day 7 days a week bd

I love bow peep shows!!! DJ

Good to hear that Bowdoc. Bless you and Mrs Bowdoc.

'64 Hunter

'73 Super Diablo

'62 Kodiak

'66 Tamerlane. Yes that picture is from 1971 but I still own it.

Lastly my Monterey.

Reddogge That Monterey is something else. Nice!

Here's a couple of a Ben Pearson Golden Knight around 1965 Model. Randy

holy smokes guys they just keep getting better and better each time I come back to this thread.....here is one I was kind of hopeing Hatfield may be able to help me out with here is all the info I have and man oh man what a gem this thing is a beauty bd

Other side.

and bd

and then bd

and then and then bd

and bd

and then bd

and then and then bd

and then and then and then bd

and bd

then bd

1967 Safari II

Early '60s Howatt Monterey

Super Diablo trifecta

Count me in. 59 Kodiak, 62 KMag and 59/60ish Red Wing.

My beloved 1968 Bill Pyle Staghorn XP60 in Rosewood. Its a big chunk of rosewood but Brazilian ??? Not sure since it was born in 68. I will toss it in anyway. What do you think?

I do believe these are rosewood.

god please help me stop looking at this thread I'll swear off the rosewood for at least 30 days clean bd

Not so fast, bd ... you've gotten everyone ramped up here. I'll add a few more.

Here's a FASCO 500, just out of the spa.

... and a FASCO 225 ...

Scopus Telum (Jean Louthan)

And a Brazilian Rosewood Smithwick Citation Mark III.

And a Staghorn T65.

York Imperial.

And now I'm taking a dinner break. This is exhausting and kind of mind-numbing.

I keep coming back and there is more, everyone as beautiful as the next!

1958 Howatt Diablo

Sorry I meant 59.

yikes I knew it I just knew it no help in sight there never is.....hey Bob that 1959 DH is a beauty and I mean a real gem right there outstanding looking and outstanding shooters both and yes yes its true I even like the green blue green green blue whatever color glass on those.What is the draw weight on yours if you do not mind me asking ? thanks bd DR wow that Smithwick is over the top dude that is an outstanding looking bow and whats really weird about Smitty's is they shot as good as they look ..... and maybe even shoot just a tiny bit better then they look.Smithwick's were some real sweet shooting bows from the 1950's and 1960's and yours is a real sweetie bd

Sure Bowdoc, it is 55#. And it is a fine shooter.

PII '65

Is there room here for a nice, clean Ventura? Another unlaminated riser, just a big chunk of wood.

last one for tonight - 75" Herter's Perfection Sitka in ... Brazilian Rosewood. Another really, really big solid chunk of wood in the riser.

Buzz - your P II is a fantastic.

Bowdoc - can you dredge up a few more for us?

Here's a Sabo Hunter and a early SKB 50. Not 100% sure if the Sabo is Brazillian though.Pitty about the inserts though. OSR

Osr - nice Sabo. Can someone do a Sabo thread? I would like to see more of them and learn something about the bows and bowyer. I mean in addition to the weird metal shoot-through bows.

A knife edge Rosewood Hunter is on my hit list! If anyone has one that needs a good home you know where to find me! DJ

Here is a 62 K Mag that I picked up at a shoot a few year ago for a good deal. I can't get over how it is in like new condition. DJ

The above pic didn't turn out as good as I hoped. Here is another. DJ

One more of my 62. DJ

Saved the best for last. If anyone can tell me what year this Del Rey was made I would appreciate it.

I apologize for the poor picture quality, it is not that dark. Lets see if this one is any better. DJ

One last pic of the Del Rey showing the only inscriptions on the bow. DJ

wow that Del Reyis one good looken bow bd

Thanks BD! It belonged to my mother, when she passed away I gave it to my sister who later gave it to my wife! Now the sexiest bow I've ever held is now under my roof! I feel fortunate! Pleasure to meet you Bowdoc! DJ

hey DJ one thing for sure about the old Howatts is that Del Rey will shoot with any bow on the market today and is a pleasure to shoot bd

DJ, looks like the slimmer riser Del Rey after 72. In the picture, bottom is 70 Del Rey, 71 Vigilante and 72 Del Rey. Brazilian in all but the 72 Delly, it is east indies rosewood. Kenny

back side

couple of others with Brazilian rosewood, Colt, Bear, Root, Howatt Kenny

Opposite Kenny

One more, early Diablo Kenny

I guess it looks so smooth and glossy on account of the waxing!

all are Brownings... I have Three green glass Explorers...a Safari...a Cobra...and nephew is shooting my Wasp.

