I have been looking at Vintage bows. Been seeing some really nice Wing Archery bows.

What can you guys tell me about them? Years of business? Location? History? Worth collectiong? Good shooters?

~Wojo

Talk to Kelly Peterson...Kelly They are very good bows, made by Bob Lee.

I shoot a very nice 62” Rosewood Red Wing Hunter nearly everyday. Do yourself a favor and search out an older Wing with the small tips. Great bows.

T4

Bob Lee started making bows out of his garage in the mid '50s. As his target/field bows began to win matches, business grew to a larger shop in Houston and a 60's move to a still larger "factory" nearby.

The 58" Red Wing Hunter of the late '50s can be argued to be one of the most copied designs of the vintage classics, and as others mention the earlier specimens of Wing bows show impressive attention to details such as exotic woods and such.

By the mid '60s Wing was far from a one guy shop, producing 1000s of bows a month.

Mr. Lee sold the company to Head Ski, signing on to remain and manage the operation, and the 1968-69 built bows are so marked.

Rumor has it Lee was less than comfortable with high volume production and a quality standard running up against costs (Import of exotic hardwoods was banned in 1969). Head had its own issues and sold the company to AMF. As soon as Lee's contract expired in '73(?) he left the business.

AMF (corporate raiders) dismantled the company and for a time there were Wing labeled bows made elsewhere. Bob Lee jr. re-aquired the name rights at some point and for decades has continued as a more "custom" shop (Bob Lee bows) and Bob sr., tho long retired, still shows up at the shop now and again.

The later Head and AMF labeled Wings retain the design/shootability of earlier versions (I'm currently competing with an AMF Red Wing slimline Pro), but due to lesser woods and less ability to retain attention to high volume production detailing; the post-Lee bows have less interest and value than the pre-68 ones.

Rick

Years of business?

https://bobleebows.com/history/

Location?

Jacksonville Texas (?)

History?

See above

Worth collecting?

Yes, although used ones, like the Falcon, Red Wing Hunter, and the Gull can be found reasonably priced. Ones like the solid phenolic riser Thunderbird and Presentation II (mine pictured)can be pricey

Good shooters?

Seriously?

Just kidding. God and Christ Bless!

Kent's photo of the Presentation II is an example of Lee's lead in marketing the first commercially produced takedown, and yes great bow...make that GREAT bow.

There is and has been confusion about Wing having the first takedown...which it did not. It had the first takedown that had varied sizes risers, and perhaps the first wood riser three piece takedown; but certainly not the first commercially produced takedown. Grimes and Par-X had those in the late 40's.

None of that takes away from the high quality bows that Wing turned out during the 50's to 70's. Arguably, they are on par with any bow made in that era...by any company. I've owned many of Bob's Wing bows and none were a disappointment. The Red Wing Hunter...through the Head Ski years was and still is a top performer.

"The later Head and AMF labeled Wings retain the design/shootability of earlier versions (I'm currently competing with an AMF Red Wing slimline Pro), but due to lesser woods and less ability to retain attention to high volume production detailing; the post-Lee bows have less interest and value than the pre-68 ones."

Heard the "AMF Wings ain't as good as the 'pure' Wings" argument before. I've owned both a "pure" Wing Thunderbird (solid phenolic riser) and an AMF Thunderbird ("wingwood" riser. Now own a Wing John Williams takedown..Gotta agree with George D. Stout----the AMFs weren't that bad shooters

Kent, That is a sweet looking bow. What is the specs? Year? That is a Presentation 2?

~Wojo

Yes, Presentation 2. 62" AMO, 45#, solid phenolic riser. Pre-AMF (I know AMF made P2's, but they had wooden risers) so I'm assuming it is before 1968 or so.

Bob Lee signature on limb...?

I would love to get my hands on one of the original BL Wing Presantation 2 in 40- 45# ! There is one on ebay but it is wood riser. Is wood riser AMF?

~Wojo

I shouldn't have worded it like that. I didn't mean to say that Wing never made P2 with wood risers; what I should have said is that AMF didn't make P2 with solid phenolic risers (to my knowledge). You can (usually) always tell whether or not it is AMF by the logo on the limbs

I love the curved limbs pockets! ~Wojo

My favorite bow is a Wing Falcon that I bought at a yard sale for one dollar. No speed demon, but forgiving and quite.

Owned a number of Wing Falcons over the years, Jimbob. I personally thought they were kind of quick, even despite not having tip overlays.

Those limbs fit the Carroll's takedowns as well.

Early Rosewood White Wing in mint condition Maybe a 62 or 63 not sure?

I still own a couple of Wings from when Bob was local. He is not so handy now but still builds a bow second to none. I have a Bob Lee Bicentennial Elite that is an awesome bow. At 49 pounds it is too heavy for me now.

yorktown5 nailed it. Yes his company is in Jacksonville now. >>>>-----> Ken

Sorry about the sideways picture it was vertical when I posted it !

