I've been looking for a pearson bushmaster(979)since I picked my grandfathers 50's bear polar up and started shooting trad again. I found a 950 cobra last month(55#) but really have wanted a bushmaster. Well, I found a 979 bushmaster, 1957 I believe, the same as my 950. IT is 45#. Will need to twist up a new string which will take me a while since I"m still learning, but hey, its almost winter! So psyched!!! I normally dont like to post pics that arent mine, but cant wait for this one to show up from the good ole auction site!

It’s a good thing that I didn’t see it! LOL! Congrats on a hard bow to find. Lance

Be careful with it. I bought a Safari awhile back and it lasted only 3 shots before it delaminated.

vintage bows rule! That looks sweet.

I saw the guy was originally asking $500 for that bow :-). I see he saw sense and dropped the price. Congrats on a sweet bow

Nice find, Congrats.

Wow! That is an awesome find. I saw only one come up for sale on classifieds here. The guy wanted $800.00 That is one you rarely see come up for sale. Congrats and good luck with the new bow. Did you know that was Ben Pearson's favorite hunting bow? ;-)

I spoke to Ben Pearson Jr a while back, one of the questions I asked was what was your father's favorite bow. He replied without hesitation, "The Bushmaster". He said he loved it. He also designed it and did all the development work on it. Good Catch.

Thanks everyone, super psyched about it. Trying to decide if I want to give it a quick scrub wiht a 3m pad, then a light coat of wipe on poly or what...just to preserve and maintain it. I plan on shooting it, not letting it sit on a shelf, so :-)

I did know it was one of Ben pearson's "Go to " bows, so it definitely must be something special. Like I said, hoping I can put it back into service!

So you need a 66” sting? Or 65”

I concider that a static tip? Love the woven glass

You should tie up. String homeboy! If you have issue let me know,,I can tie you a B50-55 or I have one or two in that length round somewhere

Bushmaster

Brian that looks like it’s in amazing shape I don’t know bout refinishing I bet it just needs a good cleaning Looks like old dust on it to me

Hey Scott, thanks. WE'll see exactly what it looks like when it shows up. Looks like osme varnish flaking near the specs--might atlest hit those quick so they dont rub off, and just wipe some on in small spots where its dry.

Not really sure on string length, what does everyone think on these "semi" recurves? Marked 5'9" so 69", but I'm guessing thats not AMO given the age. my bear polar is marked 64" and I"m pretty sure allen twisted me up a 60" string and it has a similar design profile

Rule of thumb 4” shorter on recurve 3” shorter on longbow

Recurves have higher brace heights that why I was wondering with a static tip

That was my first recurve bow in 1959, it gave up the ghost inabout 1989, still miss it.

Nice bow! I"ve got my fingers crossed that mines not a POS when it shows up. Tonto59 says he runs his at 71/2-8 and it seems to work great for him

NP, your bow looks just like my 950 cobra. I really love the green glass on them all, it's slick!

Nice lookin' bow Chris :), I had mine at 7 1/2" if that helps.

All Ben Pearson Bushmaster bows have an offset handle. It will have a decal of a snake and say Bushmaster under it. This decal will be on the upper limb. My Bushmaster has Black Glass on one side and White on the other. The riser is two tone wood. Light and dark wood combination. The handle is more like a longbow style grip. The handle on mine is Black leather. It took me a little while to get use to the Grip. Because I always shot just recurves. I looked a long time before I found one. A little over three years of real hard searching. I really like mine a lot! The Cobra looks close to a bushmaster. But it doesn't have the offset handle. My Bushmaster is 66" & 45# @ 28". It's a keeper!

Yes Ben Pearson's earlier bows weren't named. If it has an offset grip I would say It was an earlier Bushmaster. I have never seen one of those.

Here is a Picture of two of mine.

The riser.

The limbs.

She's a real beauty. I even got the case and paper work. I would like to get a new case like this. Anyone know anybody that makes these kind of bow cases?

You have a nice looking Bushmaster as well Chris. Your going to like yours Brian. Sorry for high Jacking your post. But I'm a Big fan of the Bushmaster bow. Enjoy the journey brothers.....

wow, beautiful. Tonto59: dont know if you have any marine canvas makers near you, but I bet they could copy that case real easily and cheaply with scraps...

