Could it be that there's a correlation between age and vintage bows? As I age I find myself looking less at new bows but find myself enjoying the graceful lines and styling of the bows from the past. The Classic looks of the old Bears, Gelco's, Indians, American Archery, Pearsons and others seem to capture my attention more and more all the time. It may just be me, and if it is, Im good with that , cause the old vintage bows are just plain fun and still get it done with Class and efficiency.

Wonder what that would say about me!

Out of over a dozen bows I only have two that are younger than I am.

They all look and shoot better than me also-

8^D

I think we do tend to gravitate to those things we grew up with. My formative years were during the 1960's when everything was factory made save for a very few custom makers. I would just as soon shoot those old familiar bows as buy a new bow that really doesn't do anything different anyway.

I may be the contrarian here. The older I get the more cutting edge I become.

Nostalgia. When I got my first Indian Laminated bow it was a cheaper one. My mom was poor n that's all she could afford. It came with a catalog so I spent every night just before bed looking at it n dreaming of owning a Deerslayer. When I got on ebay in the late 90's the first two bows I bought were 66 Indian Deerlayers. One brown glass and one black. The other in 68 was a phenolic Super Kodiak. I now have one of those. Nostalgia. Pride also drives us but not always to the past. In the late 70's the Shaffer Silvertip was to stickbows what the Hawkin was to rifles in the 1820's n 30's. So I got me a real to life Shaffer. I used to just sit n look at it. I thought to myself, ya know, ur a grown man. What the heck you doing staring at a bow. Then I just shugged and looked at it a while longer,lol.

I ain't old yet, just getting there, but do like and shoot rosewood recurves similar to what I saw when I first started shooting five and a half decades ago.

Seriously would like to look into getting a really nice modern ILF, and this past month have been studying them hard, but think this goal will probably get passed by due to its cost and where it fits on life's priority. At this time, those old rosewoods are doing everything I need.

At the end of the day, like right now, I'm not sure those rosewood bows have done anything for anybody except keep me intertained. For this reason alone, I often say "Thanks" for what I got.

I think you are on to something. Until last week most of my bows were from around '67 or '68, with another from around '73, all RH. I have sold most of them since finding out that several of the kids/grand kids are left eye dominant. Long story short, my shooters are now a fairly new Hill style and my newest (just got today) is a brand new bow...sort of. It is a newly built dual shelf St. Charles Thunderbird, designed in 1953.

I like the style of the older bows, too. Don't care as much for the looks of the newer ones....

I don't think I'd call my bows that old, as I'm at least 3 years older than my oldest bow.

Joe

I am drawn to the older bows as well. There was that era where some of the prettiest woods available were put into the bows. The engineered woods pretty much killed that age. So, for me, from about 1959 to 1971 is the target. I had an early 1961 Hunter and a 1974 Super Diablo arrive yesterday. The Diablo is getting a workout while the Hunter is getting a facelift.

It is not a nostalgia thing with me. The bows that I grew up with were fiberglass one piece bows purchased at Kmart. Now, most of my shooters are less than seven years old but I steadily buy and clean up the old ones as a hobby.

Not necessarily always true...seems like sometimes...I see more young people shooting vintages that are literally around their grandparents' age. Granted, they may have been hand me downs and since it was their intro to archery, those young folks may not pay attention to new-age vs. vintage, but just seems like more and more of the newer generation are shooting vintages as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfJoMQTAobU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_HzS0ofYDs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lZ15XB58us

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5cMDmzq6Z0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFwI-oPNNA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wjOhAORtB4

God and Christ Bless

I would like to think that the older we get the more we come to know just how great those old bows really are.

The Whittler: "I would like to think that the older we get the more we come to know just how great those old bows really are."

I sometimes wonder...is it truly because we realize how great those old bows are, or---is it because that even despite all the hype, claimed innovations, and alleged performance improvements---the newer bows really aren't offering anything that the vintages have not already done and are not presently doing? Just curious...

""or---is it because that even despite all the hype, claimed innovations, and alleged performance improvements---the newer bows really aren't offering anything that the vintages have not already done and are not presently doing?""

Well you can't do any better than perfect rounds and they were shooting them back in 1967. I don't want to say there isn't some improvement, and there certainly has been some changes..mostly in composition of materials. That said, it still is and always will be the guy shooting the bow. Sometimes we get more enamored with looks than we do hitting the target, but that's part of the sport as well as it evolves, like prize rifle or shotgun stocks. The most accurate archers in the world today are shooting bows not much different than John Williams shot to win the 1972 Olympic Gold.

moleman 1 I seem to be doing the same thing last 3 years or so. I guess it takes me back to my younger days when I use to shoot some of these bows too. But I love the looks of the old classics and enjoy shooting them also. Don't get me wrong I still have a couple or more of the newer stuff too, but I'm liking the old ones a lot.

