New to me, West Bow.

Got this bow in the mail today, on a trade. I don't know anything about West Bows, and a search told me this bow has been traded a few times. So now it is my turn, not much info on this bow, any and all info would be appreciated. What I know so far, bow is light in hand, grip is flat, and arrow seems very close to the hand. The string is thin, and twangy, I put on some yarn puffs to mellow it out. String is thin, knocks are a little loose. But I had to shoot it a few times, before twisting up a new flemish string for it. Arrow fletching caught my hand a few times while shooting. I never had this happen before. Why? Knock slipping? Arrow to close to hand and an elevated rest needed? I hope to continue shooting off the shelf, I will know once I put on a new, thicker string.

Pete, usually a softer spine arrow, or raise nocking point, or as a last resort, build up a bump pad on the shelf.

It looks like the grip and shelf design would put the arrow right on top of your hand. Use an elevated rest or build up the shelf with something under a rug type rest. MP

It has decent looking lines. Should shoot just fine. Let us know.

That bow was made by Wesley Ratcliffe in Houston, back in the early 60's. His bows tend to be well-made and very fast. I bet you'll like it.

Thanks crookedstix, anything to the Bob Lee involvement rumor of these bows?

Brace height looks to be about an inch too high.... albeit... this coming from a longbow guy.

I was wondering about that also. Maybe not quite an inch, but could be lower. I am making a string tonight, and work on finding the sweet spot tomorrow.

As a recurve man, it looks good to me....going by the way it lays on the recurve.

I tend to look between the throat of the grip and the string and not allow more than it needs. I feel I could shoot that bow lower and benefit all of us.

It does look like a lot in the photo, but it was at 8" which is the norm I think on some of these older, shorter bows.

I have two Westbow's. One of the faster recurves I have and very steady in the hand.

I think there is some sort of connection with Wing when you look at the hooks and the tips, if nothing more than adopting the same design style.

My 56" Jupiter Hunter (same as yours) is 7" to the belly side of the sight window and 7.5" to the throat of the grip.

My 60" Special Hunter is 7.25" to the sight window and close to 8" to the throat.

So the brace on yours at 8" is close.

The brace tends to look higher than it is on them, likely due to those big hooks.

Here's a picture of mine..

Are the tips on yours like this Pete?

Numbering system was consistent...every one I have seen ended with F.

Wish I knew more about the bowyer. Apparently he was just around the corner from Bob Lee in Houston.

Here's my Westbow...

And here's a White Wing...just a tad similar eh?

Peter, it has a tiny, pointy tip. It only says "Hunter" does not say Jupiter.

Here it is compared to my 56" Browning Wasp. Westbow light with large hooks, Browning dark. It's going to be a great shootout! Westbow 45#, Browning 46#.

Identical to the tips on my Special Hunter.

New string at 7 3/4" brace height. 407 gr. arrow, at my 27" draw length, bow should be pulling 42#. Bow feels light to the draw, I will put it on scale later. If bow is indeed drawing 42#@28" that makes it 9.7 gpi per # of draw wt. Perfect. Sends the arrow 160 fps. I'm hitting at least 8" high. Going to take a few days to reprogram my brain.

I hit high with mine as well first couple of shots.

They're pretty quick!

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