From: Blackhawk
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Date: 12-Aug-18 |
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After experience with a few of the Browning line of bows, I am very impressed with the design, finish, looks, and performance.
I recently acquired a Browning Apollo which has quickly become a favorite.
This Browning recurve is 66" with a draw of 44# and has a handsome riser of brazilian rosewood and zebra wood which looks really good with the brown and tan glass.
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From: Blackhawk
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Date: 12-Aug-18 |
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However, I am a bit confused with the serial # which hardly fits with some of the info that I've found. Maybe some of the experts on here can shed some light.
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From: Blackhawk
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Date: 12-Aug-18 |
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My research shows the Apollo came out in 1962, so could this one be a first year model?
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From: Blackhawk
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Date: 12-Aug-18 |
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With a D97 string, I find this bow is extremely smooth, quiet, and very accurate with my 1916's...and I love those tiny, tiny tips.
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From: Blackhawk
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Date: 12-Aug-18 |
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Here are the tips...
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From: Blackhawk
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Date: 12-Aug-18 |
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Here's the wedge...
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From: Pdiddly
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Date: 12-Aug-18 |
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Hi Lon...it is a 1962.
The very first bows had serial numbers that were backwards sometimes...model letter before build year.
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From: Knifeguy
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Date: 12-Aug-18 |
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Very nice, Lon. Congratulations on the “new” bow. Lance
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From: mangonboat
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Date: 12-Aug-18 |
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A great bow! Just this afternoon I was shooting my 1062 Apollo D2552...written in teeny tiny gold script at the very bottom of the riser, just like his older twin sister, Diana, G2501.
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From: Chuck Simpson
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Date: 13-Aug-18 |
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nice bow Lon, I'm glad I won't have to see it on c...list anymore. its a good thing I'm lefthanded.
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From: Blackhawk
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Date: 13-Aug-18 |
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Thanks Chuck...and sometimes I do feel a bit sorry for you southpaws.
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From: tonto59
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Date: 13-Aug-18 |
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Nice bow!
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From: 30pt buck
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Date: 13-Aug-18 |
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I've got a Apollo 66"-62#@28" Number 8G48
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From: Kelly
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Date: 13-Aug-18 |
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Here is my 1962 Apollo, 41#, 66” and serial number G2578.
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From: jaz5833
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Date: 13-Aug-18 |
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Lon,
Just in case you're not getting the impact of what Pdiddly said, your bow would be among the very first ever made under the Browning name.
Most likely it was made by Gordon Plastics Inc. before Browning had their own set up ready to go.
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From: Blackhawk
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Date: 13-Aug-18 |
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Thanks Jim...and yes, I was beginning to see the bow was most likely an early one. As Kelly posted above, his bow is most likely an early one too, correct?
I have been following your posts on So. Cal. bows and history and find it very interesting.
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From: Kelly
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Date: 14-Aug-18 |
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Lon, how many strands of D-97 you using? I don’t have any fastflite strings for 66” bows but do for 64” and use them on my Browning Medallion’s. I sure do like how those shoot with those strings.
But then my Apollo’s sure shoot well with Jack Howard strings.
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From: Blackhawk
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Date: 15-Aug-18 |
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Kelly, I am using the standard Black Widow D97 string of 14 strands. Yeah, that's a bit overkill, but found it works well with other vintage bows. I have been using that on the '59 Kodiak Special of similar weight and really like it.
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From: Pdiddly
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Date: 15-Aug-18 |
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It seems all of these were made very early and before they applied a model letter...there are different letters on all of them.
I agree with Jim they were likely Gordon production.
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From: cueman
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Date: 16-Aug-18 |
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The official launch of the Browning line and the first catalog came out Dec 1, 1962. Have the catalog and the price list which is dated. In the early 62 bows we see lettering all over the place, this was probably the Gordon numbering sequence. Somebody in St.Louis at Browning Corp. probably decided they did not like that and sent a memo to change it to what Browning wanted.
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From: Kelly
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Date: 16-Aug-18 |
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So a Browning Medallion, serial number 3H577, 64", 46# would be a 1963? It is all zebrawood handle, wine colored glass on back, white on belly, internal tip wedges, no tip overlays. It has the exact same handle shape as my 1962 Apollo.
I have another Medallion, 64", about 35#, same glass and internal tip wedges, no overlays, but all rosewood handle, slightly wider overall profile. Unfortunately someone refinished it and all pertinent information was lost. Wish I knew because it is a tack driver. I'm guessing 1966 because my 66 Apollo, serial number 6G24 has an all rosewood handle and this slightly wider profile than the earlier 1962 Apollo. Same thing my 1966 shoots better than the 1962, only 1# difference in weight.
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From: cueman
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Date: 16-Aug-18 |
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Kelly, Your medallion 3H577 would be a 63, all correct glass and riser wood. The medallion is listed as a hardwood riser from 65 catalog on, so it could be a 65 or later. The Apollo was still rosewood/zebrawood in 65, then it is listed as harwood riser from 66 on.
The fatter explorer in 62" only, with horns was re-introuduced in 66. Seems allot of the bows got a different fatter profile in 66 and the Olympian got its horns along with the explorer.
The brace for the early Apollo is listed as 9 3/4", the later Apollo, 66 on, is listed at 7 1/2".
Early Medallion is listed at 9 1/2", 66 and later is listed at 7 1/4", so something changed with the limbs and profile.
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From: cueman
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Date: 16-Aug-18 |
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Kelly, if you find that you just don't like that 62 Apollo with the thin, flimsy limbs, I can find a new home for it!
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From: Blackhawk
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Date: 16-Aug-18 |
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Interesting info on the 9 3/4" brace for the early Apollo. I just put mine where it felt and sounded better (and with good accuracy) and shoot it at 8 1/4". I may have to experiment with increased brace and see if it performs even better.
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From: Kelly
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Date: 16-Aug-18 |
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Nothing flimsy about the limbs on any of my Brownings, quite the contrary since they have 3 maple lams. The 1966 Apollo has 4 maple lams as does the rosewood Medallion.
First time I’ve seen any brace height recommendations. Have had the 1966 Apollo for about 15 years. Found out early on that it shot the best at 7.25” brace height. Now all my Medallion’s and Apollo’s carry that same brace. Can’t fathom 9 3/4” brace. Wow, wonder if they measured it differently like to the back of handle instead of deepest part of grip?
Cue, did the 1964 Medallion come in Rosewood?
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From: cueman
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Date: 16-Aug-18 |
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Looks like it was zebra thru 64 and changed in 65. Glass color remained the same though. Fistmele was measured from the deepest part of the grip according to the catalogs. All of the bows carried a high brace thru 65. The string length for the early apollo is 61 1/4", later is 61 1/2" for a 2" difference in brace. I dont have an Apollo so I can't check limb difference, but the ones on my 62 explorer's are allot different than the 66 and later limbs. Medallion string on early is 60", late is 59 3/4" when the brace dropped to 7 1/4". Something changed and there is nothing listed about changes.
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From: mangonboat
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Date: 16-Aug-18 |
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here is a 1963 Medallion that I got from David Ross, all Brazilian rosewood riser.
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From: mangonboat
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Date: 16-Aug-18 |
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My 1962 Apollo. The serial number and info is in teeny tiny gold letters almost impossible to find.
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From: Kelly
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Date: 25-Nov-18 |
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On those brace height suggested above and the obvious difference between one year I’d suggest that a different method of measuring was used. That of measuring to the back of grip/bow instead of deepest part of grip.
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