I bought mine kinda blind...not pics of the full belly/glass top and bottom of the limbs, but...some time you roll the dice..

I"m thinking mine is going to between the two of yours date wise. No "bushmaster", but multicolor wood and black leather grip. my cobra is brown leather, green glass, no "cobra" anywhere....

not a hijack at all!!!! please add info and pics away! good to have an idea of whats out there, I truly appreciate all the info and feedback.

My wife bought me my first Ben Pearson T/D Long Bow for Christmas. I had that wide eyed excitement of a kid at Christmas again!

I had a Bushmaster 55# but founds the grip too big, I have a 954 @52# and the grip fits just perfect, I was wondering if Pearson made the grips a little bigger in his heavier weight bows. Also was lucky enough to find a 956LB @ 52#, is it a Bushmaster also or was it given a different name or just the 956 LB? Both are '57's.

The long bow is 69" & 47# @ 28". With Green and a mustard colored glass on the limbs.

Here is a picture of my 306. It all started with one T/D.

This is the latest one I picked up recently. I had to do a limb tip repair on it. But it shoots fine now. Picked it up for 10 Bucks in an antique store in town. It's a Ben Pearson 302 T/D. It was Blue before I did the repair and repainted it.

This is turning into a fun thread, thanks for all the pics everyone. Will be nice to have a thread with all this in one place.

I would like to know how many leather waller's have ever owned a Ben Pearson Bushmaster. And their thoughts on this hunting bow.

Here's a better pic of the 954 and the 956 LB.

Good thread Vtbow! I didn't think I was the only Bushmaster fan. Pretty cool to see that others enjoy this great vintage hunting bow as well.

Here’s my offering.....

Awesome paul. I'm definatelyncopying that!!!!!!!

Great looking bows Gents.

956 I've had a few years.

Showing up tomorrow.....a little excited!!!!!

That 956 looks mint buzz!!

Showing up tomorrow.....a little excited!!!!!

It showed up. It's awesome. I can't believe the condition. The glass is still shiny. I'll touch up the riser area around the grip to now lose the specs and that's it. Man oh man am I excited. So I think it's a 58, rhe year of transition rmwhen they first started calling it rhe bushmaster, but no label. It matches my 950 100%. Some of my other bows are going to sit....maybe even get sold. Serous this thing feels sooooo good in my hand.

Brian, photos required! Lance

Yes don't forget the pictures Brian. It took me three years of hard searching before I found my Bushmaster. How long did it take you to find yours Brian? I found mine on one of the used bow sites. You made a fine choice in a vintage hunting bow. When you find the right arrows for that bow. Let us know how that old bow shoots. ;-)

Yes don't forget the pictures Brian. It took me three years of hard searching before I found my Bushmaster. How long did it take you to find yours Brian? I found mine on one of the used bow sites. You made a fine choice in a vintage hunting bow. When you find the right arrows for that bow. Let us know how that old bow shoots. ;-)

Here ya go guys. I've had my eye out for in for almost a year. I got lucky, it was meant to be!

Now that’s better! Cool bow and I’m in the search. Lance

Wow! Sweet Bushmaster. I think yours might be older then mine. My bow has White and Black glass. That green woven glass I'm guessing is older. I like the picture you took that really shows the offset handle. Really cool bow. Good luck with it. Maybe someone will chime in on how to date these old Bushmasters. I always thought mine was a 1958. If you find out let me know. Thanks! Again You have a mighty fine hunting bow there. I wonder what Ben Pearson would think....That bowhunter's today are still seeking to find those old Bushmaster bows....;-)

Good luck on your search Lance.

Love seeing all these old "Bushmasters". Great thread and if I get a chance I'll dig mine out for some pictures.

Very nice.

Enjoy.

I can't send PM's for some reason Buzz. You have a beautiful Ben Pearson bow there. Where did you find yours?

