Inherited two recurve bows

[seth30]

I just inherited two re curve bows that are  over 50 years old.  My  Great Grandpa used these to hunt with back in Montana.  I got a bow string on one of them, but not sure that the string will stay on if I pull it all the way back.  Any idea if it will stay on or not?  Is there a lifespan on wood bows?  I know one of them will not be shot due to the wood peeling away from itself.  Would like to use one for the upcoming season and be the 4th generation to harvest with it, but if not will hang it on my wall.    Any help is greatly appreciated!

[seth30]

pics

[pianoman9701]

They look pretty cool. I would take it to an archery shop that knows their stuff about recurve and longbow hunting, or even better, if there's a bowyer nearby.

[bowNarrow]

I'm no pro but the string needs to go on the other side of the bow in those grooves on the limb

[pianoman9701]

Seven Meadows might be a good resource. I don't know anything about them.
http://www.sevenmeadowsarchery.com/

[Blacktail Sniper]

I'm no pro but the string needs to go on the other side of the bow in those grooves on the limb

 

[pianoman9701]

I'm no pro but the string needs to go on the other side of the bow in those grooves on the limb

I think he's just keeping the string like that while it's unstrung. 

[quadrafire]

Yes the string is on backwards, pick up a recurve stringer to help w/ stringing.

[Blacktail Sniper]

I just inherited two re curve bows that are  over 50 years old.  My  Great Grandpa used these to hunt with back in Montana. I got a bow string on one of them, but not sure that the string will stay on if I pull it all the way back.  Any idea if it will stay on or not?  Is there a lifespan on wood bows?  I know one of them will not be shot due to the wood peeling away from itself.  Would like to use one for the upcoming season and be the 4th generation to harvest with it, but if not will hang it on my wall.    Any help is greatly appreciated!

I believe this is why the comments about the bowstring on backwards...

[JDHasty]

That delamination should be fixable, being that it is at the tip.  I used to build a lot of Bingham bow kits when I was a kid.  High strength epoxy and cut a piece of wood with a band say and then use a rsp make certain that you get even pressure and then make sure it is all lined up correctly 

[Todd_ID]

4 bucks worth of 60 minute epoxy syringe and a clamp will fix that tip. And, yeah, string is on wrong side of handle. 

[JDHasty]

You want all the tensile strength & peel strength you can get at the tip, shear strength is not as important as if you were trying to deal with a delam in any other area other than the riser or the tip.   

http://www.devcon.com/UserFiles/File/Epoxies.pdf

[seth30]

Thanks for the inputs guys!  I work nights now, so looks like a day trip to a bow shop is in order  

[pianoman9701]

I just inherited two re curve bows that are  over 50 years old.  My  Great Grandpa used these to hunt with back in Montana. I got a bow string on one of them, but not sure that the string will stay on if I pull it all the way back.  Any idea if it will stay on or not?  Is there a lifespan on wood bows?  I know one of them will not be shot due to the wood peeling away from itself.  Would like to use one for the upcoming season and be the 4th generation to harvest with it, but if not will hang it on my wall.    Any help is greatly appreciated!

I believe this is why the comments about the bowstring on backwards...

Now I see. Sometimes, I'm a little quick at giving the benefit of the doubt.

[Da stump]

 

I'm no pro but the string needs to go on the other side of the bow in those grooves on the limb