Hmmmmm. Dunno. Been shooting sticks for about 60 years now. Don't know if I'm gravitating to older bows, but I am again gravitating to simpler bows. In my years shooting sticks, I've come full circle several times -- from self bows to straight longbows to mild deflex reflex longbows, to extreme rd hybrids to recurves, etc., not necessarily in that order.

Now I'm mostly shooting older Bear TDs when I shoot recurves, but will primarily be shooting and hunting with my mild rd longbows from Great Northern, JD Berry, Robertson, Liberty, etc., with perhaps a Hill or two thrown in. Not exactly old/vintage, but they've been around a while.

Always drawn to "old" sometimes vintage stuff. Could be cultural carry over from music, love old guitars, and such- love old Jazz, blues, Country- even my classical music tastes go back to Renaissance stuff.

No surprise I've fallen right down the rabbit hole chasing after Bears of the 1950'sl fixing up and shooting them, turning other people on to them. Even got myself a real English long bow from the late 19th/early 20th century. Thomas Aldred,London. I even shoot it now and then, very carefully!

Here is one i picked up. It is the same age as i am. It is a 58 or 59 Sanders Classic. Almost done with the restore. Will keep the 'wall up to date.

Here is another, 59 Pearson Palimino.

An elegant design that combines performance with great looks is never outdated. Show me a car being made today that you'd rather drive than this 60-year-old Corvette.

Some designs are just timeless...and I feel that way about a lot of the recurves made between 1959 and 1967.

Or this '54 Stratocaster...don't fix it if it ain't broke. A good design is a good design, period.

Like, like, like my vintage bows......and I shoot one or more of them almost every day, sometimes two or three times a day. 40, 50 years old, they are sweet shooters.

Scott, the Palimino is a doll baby!

Love vintage, my 1956Root Gamemaster is still harvesting deer..!

That's how it all got started with me. I wanted to take a deer with a bow that was made the year I was born. I bought a 1961 Kodiak off the ceiling of The Footed Shaft from Lamont. Because of what it was and who I was getting it from you can't put a price on it. That bow I will never get rid of. Yes I'm taking it with me when I go.

At 65 I shoot what I want to shoot. Some days my Bears from the 60's. Some days my new bows. Just going to pick up my new Kempf Trophy Hunter this weekend. The older I get the more I realize that the rules about archery and bowhunting are for others.

DDave

George D. Stout: "The most accurate archers in the world today are shooting bows not much different than John Williams shot to win the 1972 Olympic Gold."

Speaking of John Williams...Wing (AMF) John Williams takedown (late 60s-early 70s-ish?)

God Bless

I am 37. My longbows are all newer models rather they are custom or production. My recurves are all older models. I like the finish and feel they are made more solid. Are they I don't know but to me they feel that way. I have 2 on the way right now , a 1969 Kodiak Hunter and a Tamerlane ( not sure of year ) . I have been wanting a Tamerlane for a long time and finally going to have one. Plan on it being my main 3D and target bow. At 70 inch it should be a sweet and stable bow as long as I do my part. :)

My feelings haven't changed toward those bows. I don't own one of em.

But as far as gravitating toward things we grew up with, I did recently replace/rebuild my first two guns back to original and it feels real good to have them home again.

I find myself attracted to older bows and younger women, but alas, I rarely can afford the things I really want

Alas, if only those younger women were attracted to older beaus!

I think it's great what is reported with the new ILF's and watching the best shooters use them. Quiet, smooth, very stable, and adjustable for tiller and balance. I need to shoot a really good one someday soon and hope to own one too.

But I can't get out of my head how the best nationally ranked compeditors used to shoot with those black painted risered old Black Widows, Hoyts (before round ball stabilizers), Wings and Damon Howatts long before target bows had heavy wood risers and/or stabilizers or folks had take down target bows. Saw a lot of Kodiak Specials, and own three myself now, but in my part of the country, seems like the best of the best were shooting those painted Widows. Think all those old bows proved to me that in the right hands of a great shooter, they could be used to shoot any archery event and perform very well.

It must have been my age [63] that influenced me to buy a new Thunderbird recurve from Jay St.Charles!

Just turned 25 and my favorites on my rack are from the late 50s and early 60s. Love the lines of the older bows.

Frisky I didn't know you were only twelve....sorry couldn't pass that one up.

I broke down and had a custom one of a kind high tech glass, actionboo, and carbon bow made that cost a lot, I just had to know if it would be the last bow I would ever need, after shooting it for over a year I have come to the conclusion that it is a smooth fast bow, but not really any better than my wood longbows.

So if you like fancy go for it, if you like plain do the same.

They all shoot different, but not necessarily better, find one you like, yes, I do like the older wood bows, but I believe there are some pretty darn good one made today.

Since some are showing their pride a joys I think I may throw mine in for the heck of it.

I like looking at the old bows that were being sold when I was growing up and getting into archery in the late 1960's. However, I much prefer shooting my new modern trad bows as they feel better in the hand, have less handshock, are quite a bit faster, and just shoot better. To each his own.

