Hello Vintage bow folks- I just got this 1954 Kodiak II "Compass" from Ebay; cosmetically beat-up, structurally sound so far (dozens of pulls & letdowns, then over a dozen shots so far- 28" up to 30"draws).

But the grip is a wreck. Solid but dried out, but aged way beyond perfection. Any other bow I would rip it off and put on a new one, as I have done dozens of times- BUT, the compass is original, intact, and works! And the grip does feel solid and- even now,just as it is- feels very, very comfortable.

Pictured with my other 54 Kodiak II, with a grip that I salvaged with a total Neetsfoot oil soak followed by Montana Pitchblend treatment followed by an orange oil/liquid wax treatment. But this new one I think needs a lot more help!

If it is at all possible to restore or significantly improve this leprous, cracked old grip I would love to hear some ideas!

Thanks, folks--

Dan

I think it is toast, Dan W! Should be able to remove leather, leave compass and make another thin leather cover that you cut out a circle for the compass.

You might be able to sand or rough it up til it looks like suede. That might keep you from replacing the whole thing.

MP

Apply silicon oil in layers over a couple of days until the leather is saturated. Wrap a rag around and store it in saw dust until the excessive oil has vanished. Then apply shoe wax to seal the leather.

Cover it in bag balm and let sit and then work it into the leather. Shawn

I new grip is in order. Can't restore what isn't there.

Thanks guys! Some of those fixes sound very similar to the fix I dd on the 54 Kodiak,bottom pic- but am inclined to consider this one pretty toasty.

I like the suede idea! (1954? "Blue Suede Bow! :-).

Probably will go to a deer skin grip like I did on my Alaskan... then sell the compass on Ebay for $800.00- just kidding!

I sanded down a similar grip on a Polar. Then applied brushed on lacquer, several coats, sanding between. The finish looks about like your last picture but darker.

Thin pigskin over-wrap. Lace a new grip over the old. Give the old wrap a bit of leather treatment beforehand, then lightly treat the pigskin afterwards. You will be protecting the old grip with the covering. No need for Barge cement if you do it meticuously and carefully. Lace with artificial sinew.

Jim- (also PM'd this to you- but it seems worth posting more info on the Wall here)

Very interesting! The kind of out-of-the-box idea I was looking for.

Clear lacquer or brown? or dye/color the sanded down old leather before the lacquer?

Thanks!

Bud- also an interesting solution.

I have a 3rd 54 Kodiak, (2nd from the bottom) it came with a very bad 2nd generation leather grip w/out the compass; so I pulled it all off, built up the raw wooden grip with rattan then applied a very thin over grip Tennis handle wrap "skin" product. The only thing that feels as comfortable as real leather- just not as durable or classy. May also get the deerskin treatment as my Alaskan.

Trying to bring that leather back with various potions and elixirs is a futile as trying to bring back varnish with floor wax or lemon oil. Once the integrity of the surface is broken, as is that top grain in the grip, you may as well replace it. It is a relatively easy process that can be done with a piece of leather, a razor blade scraper, some Duco or contact cement, and a bowl of water.

Bowdoc included the "how to" in his Restoration 101 thread. I downloaded and saved the thread to my hard drive if you would care to read it.

Thanks Brad- my only issue was the compass. Stretching leather around a handle & having the leather thickness & hole cut-out position (and cutting a perfect round hole) all work out perfectly takes it over my craft skills pay grade.

If I replace the grip, the compass goes! Somehow I've been finding my way around & not gotten lost yet with all my other bows- :-)

Give to Rich Lopez. He could do it in his sleep AND with the compass in it perfectly. I think he's kodiaklectomy on here or something like that. Maybe droptine59.

"You might be able to sand or rough it up til it looks like suede. That might keep you from replacing the whole thing. MP"

We got- "Suede" rough sanded that grip, very suede-y; don't know how durable, now I may try to cover with clear lacquer, as per Jim Davis' suggestion.

That is real suede. Once the top grain is removed the remainder is called the split at the tannery or suede by the marketing guys. I worked the first six years of my career in the tannery. I was poor as a church mouse but was proud of the product we turned out.

I use "Lexol" on all things leather.

That old grip should provide you with a good pattern for a new one, so remove it carefully as you can. You will need one of those leather tools which bevels the new leather at its edges. Some on here will know the tool. That grip is well beyond a coating of Lexol.

Keep us updated, Dan. Would like to see that sueded grip once the covering is in place.

Well in the cold sober light of morning that picture looks pretty strange! But that damned grip is VERY comfortable in the hand. shot a bunch last night in the garage "range".

Thanks for the info Brad- real suede! If it don't crumble under my grip over the next week or so, will try to maybe dye it something a little nicer and investigate suede protection products & the lacquer idea.

Handles are fun AND a pain to deal with. I've done a lot; leather stitched and unstitched, wraps, cord, big rattan phase for awhile - and even plain wood the bow was born with. All good, some better than others.

Here's a leather strip wrap from one of the wife's "retired" handbags, on an incredible Osage selfie by the our own, the great Badger. I've also gotten a wonderfully generous offer from another LW'er who saw this thread.

I don't know that I've ever said it, but the LW is often such a really great place, truly grateful to you all; truly fine folks here. And a special thanks to Don Berg, sold me a 55 Kodiak so minty (mintish?) I can't do a thing with it except shoot it! ;-)

Dan

Oh yes, the Steve Gardener Osage bow:

Leave the compass under the new leather, then careful use of an exacto knife reveals the compass.

I've replsced a couple. It's really not that hard

saddle soap will soften it up. worth a shot a cheap fix

Try doing it yourself before paying someone else to do it. With shipping, that could get expensive fast.

I find that when faced with a challenging project like this, slowing down and taking greater care makes up for a lack of skill. All you really need is patience.

If you can get the old grip off in one piece, it will make the perfect pattern for the new one. That's a great starting point - John

If you lacquer it now, might not the lacquer soak through and bond the leather to the riser, making it's removal sometime in the future a lot harder?

From a collector's/resale point of view, a reworked grip probably has about the same value as a replaced leather grip.

Your preference and your call.

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