From: casekiska
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Date: 30-Jan-25 |
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The Shakespear Necedah bow was a popular and inexpensive hunting bow in the 1960s and into the early 1970s. Does anyone have any credible information regarding it's history...when first made...for how long...where made...who designed it...etc,...what ever you can come up with. Hope to hear from you. In advance, thanks.
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From: Jed Gitchel
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Date: 30-Jan-25 |
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As I understand it the necedah was first made by Root just south of big rapids Michigan. Root was sold to Shakespeare and for a while there was Shakespeare by Root and Root by Shakespeare . A good friend Dick B who goes to Elm Hall every year is a root fan and is well versed in the history. It's a excellent bow.
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From: Jed Gitchel
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Date: 30-Jan-25 |
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I don't recall the name when it was made by Root possibly the warrior but I'm working off the fuzzy side of my memory.
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From: Trying hard
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Date: 30-Jan-25 |
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Online...Vintage Archery Catalog website...quite a bit of info on Shakespeare and Root
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From: Kelly
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Date: 30-Jan-25 |
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Believe the first year it was made was 1964 and it only came in 55” length. Then a couple years later they added the 58” model.
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From: Shaftcaster
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Date: 30-Jan-25 |
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Necedah was based on Root Warrior and Super Necedah was based on Root Predator , they were made alongside each other till about 69/70.
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From: Phil Magistro
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Date: 30-Jan-25 |
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Here is an excellent resource for all Shakespeare and Root bows.
https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/
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From: Mike E
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Date: 30-Jan-25 |
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I doubt you'll hear a bad word about Shakespeare's. I'm partial to the Necedah's, 55". I came across this a couple of years ago. Very nice little shooting bow at 40+ lbs.
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From: Mike E
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Date: 30-Jan-25 |
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Made in '64. Warrior Archery Milwaukee, is all it says, except for the grip being a tad little bit smaller, it's just like my Necedah, also made in '64.
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From: Tradslinger
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Date: 31-Jan-25 |
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I was blessed with a light Root Warrior to give away, it felt and shot very well. I would love to have one from 35# to 42# for myself, they seem to be a very nice bow. I can't see how you could go wrong with a decent one. The young lady loves hers now.
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From: fdp
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Date: 31-Jan-25 |
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In the early 1960s, Ernie Root partnered with Shakespeare Archery to create their first bows.
The initial models were the 1959-60 Model 100-600 bows, followed by the Wonderbow in 1961-64. The Wonderbow had a model number and an "X" designation and was succeeded by the Model X26-55 in 1963.
This bow was almost identical to the Root Warrior and measured 55 inches from nock to nock.
In 1964, the X26-55 was renamed The Necedah X26, but it remained essentially the same as its predecessor.
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From: bearmagtd
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Date: 31-Jan-25 |
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https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/ This site has all the info on Root and Shakespear .
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From: Babysaph
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Date: 31-Jan-25 |
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Is Shakespeare the same company as the fishing company?
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From: fdp
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Date: 31-Jan-25 |
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Yes.....
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From: Zbone
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Date: 01-Feb-25 |
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Bill, here is the link to the Necedah info:
https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-necedah- wonderbow.html
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From: casekiska
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Date: 01-Feb-25 |
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Thanks for the link Gary - I'll get on it.
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From: casekiska
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Date: 01-Feb-25 |
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And a thanks to all who have contributed to this thread. FYI - this info will be used at the WI Bowhunting Museum, I'm on the committee. If anyone is ever traveling Wisconsin our museum is in Clintonville at the Headquarters of the WI Bowhunters Assoc,...it's family friendly, free admission, and there's two large rooms full of donated vintage archery tackle, memorabilia, and bowhunting history. Hours vary somewhat, call ahead, 1-715-823-4670.
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From: Dale Hajas
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Date: 01-Feb-25 |
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Anybody know where I can get the silk screens for a Super Necedah? Al Harford doesn’t have them. I’m looking forward to refinishing one that was given to me:)
I’ve never heard anything but good about them.
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From: 2 bears
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Date: 01-Feb-25 |
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I have a Necedah & a Warrior. They are about as good as it gets. >>>----> Ken
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From: mahantango
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Date: 02-Feb-25 |
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One Shakespeare that you don’t hear much about is the Manitou. I have one and really like it - more so than other Shakespeares I’ve had.
