This bow was given to me by a friend years ago who was in his 90's and has since passed. He received it in 1938 when his college roommate graduated and put everything he owned into a VW Bug. There was room for everything but his target bow, so he left it with my friend, who miraculously packed it around for life, but didn't shoot it. I know it would probably be risky to try stringing and shooting it, but I have hundreds of years combined experience here on LW to comment so thought I'd see what others thought. It appears to me to be a yew selfbow and looks to be like many sold in the early 1900's.

I would not be afraid just be very slow And short draw it a lot before coming to full draw

What Wild Bill said. String and exercise to full draw again a little at a time.

That wave in the bottom imb is a littel troublesome and I can't tell if that's a wave in the grain or if the limb has already begun to collapse there. If has frets or chrysals in that area it's going to let down.

But even if it is, you could repair it and still use it as a wall hanger which sounds like what it is now any way.

I agree with FDP.

What about those horn limb tips? Do you think they should hold together?

Good point on it being a wall hanger anyway.

The tips don't appear to be dried out. Do they have any cracks or anything in them?

Also, how long is it? That will be the deciding factor in how far you want to draw it.

It is 72" long and one of the horn tips does appear to have a crack in it running lengthwise.

The only way you will no for sure is to shoot it.

I do agree to exercise the limbs and slowly draw it back in increasingly longer increments.It would be important as you draw it to listen for any cracking or popping noises that will signal you something is cracking or seperating.

I eould probably use super glue on and hairline cracks or suspcious looking ares that may indicate an area that has lost some strength or integrity.I would fill the crack in the horn tip with super glue.The horn tip may be able to wrapped with strong thread,superline braided type fishing line is also very good for repair work.

I would probably shoot a B-50 or B-55 type string with wool puffs in flemish style as its soft in the loops and may ewse some stress on the bow.

If it was my bow I would probably sand it as well and finish with 400 grit and put a high uality finish on it with multiple coats.

The fact that its 72 inches long help IMO as the limbs will not be working too much.

If it has a oil finish on it now, lightly refinish it with some linseed cut with turpentine. Don't soak it, let the wood fibers drink it just a little. Don't string it, just bend it little at at time and listen for creaks and cracks. Just bend a bit at a time, bunch of times. Going straight to brace height can make it crack.

Heck with he bow, I want to know about the 1938 VW Bug.

That old and a memory of a good friend I would hang it on the wall.

I had one that is a dead ringer for that one. I didn't shoot it a lot but I had no issues.

How much does the bow mean to you?

Wall hanger.

Too risky to shoot it. Right now it's good, why risk changing that? Once it cracks or breaks the defect is there forever, why do that to a vintage item?

Personally, I wouldn't risk it. Like Pearl said "how much does it mean to you?" I have an old lemonwood longbow from the 20's and it looks great on my wall. I look at it as a piece of archery history. If only it could talk.

My concern would be if water got under the cow horn tips and rotted the wood. Would also be nice to know the history of the bow before 1938 or who made it. It is a fine looking bow and your choice as to whether to shoot it or not. Because it's English Longbow design, I would make sure you pulled it about in inch or two at a time and see if it argues with you.

I'm with Mahantango, interesting bow I guess, but the VW beetle wasn't generally available until 1945 - after WWII. Ben

Well, now you have me as interested in the beetle as the bow. I wish my friend were still alive so I could pry with a few more questions.

The bow is valuable as a keep-sake which suggests I should just hang it on the wall, but my bow-bug curiosity wants to loose an arrow from it.

"I'm with Mahantango, interesting bow I guess, but the VW beetle wasn't generally available until 1945 - after WWII. Ben "

Occum's razor: 1948.

Sounds like it's a sentimental thing with you so I'd hang it up with some period arrows on display.

VW Beetle-brainchild of Adolf Hitler

Check for dry wood cracks and for signs of moisture under the horn nocks.

Methinks a wall hanger would be a safe bet.

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