Hey guys, im just getting into archery and have bought a couple old bows. They are addicting to start collecting. I assume they have a shelf life regardless? Will they all break eventually if shot enough?

I too have started collecting a few years ago. I've love shooting my different bows. I have seen guys on here occasionally have them break, but also many have collected many a game animal with them as well. Last year I killed a 154" 10 point with a 1959 bear grizzly. And I've seen guys with older bows than that still flingin' arrows with em. My goal is to kill a deer with each of my old bows. I feel they were meant to be shot, so that is what I do. Shoot em!!!

Some of them will break eventually as will some bows that are being made today

DDave

They are no more vulnerable than bows made today. Folks ask this question all the time and the answer is still the same. Bows were meant to be used, with arrows shot out of them. To put them on the wall and never use them is a travesty in my mind, but lots of folks do it.

At any rate, they break at about the same rate as newer ones. Shoot the dang things, that's about all I use.

I own one bow that is not older than me (44 years). As said already, any bow can break, but if treated with very minimal care they will hold up as well as any! I happen to enjoy the older bows for their history, affordability, beauty and performance. If I were concerned with a couple fps of extra speed or having the latest and "greatest", I would buy a compound. That said, it is also nice to see that the people making modern stickbows are able to continue the tradition. Soooo many good ones, old and new!

I have 1959 Bear that I shoot regularly. Bows were meant to be shot so shoot 'em and enjoy 'em.

I'd wager I've shot one of my 1964 Kodiaks 50,000 times. The thing still looks perfect and performs almost as well as any bow built today.

Use a stringer. Keep them out of the heat. Don't drop them on a concrete floor. :)

Keep them out of the sun, especially if they have black limbs!

Im definitely going to shoot them. I was starting to buy some Wing Presentation models and they go for a little bit more. Then I thought that may be a bad idea to invest in since they will eventually break.

The time to buy a Wing Presentation II is when you have an opportunity. I'll take the chance on breaking a limb, but it's doubtful you will unless there is already a problem with them.

Tecumseh , when you said you were getting into old bows, I thought you were talking about 200 -250 year old bows. A different Tecumseh, I guess.

There are lots of great vintage bows out there and I love shooting them . I have a 1959 Gordon Plastics bow, e.g. that has gorgeous long fiberglass limb faces and multiple fancy wood laminations in the riser that are in better condition that many brand new bows.

Yup all but a few of these Get braced and shot a bit every Year !!!

I have a dozen late 50's and early 60's Howatts that I string up regularly, but I do most of my shooting through my 62# Black Widow and my new to me 1974 58# Super Diablo. Shoot them if you like or you can hold them and admire them like I love to do. Bob W.

I should have noted my newest bow is a 1975.

The craftsmanship on these old bows amazes me. I found a mint condition Wing Presentation and I can just sit and stare at it. Simply amazing. This is a great website, my question may have sounded crazy to you guys but I appreciate the quick replies.

Im 45 and use to shoot compounds when I was young, bought a Jordan Stalker recurve about 15 years back and that was my only recurve until ill sold it 8 years ago. Ive got the kids almost out of school so its time for me to get back into archery/hunting!

Ive acquired a Hoyt Pro Hunter, Red Wing Hunter, Wing Presentation, Wing Slime Line International and a Shakespeare Necedah in the last couple weeks. Ive got to stay off ebay and the classifieds before I go broke. Addicting!

Nice bows. You do have a problem thou you have to pace yourself. One bow a week works for me.

I've been shooting one almost every day for almost two years that was made in 1965 or thereabouts. I have a dozen of that age I circulate through and shoot one starting after deer season until the next season (or two).

Have only ever had one give out.

53" Kodiak.....Need I say more. John

1967 Wing Thunderbird.

The old Brownings hold up great, I have a sm collection and all are good shooters

That Wing Thunderbird is on my list George. They dont show up very often. Ive heard they may be the best one of the Wing bunch.

I only have one old bow, a 1971 Bear Kodiak Magnum. I bought it new in '71.

I shoot all of mine...they range from very early 50's to 1997...Mr.Stout said it all...made to be shot and a travesty not to.

Sound like you have the start of a nice collection.

I'm at my camp up north for vacation and brought seven from my bow walls...always hard to choose!

Shooting an early 60's West Bow Jupiter Hunter while roving today and after supper a 1966 Browning Explorer got the nod.

Yesterday I shot some paper with a 1958 Howatt Monterey then went roving with a Tri-state Jaguar made in 1959.

Tomorrow I'll grab my '67 Thunderbird and target shoot. You need to find one for sure...I am still looking for the right 52" model.

So I do like older bows...they were made when recurve design was evolving and exotic woods were on obtainable...they are bows with soul!

I'm with George and Pete. There is nothing nicer than to pull an old bow(s) off the rack and shoot. Today I shot my 1952, 52# Bear Cub, my 1967, 50# Bear Grizzly, my 1966, 50# Herters and my 60# Shakespere Cascade. Had a great time because I was shooting with my 13 year old grandson (shel1024 here on the wall) and helped him with his release. He's been shooting for 8 years already and developed a short draw problem so we are working thru it. He's shooting 35# Browning Cobra before he moves back up to a 40+ wt. Sounds like you have a good start. Rooty is right too, it's addictive searching for old bows. Have fun. Lance.

A few days ago I got my 1940's Par X out and shot about a dozen arrows through it. Would not want to shoot it all the time but cannot stand to see a bow hanging there and not be shot every once in a while.

I have three 57 Kodiaks that shoots as well as they did the the day they were made. I sm sure they will outlive me.

not sure of the year but, here is an older browning fury II I picked up last year. I had owned other older bows, mostly bears, in the past.

they're just like any bow, if it fits, it will shoot well for you.

agree with the above in that they are made to be shot. shoot'em and enjoy.

That's most of what I buy & sell.....had three vintage classic recurves returned in 10 days... A customer dry-fired a Root Brush Master and the tip broke off and split 5" down limb.....custom 70" semi recurve just exploded:( and a sweet D/H Hunter 56#@28 with a crack appearing in mid riser only noticeable when strung.... On the up-side, I sold an old Javalina for $160.00 :)....48#@28....almost .... Kept that one.

The view from my camp...

And looking up on the rafters...

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