Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: TacticalFate on March 01, 2014, 09:06:49 pm

Title: Old yew bow ID
Post by: TacticalFate on March 01, 2014, 09:06:49 pm
My friend bought this at a flea market for $20, no markings of any kind and backed with what looks like sinew or linen. Can anybody help ID it? From flexing it against the floor, feels like 70-80 lbs

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tCtAc8Ax2NY/UxJMseAt0lI/AAAAAAAABuo/86ZLxw-ceO4/w1085-h610-no/IMG_0236.JPG)
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-3QAd0QL6JfM/UxJMjlOpOlI/AAAAAAAABuM/YCseixpoWMU/w343-h610-no/IMG_0237.JPG)
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-rgd2nfCSIzI/UxJMCMAjJVI/AAAAAAAABsU/te0A3u8va8A/w343-h610-no/IMG_0238.JPG)
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-NZiXlkVUGuU/UxJMYMgnMDI/AAAAAAAABtY/W5E4BSH17Kk/w1085-h610-no/IMG_0240.JPG)
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-4VRjc4nOyFU/UxJL7Y_yjcI/AAAAAAAABr4/LeRRh7gsiSQ/w1085-h610-no/IMG_0241.JPG)
Title: Re: Old yew bow ID
Post by: huisme on March 01, 2014, 09:33:12 pm
No idea, but that thing is gorgeous!
Title: Re: Old yew bow ID
Post by: Hamish on March 01, 2014, 09:36:40 pm
Looks like a very well made bow, probably from the 1940's.Yep, looks like sinew backing the yew. Without any markings or a provenance, it would be hard to attribute it definitively to any known bowyer. Still a lovely bow, and an absolute bargain for $20.
Looks like it could still be a shooter, with careful bracing, and exercising. If you don't already know the details on how to attempt this safely, let us know and someone will chime in. There is always a risk with and old bow, even in an apparently good condition.
                                                                           Hamish.
Title: Re: Old yew bow ID
Post by: Badger on March 01, 2014, 09:55:15 pm
    Looks like a very well made bow, it may loose several pounds by the time you excersise it out to full draw. They made some good bows back then.
Title: Re: Old yew bow ID
Post by: Carson (CMB) on March 02, 2014, 12:02:35 am
That is a piece of junk.  Want to double your money?  >:D

I think Glenn St Charles used the skived leather handle wrap, but I am sure he wasn't the only one. 

That is a beauty.  I am glad to hear you plan to string it up and shoot it.  Just take it slow.   :)  and let us know how she shoots. 
Title: Re: Old yew bow ID
Post by: burchett.donald on March 02, 2014, 12:17:56 am
 Who ever owned that bow knew how to take care of it...Still reflexed, probably never left strung like so many other old bows...
Title: Re: Old yew bow ID
Post by: NeolithicMan on March 02, 2014, 10:17:00 am
Now that is a sweet find! cant wait to hear about some arrows screaming out of her!
Title: Re: Old yew bow ID
Post by: IdahoMatt on March 02, 2014, 11:49:18 am
Wow that's a cool piece of history right there. Glad to here you are planning on shooting it. 
Title: Re: Old yew bow ID
Post by: TacticalFate on March 02, 2014, 11:53:27 am
Nah, I'm not planning on shooting it, it's much too heavy for my friend, so it's her wall hanger.
Title: Re: Old yew bow ID
Post by: Fred Arnold on March 02, 2014, 12:34:26 pm
That's a beauty!! Tell your friend I'll give her 3 wallhangers for that one. ;D
Title: Re: Old yew bow ID
Post by: medicinewheel on March 03, 2014, 02:18:59 am
That thing still holds it's reflex, must be realy well made!
Title: Re: Old yew bow ID
Post by: Bryce on March 03, 2014, 03:08:47 am
Ive seen an L. E. Stemmler youth bow that looked almost identical to that there. Minus the sinew.

Carson is probably right sense he's the archery historian :)
Title: Re: Old yew bow ID
Post by: ohma2 on March 03, 2014, 11:49:35 am
I would contact glens son he could probably shed some light on it. cant imagine walking up to that and giving $ 20.00 for it congrats,







420
Title: Re: Old yew bow ID
Post by: Onebowonder on March 03, 2014, 11:56:16 am
Would you mind to post some measurements on the bow sir?  ...that's quite a find to be sure!