There's nothing like an old wooden/fiberglass bow. Their lines, the coloring, the way they laminated the wood. My sister and I were talking a few weeks back how the modern metal risers are ugly compared to the wood grain patterns. I had a metal riser Black Widow that I absolutely loved shooting. Lost it when I moved back to PA from Mobile, AL and didn't bring it with me. Got divorced and never got back to get it. Lost it and my double bass Ludwig drum set and my prized 26" Zildjian ride cymbal. Stupid, stupid, stupid! Life goes on!

I concur, from Ninjas to Panheads. I too enjoy the old Bears.

Just 71 and still a lot younger than my older brothers. Five of my eight bows are 1959 to 1962 rosewood Bears. Did buy a 2013 '59 reintro Kodiak last month. It shoots as good as my 1959 to 1962 bows.

I've got a 1964 Stratocaster, great guitar.

My first bow was a Bear compound in the early '80s and then I shot Mathews compounds until about 1998-99. That's when I met Lamont Granger at the Footed Shaft. He completely changed my view of bows and bowhunting. His huge collection of Kodiaks on the ceiling would leave me drooling.

The rest is history. I like all vintage bows but I'm a Bear guy.

There is a bit of nostalgia for me but what is more important is something that was mentioned above - there are not a lot of newer bows that significantly outperform many of the old bows. But there are many, many newer bows that cost a whole lot more. There are models of vintage Howatts, Root/Shakespeares, Howard Gamemasters, Brownings, Groves,Drakes and many more will all hold their own or outperform many of today's highest-priced bows. Plus, if one is really into one of a kind bows there are a lot old bows that used beautiful Brazilian Rosewood that cannot be found today.

Yes, there have been improvements in glues, glass to carbon, and a few designs but quite a few of the builders in the 60s got things right.

Phil M, I agree. How much better is a new bow than my dual shelf Polar. Im not slamming anyones interest here. I just cant justify spending the amount of money on some bows that I see here on the LW. I saw one a few days ago for $1700. I can't wrap my brain around this.

Yes, the bows are probably more high-tech nowadays. Yes some bows do perform better than others or should I say maybe a little more forgiving than others. But it's still the person shooting it that counts. Like they say, it's not how big it is, it's whether or not you know how to use it.

Not I. Browsing Ebay, I pass over the old ones. They just don't do anything for me. Love the new bows, especially the ILFs out there. And I'm 73.

As far as comparing old bows to old cars, that's like comparing apples to oranges. I'd like nothing better than to be able to afford a '69 Goat, but my wallet can't manage it.

In the end, it's great that the older bows, for those of you who prefer them, are very affordable. And better yet, we can shoot the bows we like, old or new.

Thank you stykman. I appreciate folks that pass over the old ones. Lets me pick up great bows for a song. I have several Shakespeares and Roots that are phenomenal bows, some in looks and performance like a 1970 Game Master or the 66 Kaibab and Ocala and others that are more plain but great performers like the Necedah and Warrior. I've been fortunate to get them from between $55 to a high of $147. I cannot believe the huge amount of money I've spent (wasted to me) over the years for all the customs when there was this level of look and performance out there at a fraction of the price.

You're welcome Phil.

I am not attracted by old bows, but I want to have quality bows for a good price and some of them deliver this. But sooner or later I will get an ILF too.

The newest bow I own is an early 90's Bill Stewart Multicam. I love the older bow (60's and 70's). I get plenty of performance for what I do. Never had an animal I was shooting say " Wait that bow you're using is too old" LOL

I'm a member of the older bows are good enough group. I've spent a lot of money on fancy customs and while these are beautifully made I don't shoot them any better nor do they hit any harder. We shoot the arrow, not the bow and the shooter is the difference.

I've enjoyed reading through this thread. I just turned 35 yesterday and one of my favorite bows is my Kodiak Magnum. It's a 45# green in color with blue stripe and I just love the way it looks, feels and shoots. I'm assuming it's mid 1970s so it's older than me. But I also like old cars, track type tractors, wheel tractors, guns, etc... I'm a weird one... lol

Derek

I love the beauty of vintage bows and shoot a few of them, just not as daily shooters. I have modern bows for that. My thought is that I don't want to live in the past and don't want to deny myself the pleasure of shooting modern bows. I have been fortunate to be able to afford to build quite a stable of both and enjoy my archery play immensely.

I'd be crazy not to call my '59 to '62 bows old, especially considering some of the new ILF risers. But in reality, they are not all that old and certainly a decade or two younger than some of us replying. My Dad's single shot Stevens from the nineteen teens he and his brother used for trapping small animals, now that's getting old, but it shoots good. For me, it's the beautiful rosewoods in those bows that I enjoy, and as long as I can shoot them at events and not look too crazy, at least until I can't shoot anymore, won't need any new ones.

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