Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Selfbowman on March 09, 2024, 10:33:40 pm
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I was gifted this unusual set .
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Metal bow with to sets of string knocks.
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Pic
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im not sure how old it is but its cool
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Way cool. 8)
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Very cool gift. I remember seeing something about metal bows somewhere. Don’t remember where.
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Around 1935-55 there were a couple of manufacturers, of steel archery bows, Seefab (Swedish), and Accles(English). I have a few in my bow collection.
I have shot some of them, they are okay but not spectacular with cast. I was warned against shooting them due to being made of hollow tubular steel pipe, and the interior was prone to rust. Even spring steel will eventually work harden and break, even when not rusty.
By the late 1940's, fibreglass composites began to be used and they performed better than steel and didn't break, so the popularity of the modern steel bow didn't last long.
There were also a few American steel bows made. I think they were a bit different, flat bar steel, or aluminum with a built up handle, instead of being 2 piece joined at the handle.
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made of hollow tubular steel pipe,.
is that the construction in the pics Arvin posted above?
Is the tubing in the tubular designs drawn into a tapered tube or tillered in a different way?
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Willie, I have my bows stored away, not very accessible at the moment, or I would have a look. From memory the Accles bows look similar to the one in the photo, quite slender, whilst the Seefab ones are a little wider. The Accles are black or green, two models , the Merlin, and maybe the Falcon. Seefabs are an ochre/ orange colour paint.
The limbs are tillered/tapered, by being drawn into shape(like you thought), rather than subtractive work like you do with a wood bow. The bows could easily and consistently be manufactured as opposed to needing a bowyer to individually work each bow.
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Interesting! The double string nock, I believe, is there so you can use a second long string as a stringer. I used to have a wooden bow with double nocks and it took calling the maker to learn why. ;D
Those blunts are cool looking. Are the "points" wood? Self-carved or glued on?
Was the beer part of the set? ;)
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Ya the blunts are part of the shaft on some with cork on the ends I think. Plastic knock so probably early 50s guessing.
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Here's a nice link re: metal bows. It has more information about manufacture, brands and models. It mentions Tru Temper Bows a US company that made bows from tubing as well. https://www.bow-international.com/features/the-history-of-metal-bows/
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Those arrows may be Popin Jay blunts. Made for a game of shooting a live bird tethered to the top of a pole.
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Somewhere around here i have a similar arrow that was made in Germany , at least it has German writing on it
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Careful with shooting this bow! - From all I know these old tubular steelbows have a tendency to explode without any signe of warning when drawn due to corrosion on the inside!
I once met someone with a personal experience. Not nice at all...
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Heck the shock when I shot it was enough for me.🤠🤠🤠