I just bought this Necedah last night . I can’t find a flaw or blemish on it anywhere. It had an endless loop string that wasn’t in very good shape so I ordered a b55 string for it. No rest or strike plate on it and I’m thinking about a Bear weather rest because of the flat shelf. Any experience or opinions would be welcome. A check of the archives showed it should have a 8 1/2” - 9” brace height.

The Necedah is a great bow! They are as good or better, than just about any bow of the era.

Thanks Richard. That’s good to hear. Can they be aged by the serial number?

Well George Stout has shot a few different bows in his journey in archery. And he has said on here more then once. That your bow is in fact a very good shooter. If of course it fits you. :) Good luck with the new bow.

www.vintagearchery.org/shakespeare-root.html this site will get you most if not all of the Shakespeare and some Root catalogs. There's another Shakespeare site that was created by a hard-core Shakespeare collector, I can't seem to find it though (I used to have it bookmarked), lots of info on that site if someone here can give the website address. But if you compare your bow to the catalogs I bet you will be able to narrow down the year to within a few years. I think there is a way to tell the year with the serial number though, it's on the Shakespeare collector website (sorry, I wish I knew how to find it).

Very good bow indeed. As good as any similar design made today.

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-necedah-wonderbow.html

Check this link out. It has some good information on a great bow. I’ve been using one for a long time, and I really like it.

Every Shakespeare bow and be aged by the serial number. The serial number starts with a letter. A is January, B is February, etc. The second character is a number. the Necedah was introduced in 1966, i.e. "6", made until 1971, e.g "1". The rest of the numbers are the build order in sequential numbers that month .

One of the best bows I’ve owned. Great shooter and great looker. I think you’ll love it.

Shakespear Necedah bows were ubitiqous in WI back in the sixties. Back then I was a student and worked part time in an archery pro shop so I was aware of the trends in bow sales and it seems like everyone and their brother were selling them. I recall a gas station having them for sale for $29.95! We didn't sell them in our shop, the owner didn't care for them...don't know if he felt they shot poorly or if they had a low sales/profit margin, Kinda strange, they were heavily advertised here and a lot were sold but you just never seemed to see very many of them on the shooting line or in bowhunter's camps. Today guys speak highly of them, this wasn't always the case.

Dawgtrainer - You should check the serial number for the year it was made in order to determine the recommended brace height. Up to 1970 or 1971, the brace height was 7 3/4" and after that it was 8 1/2" to 9". If the glass in your limbs is reddish, it's most likely going to have a 7 3/4" brace height. I have a 1970 Neceda and really like it. It is very smooth but it's not the fastest bow from that time period. Because of the grip, I can easily hit anything I point it at. I have mid 60's Bear Grizzlies and like the Neceda just as much.

Well, I did some research and determined my bow was made in July 1968. Like I said in my first post, I cant find a blemish anywhere on it. Thanks for the help .And Stix, PM me a email address and I will send you more pictures of the bow.

Have two of them with low stretch strings on them and tuned they shoot as good if not better than many customs out there. You have a great shooting hunting bow.

Thanks everyone for the responses. I’ve set the brace height at 7 3/4” and am going to finish setting it up and shoot it some. Our season opens October 1st and hopefully I’ll have it hunting quiet by then.

I have a '69 Necedah 58" 40+lbs. Mercury string. Thing about Shakespears is once ya find out nice they are you end up picking another up at some point. Nice find,,have fun.

Yeah, I have a 65 and a 67, one is 40 lb and the other is 45 lb. One of the few 58" bows that can handle my 30" draw with no problem. I would put them on par with my redwing hunters, although the redwings are better in terms of fit and finish, but they both shoot equally well.

Nice I've had a couple Zebras that are great bows.

I've been away from the keyboard since last Wednesday so didn't see this. They are awesome bows....that's all that needs to be said. I use a stick-on rest of my own making nowadays.

Me. Stout, I remember seeing a post with your bear weather rest . I’m going to try to do the same thing.

Steve, feel free to post them if you want. I’m very impressed with the way it shoots for a 40# bow. Thanks, Mike

Thanks Steve. 52 year old bow that’s shoots great!

My first recurve was a Necedah, bought used and slightly abused. Shot a my first deer with it, should've kept it around. Good luck with yours, it's a beauty.

I have shot at least 150 different recurves and the 55" and 58" Necedah's made in the early to mid-60's are one of the top 10 IMO.

Quiet, quick, stable and smooth.

When new archers are looking for a bow I always recommend a 35-40# Necedah.

Pdiddly, I agree 100 percent. I’m really enjoying this bow. It hits really hard for a 40# bow. My draw is close to 29” and it’s a joy to shoot.

dawg...I was really surprised that the 55" felt like a lot longer bow...not twitchy at all.

They so have a nice smooth draw curve.

My 55" 45# hunting rig I'll be using this season.

Although I liked the Necedah I had, I prefer my Super Necedah. This a 54” bow. It just feels like an extension of my arm. I prefer the Hoyt rest over the Bear, since the little hooks acts as an arrow holder.

Thread derail

What is this "archives" that is spoken of??? I'd love to know more about an old recurve I own.

That's a beauty Frank.

Nice bows everyone. Mine is going to be my go to this year.

Nice bows everyone. Mine is going to be my go to this year.

Ready for the woods

dawgtrainer...Is that an Eagle's Flight quiver?

They're a perfect match for a light bow like the Necedah.

Pdiddly, actually it’s a Big Jim’s 4 arrow with a medium hood. Really like it and it stays where you mount it.

The Necedah has one of my favorite grips of all the bows I own. I don’t shoot mine nearly enough, but it a keeper.

Nice grip, nice bow, I just picked up a 1971? x-26 58” 40# bow. I’ve been looking for a nice short recurve that could handle a long draw. I assume I shouldn’t shoot the old string? Looks like the brace height was set around 9” to the deepest part of grip, is that a good place to start?

Austin, mine is a 68 and I have the brace height at 7 3/4” but yours may be different.

Thanks for the reply , I noticed Skyhawk’s comment about brace height above, so it looks like it changed around 71? Mine has green glass, so I was guessing it was around there.

Here’s a photo of the riser for my Super Necedah. I think it’s about the best looking Shakespeare that I have. Lance

Here’s a look at the “I” beam that runs through the site window. Lance

Austin, if I read it right your bow is 58inches in length. The bow should, have a brace ht. to start with around 7 3/4ths according to Shakespeare when they made them. The short super Necedah has a recommended brace ht of 9inches. Hope this helps you.

Very nice bow Lance.

Very nice bow Lance.

dawgtrainer, thank you very much. I enjoy shooting this bow immensely. Lance

SteveD thanks, I’ll try lowering it based on your guys input.

My beloved Necadeah.

I have a sweet 64 55"-45 Necedah that is very clean, put a mercury string on it stepped up the performance and quietness of the bow, puts a smile on my face every time I shoot it. Earl Root set the bar for other bowyers.

Stumpkiller, very nice. I am really enjoying mine.

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