In regards to the Howatt's I shot at the Washington State Bowhunter's Rendezvous and had a compound shooter shooting the Mathew's Helium BACKING UP! LOL I loved it! Shooting my Howatt Hunter! DJ

here is a 1962 Kodiak rosewood with two coats of finish...it'll need about 10-12 more to bring out the real beauty bd

lonfitz: The '63 Browning introductory catalog lists, East Indian, and Brazilian Rosewood and also Benge (which I think is Wenge. The '73 catalog lists East Indian Rosewood as well as Bubinga and Zebrawood. There should be some nice photos out there for some Fedora bows. Mike had a bunch of it and made some strikingly beautiful bows with it. Here is a nice P-II that I refinished with some interesting laminations of rosewood.

BD that's what I'm talking about!

I can't handle these are the last I'll make.

Moist cough and contact rash even with respirator!

Mike Roth 59 Thunderbolt. Bolivian Rosewood and Paduak.Great thread!

good looken bow Matty your choice of background is outstanding. This is the 2nd coat of finish on the 1962 brazilian rosewood bd

and Rays whatever it is brazilian rosewood gem of a recurve bd

and the 1959 Kodiak Special trimmed in rosewood both beautiful bows bd

this is the 3rd trip thru the paint hanger for these gems and that M*&^%$#)(@*@!$ en rosewood got more pours then an 80 year old wome well never mind its got a lot of em to fill if you want you job to come out sweet ya gotta take your time bd

that special is starting to fill in a little but the rose on this p-2 is a pain in the neck wet sanded and sprayed 3 times already bd

on the p-2 the black micarta looks great bd

oh yeah that big laminated rosewood is looken better every day bd

and then bd

and then bd

Well Don you gave me the motivation to post some more pics of my Kodiak Deluxe...that Brazilian Rosewood makes some very nice butcher block...I think Fred knew it was not going to be available forever so he figured out a way to make the most of what he had

DDave

Don I have to thank you for giving me the confidence to shoot this Kodiak Deluxe...certainly one of my all time favourite shooters

DDave

I could post pictures of that bow all day long but I think you get the idea...I think the copper coin was the nicest one Bear used

DDave

Camodave, possibly the best looking bear riser I've ever seen! Thanks for sharing. DJ

Dave (lets use everything Fred thought) Wade and I were on the phone compairing notes on 1959 and 1960 Kodiaks it was very rare to find one that the upper piece of the sight window matched the lower piece.Meaning some maybe not all of them but a good number of 59 & 60's were glued together pieces of brazilian rosewood pretty cool huh ? I believe Wade had 11 or 12 bows that the upper piece did not match the lower bd

In general the glue is considered to be the strongest part of any lamination...the fact is those I beam bows are structurally very strong according to any engineer I have ever showed them to...adding any sort of lamination within that lamination can only make it stronger...I am not sure there is any downside to that way Fred wanted his bows built in those times...and when you look at the execution of the complex riser on my KD you know he had some people working for him who had a passion for building great bows...Don glad to hear you are talking to Wade...individually your knowledge of Bear Archery is totally amazing, together it is far beyond amazing

DDave

Seems like this beautiful thread is slowing down, so here's an attempt to rejuvenate it - a 1964 Black Widow with some tasty Rosewood in the handle.

wow now thats some rosewood bd

and here is one of the I don't like about rosewood.With temps in the 90's last week you can see what temps over 100 degrees(in my shop)causes the rosewood to do ? it is expanding and shrinking a little no matter how long the tree has been dead then the heat and the reducer I use booya this is what you get one hell of a lot of wet sanding bd

man that sucks oh well I gotta shut down now anywho to go to a wedding so's as Arnie would say ........... I'll be back bd