Thanks Tonto. I have a 66”-58# long bow version and really like it. I just don’t shoot it as much as I’d like to because of the draw wt. Lance

If you refinish that bow Brian you could just cover all the bow specs with blue painters tape. Or at least write it down.They make paint pens that you could rewrite it on the bow with. If That was my bow. I think I would just clean it up good. Then put a few coats of wipe on poly to protect it. I wouldn't want to sand off the specs on that beauty!

Ebay.

Thanks.

Thanks, it's probably going to get a quicknwipe with a 3m pad, denatured alcohol, then a couple light coats of wipe on satin Poly. All to preserve, not to restore :-)

They make a clear poly Brian

If you bush it on read the directions Hold the brush at 90 degree angle so you don’t bubbles

Sure would like to see that bow in string position to see how that offset handle works/looks? Thanks

I always take a picture of the bow stats before a refinish so I can rewrite them in the same location. Lance

defintely will take photos. Luckily the specs section isnt bad, so Ill put a light coat there first to protect, then a quick rub down. I'll rewriete the seriacl onthe upper limb since is it barely legible. Thakns for all the thoughts and input guys!

Hey Tonto59, I've been trying to to date mine a little, and based on the catalogs, etc, (including the one you posted) the bushmasters in '58 were green glass, and did not have the "bushmaster" logo yet. You can actually see in the image they are definitley green, and the standard old school cursive "ben pearson" on the upper limb appears to be the only marking

Those two bows ^^ match exactly the 979 and 950 that I have. grip leather colors, glass, everything.

1957 is "window bow" and not multi colored riser on the bushmaster-- but green glass. 1956 has white glass on the 2 piece TD laminated bows: http://nebula.wsimg.com/ec3066f1028cc6fd8d3f873997d1f476? AccessKeyId=A203C91555201A4407B4&disposition=0&alloworigin=1

Thanks Brian. Mine also says Bushmaster under the snake decal on the upper limb.

hey nontypical, I think yours is a 1957. The catalogs are available here: http://www.vintagearchery.org/catalogs-by-year.html

I wonder how many members on here own a Bushmaster.... I like mine.

Well I did until last week, 55# '57,, grip was a little too big for me, (too much girth) I was wondering could anyone answer if the grips were smaller on the lower poundage bows under 55#. I have a 954 @52#'s that has a smaller grip.

I always wanted on but I do have two of the Cat. 959 takedown longbows one is 58@28 an one 40@28

There was a guy on here called Ben nuts sold me the heavy one he had quite a selection of Ben Pearson bows.

hey mike, the grip on my 950 is much smaller. I have a feeling the larger grip on the bushmaster is to make up for the canted/offset limb. otherwise there would be some real think areas.

Nice lookg bows papa doc!!!

Thanks Vtbow

Two More Ben Pearson fans. Nice bows PaPa Doc. I remember Bens Nuts. Yes he had a nice collection of Pearson T/D's. Nice bows PaPa Doc. Is Bens Nuts still around?

Again very nice T/D's PaPa Doc. Haven't seen you post in awhile. I was wondering if you were still around when I saw this thread.

Hay PaPa Doc this is my new Handel name I had to change off the net to long ...I still have my bushmaster and some others hope your doing well...I’m back....the bushmaster is a great shooting bow in my book one of the BEST >>——>

I knew there were more Ben Pearson fans!

Yes still around don’t post a lot life gets in the way My Son Hunter is a junior now and with football an Wrestling we stay busy.

He is 6’6” now about 230 lbs.

I get it PaPa Doc. My son played football and wrestled too. Enjoy watching your son play sports.

The thing that has always amazed me about these Pearson takedowns is the quality of the leather grips and how well they have held up for 60 years. Would love to see how they stitched them.

Twisted up a string for the bushmaster last night. THis thing is purdy! Question for you other owners: Do your limbs appear twisted even though the string looks stright? I loook down from one end and the close limb looks crooked.sting looks nicce and straigh. I flip it over and look from the other end and now the other side looks perfectly straight and the new close side looks twisted! Thinking it may be a weird, but normal happening due to the offset handle...

I left the string on it over night to stretch it out, brace strated at 7 last night, and was at 6 when I woke up this morning, so should be able to twist it up some more and get it around 7.25 tonight for one more overnight of stretching!

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