Very nice bows guys. No, how they shoot!? ~Wojo

My favorite Wings are the Slimline Prohunter and the Vantage Pro. I have bought a number of them for people as their starting bows. They were made by various venues of the Wing line, some were from the Stuart management and others from the Lee management.

Jason...I bought that 50# Red Wing Hunter at the shoot last weekend. I originally sold it to Dennis when I had the business. You are welcome to shoot it anytime you want.

1959 White Wing--check out the workmanship in this tip alone! Knifeguy has this bow now and it's one of the best shooters I ever owned.

I picked up a Thunderbolt a couple of months back. Fell in love with it. In fact, I was outside in 108 degree heat shooting it this afternoon. The Thunderbolt piqued my interest in the Lee and Wing bows so I bought a couple of Thunderbirds. Not bad but doesn't hold a candle to the Thunderbolt, imo. I sold them and just picked up a Bob Lee Classic Elite. It's pretty good but I think the Thunderbolt will outshoot it. I want to try a Slimline Vantage in 62" if anyone has one laying around. That bow has an awesome looking profile.

Eventually I will find a bargain on some of the early sixties Wing bows and buy one.

Wing Slimline Vantage Pro.I had one at 52# and 62 inches. The riser shape makes for a high brace height but this lends to stability at full draw. Chronographed with 30 inch 2117 and 125 grain Zwickey = 183 fps.Another later bow is the Chapparal with a more traditional riser geometry. fast and stable. 60 " bow. I felt like it is the bow that the Thunderbird was hoped to be. The Wing Red Wing Hunter is just one of our American icons. the early bows had tiny tips and i think the risers and grips seem to feel a bit more refined and better sculpted. The later AMF bows are really sturdy. My very early 53# bow shot that same arrow at 187fps. I draw at 29" and my RWH's are made to not stack and to send an arrow with authority and quietness. I do not think you can do any better than having at least one RWH to shoot. another fun thing I tried once while rattling for Blacktail bucks- i sat on my butt with back against a tree- I could draw and shoot my bow without bottom limb tip hitting the ground. Playing around with your bow and doing some odd shots can help you find out of you are over bowed or not.

Bobby, I would love to. Bring it to the next shoot. I am looking to get a vintage bow as a back up for this season. I know how the Grayling Bears shoot. I am really looking for a 1966 Kodiak in 64”.

Never shot a Wing.

~Wojo

There u go! TLM

This is my 62” RWH. Love this bow. She’s one of the prettiest bows I own.

T4

Need to take a better picture of my Thunderbirds...

To George's earlier comment. I should have typed that the PII was the first "commercially successful" takedown.

Yah, successful is subjective. George would agree that "who did it first" in archery usually was someone BEFORE who gets credit.

So...of the few production companies that built probably 90% of the popular and collectible specimens, Wing was the first to market with a successful takedown design.

In a decade or so of restoring bows for others, I have owned or had a few PIIs in hand. Never even seen the ones George mentions as "before Wing".

So I stand by my opinion that the PII was the first takedown to be so good that 1/2 century later they are still about as good as it gets, performance wise and sought after.

Rick R

Nice flock Peter.

T4

I had longed for a Red Wing Hunter for a long time and finally picked one up a couple of months ago. I had never even seen one before but always heard good things about them.

I like mine a lot, even though I am a longbow guy. The bow is quick and shoots really well, better than I can shoot it.

I bought an original Wing as I did not want a Head or AMF bow.

Adkarcher

I used my 58” RWH@45# for todays first shot. I had forgotten how nice it feels and shoots. It’s pre Amf. Lance

I never met a RWH that wasn't a natural point-and-shooter. There are enough of them around that you can find exactly what you want if you're patient. I'm not a big fan of the quiver bushings added in 1968 to the fades. The real sweethearts are the longer bows from the early -mid 1960's: affordable, durable and great shooters, and some are mighty purty, too. I have a 1967 Thunderbird like Peter: Weighs a ton, looks like Darth Vader, draws smooth, rock solid on release, launches arrows off that big, flat shelf like the USS Enterprise launches F-18's off the deck.

"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery."

Famed longbow builder Don Adams thought so much of the 62" Wing Thunderbird that he built a clone of it as one of his recurve designs.

Here it is on the right beside two of the originals.

Mark...that is one of the best descriptions of Thunderbird I have ever read!! They are wicked steady and fast.

Not to off topic, just received Bob Lee Abyss 56"-46#@27 yesterday and it is a very fine bow to shoot as the Thunderbird. The micarta riser makes it a very stable,queit bow, one does not see the Bob Lee bows on the for sale.

Here's an early RWH that is now residing with codjigger!

Here's a nice model that has not been featured...a Chaparral.

I have had three of them and kept one...they're a nice length at 60"...they debuted in 1967, the same year as the Thunderbird, and they seem to have the T-Bird limbs.

Some closeups of the Chaparral riser with phenolic...

Easy on the eyes...

Very nice guys. I am going to have to get my hands on a Wing to try

~Wojo

be sure to check the quiver inserts for cracks in the glass.

For what you pay for them they are a real bargain.Pretty bows above.Nice.

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