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From: crookedstix
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Date: 02-Feb-25 |
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And if George Stout was still with us, he would be the first to sing the praises of the Necedah; it was one of his favorites. One of the top "bang for the buck" recurves ever made.
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From: Joe2Crow
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Date: 02-Feb-25 |
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As Kelly mentioned, it was a 55” bow in ‘64 and ‘65, then from ‘66 on it was a 58” bow. I wonder if this was because there was an issue with the shorter bow or if customers just wanted a little longer bow. For those of you who have shot both lengths, how do they compare.
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From: Zbone
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Date: 02-Feb-25 |
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A lot of good reviews on the Necedah, but don't understand why they didn't create a radius crown on the shelf... A lot of vintage recurves of that era seemed to have flat shelves, including Bear... Had these manufactures not yet discovered less contact with the shelf and/or side/side plate the better? Wonder which commercial manufacture first started rounding shelves and early ones you do see peak at center mass rather than above the deepest part of the grip... Am sure some may like them, but personally, am not a fan of flat shelves...
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From: Kelly
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Date: 02-Feb-25 |
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The Necedah and other bows of that era with flat shelved came with feather rests which created the rounded shelf.
IMO most mistakes with shelving come from putting a rest on the entire shelf whether flat or rounded. The rest should only be slightly wider than the width of the arrow and length should be kept short too. The less contact with the arrow on your rug rest the better!
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From: stagetek
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Date: 02-Feb-25 |
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My brother hunted with both the Necedah & the Super Necedah. Loved them both. My dad used an early 60's Shakespeare Wonderbow until the mid-eighties. Great bows. Wish I had them now.
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From: Shaftcaster
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Date: 02-Feb-25 |
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Having owned a few Warriors and Super N. in past I am a little intrigued with my latest Root Warrior in 60" length. Odd that that length is not recorded in literature so I am assuming Ernie was dabbling with some changes in 1969 for that model , maybe ?? See pic Shaftcaster >>>--->
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From: Piercfh
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Date: 02-Feb-25 |
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I don't think I saw any mention of the vintage archery.net website in the posts above. Along with the blog that website has Shakespeare catalogs by year. Lots of good information on both. I think they both cite each other.
There is a facebook group for Shakespeare root as well. I don't have facebook, but Ive looked at it before. You may can find the silk screens there.
As far as the Shakespeare bows go. It never ceases to amaze me when I look at one of mine, and think who could have had it and used it, but most amazing is the fact that they were produced almost 80 years ago and can be in such good working shape. I hunted with an Ocala exclusively this year. I could pick up the Necedah and hit just as well with no adjustments.
Dale, I understand what you mean with the silkscreens wearing out. If you aren't going for the like new look. You can buff one with some good carnauba cleaner wax. Like automotive. Avoid the silkscreens when you buff. In most cases this brings one around enough to suit me.
I did do one with steel wool and tru oil. Couldn't believe how easy it was. Very similar finish.
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From: Lowcountry
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Date: 02-Feb-25 |
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Search this site. There should be a ton of info on here. Ernie Root’s son posted some great info on here several years ago. If I get a chance, I will see if I can find those old posts, but they should be on here for everyone to see.
If I remember correctly, when Shakespeare decided to move to Columbia, SC, Ernie Root bowed out shortly there after.
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From: Mpdh
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Date: 03-Feb-25 |
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They were made right here in Kalamazoo. Lots of them were sold from Shau Powell sporting goods store in downtown Kzoo.
MP
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From: Dale Hajas
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Date: 03-Feb-25 |
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So here’s my serial #C 4323S
I read this as a March 1974 323rd bow made S equaling Super Necedah I can barely make out the number “30” on the silkscreen. The website says only the X- 32 was made in 1974 and the x-30 was discontinued in 1973.I would assume this to be a cross over year due to the multiple woods in the riser?
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From: Longcruise
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Date: 03-Feb-25 |
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Where does the super necedah 54" fit into all this?
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From: Piercfh
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Date: 03-Feb-25 |
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I think he's just sharing his bow and looking for info to clean it up.
In the catalog they say this bow is made from a laminate of decorative shedua and zebra woods.
So that riser configuration was normal.
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From: Colonel
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Date: 10-Feb-25 |
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Just bought a 1964 Necedah with original feather rest. Great shooting bow!! Perfect shape
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From: sawtooth
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Date: 10-Feb-25 |
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I owned one, purchased from Gerber's in Kazoo way back in the day, nice bow.
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