Sucks for you BD, here are my Howatts, Diablo, Hunters and Catalinas

Bob that is a whole lotta good looken right there bd

rosie with a little more make-up on far far from being finished it is really sucking up the finish filling all the pours.Dave when that bow of Rays is all finished you will be able to see why I do not like wood fillers they tend to fade and or sometimes discolor getting kind of a milky white-ish which you can see thru the new clear coat.It cooled done out here today from 95 yesterday to a nice 70 today and man oh man its a good day for spraying bows yeahaaaaaaaaa bd

...bd

...bd

I believe that those Kodiak Specials are some of the most beautiful bows ever built.They just have such nice clean lines...hell I think any rosewood bow are some of the most beautiful bows ever built from bowyers using a few tiny slivers of rose to the massive target models weighing in in the pounds of rosewood.That 1959 KS of Toms is a 66" model with a big whoooping 61# draw weight bd

...bd

I could'nt agree more BD those Kodiak specials are truly works of art. On my list of wants, thanks for sharing. Bob W.

Not sure if this is the wood you guys are talking about, but this Bow has quickly become my favorite looking bow I own.

Chek-Mate Kings Pawn 28# @ 28"

tried to catch the 1959 KS in the sun light this AM not finished yet but she's getten there bd

and more sun bd

that Brazilian rosewood is beautiful but the African rosewood is not to shabby looking eather.The bottom pic really shows off its rich tones bd

Browning Medallion 64" 44#

another of the Browning Medallion

Browning Apollo 66" 39#

Browning Apollo

One thing we all know is that as great as these bows look in the pictures they will always look better in hand...I will forever be thankful to Joe St Charles for getting me started buying Bear bows from the 60's...I will no longer take a chance on buying bows with Brazilian Rosewood in them from south of the border so that really limits me...still I bought my first two Kodiaks right here in Alberta so there could be at least a couple more in my future

DDave

FW that Apollo is one sweet sweet looken piece of rosewood right there wow what a gem Oh yeah Dave Joe is a cool dude.You know Dave some years back someone and I do not recall who it was but maybe 5-7 years ago....that person scored a 1970 model Bear I believe it was an A riser take down in another country it came with some lighter weight limbs the black bear hide take down case.However the seller did know somewhat the value as they wanted around a grand maybe a bit more for the package.Ebay had been up a running for several years so that was where the seller got the value from.The buyer was still happy as a clam at hi-tide finding that one bd

Another old one - a 1961 (I think) Pearson Golden Emperor. One of the first of what would become the Golden Sovereign line. Just got it cleaned up and shooting.

Unusual (to me) layup of the riser. It has six Rosewood planks of various thicknesses between thin Holly veneers, and the whole thing is asymmetrical - I'm used to seeing boards the same thickness and centered L-R.

wow David that Emperor is a gemster looks like the finish is still in good condition ????? bd

ya gotta love em ya just gotta........Even with the extra work that goes into putting top quality finish on rosewood its well worth it I believe.As you can easly see the P-2 still has a lot of wet sanding and spraying to go before its finished up and ready for another 50 years of service bd

BD, the Emperor looks like the day it came out of the factory, except for a very slight yellowing of the original clearcoat on the limbs. A lucky find, for sure.

Here is its sibling, same year I think - a Golden Regent. It is in even better shape than the Emperor. Limbs white as snow. Also Rosewood with Holly accents on the riser.

For sake of completeness, here is the Golden Monarch. These three bows were (I think) the foundation for the whole Golden Sovereign series of bows. The Monarch's finish, while original, is not as nice as the other two.

Well folks we just hit the 200 post mark on a thread I thought might not get a whole lot of response...and I have a feeling we are not done yet...thanks for all who have contributed to the bank of knowledge the will be a reference point for years to come

DDave

and then bd

and bd

and bd

......bd

dang it bd

Thanks for the updates Bowdoc that is one sweet finish you have got going on there. Bob W.

Very nice.

Gonna run this one back up to the top again

DDave

Just started working on a Barr Apache. Nice Rosewood in the handle, set off by what looks like Holly and Maple in thin lams. As I look closely at the riser I am amazed at how much work went into piecing it together.

The Apache has some cool inlay work. Lots of time here!