OneBow


 
Title: Re: Old yew bow ID
Post by: TacticalFate on March 03, 2014, 12:22:22 pm
The friend who bought the bow told me she was making an account here, so I'll ask her to post the specs.
Title: Re: Old yew bow ID
Post by: JW_Halverson on March 03, 2014, 10:48:25 pm
For $20 I would have thrown my wallet at his head, ran off down the street with the bow in my arms, cackling like a mad hen!

"Precious!  Oh my precious! I loves my precious, I do!" 
Title: Re: Old yew bow ID
Post by: Blacktail on March 04, 2014, 12:08:14 am
MAN,if i had 100 bucks i would give to you in trade...i will say this i don't know the maker...BUT the wood is very high quality wood..the rings look pretty tight...what a great find...john
Title: Re: Old yew bow ID
Post by: Badger on March 04, 2014, 12:18:39 am
   A young mas showed up at one of our Pasadena meets with an old yew bow. One of the guys who hangs with us is well into his eighties and thought he recognized the bow. Once he looked it over he discovered he had built that bow himself over 50 years prior. The bow shot as good as the day he made it.
Title: Re: Old yew bow ID
Post by: snag on March 04, 2014, 12:49:06 am
Very cool Badger.   It's great to see a well built selfbow does last. 
Title: Re: Old yew bow ID
Post by: dwardo on March 04, 2014, 05:38:12 am
   A young mas showed up at one of our Pasadena meets with an old yew bow. One of the guys who hangs with us is well into his eighties and thought he recognized the bow. Once he looked it over he discovered he had built that bow himself over 50 years prior. The bow shot as good as the day he made it.

Brilliant story.
Title: Re: Old yew bow ID
Post by: bloodstone on March 04, 2014, 01:34:21 pm
Hey all, I'm the owner of the yew bow. I made an account. I'm more than willing to get some measurements on it for everybody. I may eventually try to string it again. Last time I tried the string slipped off the nocks. They seem well warn so I may need to deepen them. I've been reluctant to do anything to it, it is really nice
Title: Re: Old yew bow ID
Post by: Bryce on March 04, 2014, 02:27:03 pm
Take it SLOW

Who knows how long it's been since it's been strung or shot.

Put on a long string and work it in a bit. Any sign of trouble, call it quits.
Title: Re: Old yew bow ID
Post by: PatM on March 04, 2014, 06:09:13 pm
I wouldn't mess with the nocks. The bow could have pretty steep value if you can id the maker.
Title: Re: Old yew bow ID
Post by: JW_Halverson on March 04, 2014, 07:18:51 pm
   A young mas showed up at one of our Pasadena meets with an old yew bow. One of the guys who hangs with us is well into his eighties and thought he recognized the bow. Once he looked it over he discovered he had built that bow himself over 50 years prior. The bow shot as good as the day he made it.

This defines the concept of passing along the tradition! 

Hey all, I'm the owner of the yew bow. I made an account. I'm more than willing to get some measurements on it for everybody. I may eventually try to string it again. Last time I tried the string slipped off the nocks. They seem well warn so I may need to deepen them. I've been reluctant to do anything to it, it is really nice

Congratulations on the excellent find!  You are the Indiana Jones of archery!
Title: Re: Old yew bow ID
Post by: bloodstone on March 05, 2014, 10:46:21 pm
The bow is 67 in long. 1.25 inches at mid limb. The fade goes 5 in from the center of the handle. The handle is 2 in deep. Are there any other measurements anybody wants
Title: Re: Old yew bow ID
Post by: JW_Halverson on March 05, 2014, 11:05:52 pm
The bow is 67 in long. 1.25 inches at mid limb. The fade goes 5 in from the center of the handle. The handle is 2 in deep. Are there any other measurements anybody wants

Careful folks, this is a family oriented site!!! 
Title: Re: Old yew bow ID
Post by: Wiley on March 06, 2014, 01:29:15 am
Even with the risk that comes with shooting an old bow, if it were mine I would definitely want to provided everything about it seemed sound. I like to think that whoever made it would have liked to see it still shooting after all these years. I would consider sending it to an experienced bowyer to examine it closely before shooting it, i'm sure there are those on here that would volunteer for that task, you may even find someone that is fairly local.

I can imagine finding such a thing and shooting it even just a few times would feel like I did when I had the chance to fire a 102 year old 1911. Even a WWI war relic deserves it's moment in the sun every decade or so. I would feel similar if I found an old yew bow that was in good working order.
Title: Re: Old yew bow ID
Post by: PatM on March 06, 2014, 01:49:21 am
Plus who doesn't want to see a sinewed longbow shoot?  >:D