Special bow

[Lost Lake]

I've been a traditional archer for many, many years. Even when I took a hiatus from bowhunting for awhile, I couldn't get it out of my blood. Recently, I've had an itch to collect a few old Bear recurves, not only because they're just plain cool, but also because they were what the guys who were my archery idols hunted with when I was a kid. Even though I've built tons of selfbows and have a few custom recurves and longbows, I'm still drawn to the old Bear bows.

My father was KIA in Vietnam when I was four months old, but I'd been asked to take his place in a Reunion group of men with whom he served. One of these fellows is a gem of a guy, and he'd heard about my interest in those old bows while we were at a reunion.

A few days before this past Thanksgiving, he and his wife made the trip from Jamestown to surprise me with a gift. An old 1960's Bear Tigercat recurve that his father had bought for him as a hunting bow when he was in High School.

The meaning of this is beyond special, and the urge to hunt and take a deer with this bow is overwhelming. Not many 60 year old bows look and shoot this good.

I made a new Flemish string for it, added a Selway quiver, and it shoots 2016 XX75's like a dream. Here's a 20 yard group just playing around.

 

[david k.]

Nice!!!

Great story and congratulations....I have that exact same bow...about 30 years ago a neighbor had it in their carport sale and I think I gave him about $10 for it, and felt like I took advantage of him, LOL!

That is a great bow for sure and I hope you smoke one with it.

 

[Lost Lake]

Nice!!!

Great story and congratulations....I have that exact same bow...about 30 years ago a neighbor had it in their carport sale and I think I gave him about $10 for it, and felt like I took advantage of him, LOL!

That is a great bow for sure and I hope you smoke one with it.

Thank you! I hope to get lucky with it. I know it's previous owner would be happy!

 

[Buzzard Breath]

Wow! Thanks for sharing your story. That's a great looking bow and the autumn orange arrows are fitting. In looking forward to reading about your season.

 

[DoubleRidge]

Great story! Beautiful bow! Congratulations!

 

[Lost Lake]

Wow! Thanks for sharing your story. That's a great looking bow and the autumn orange arrows are fitting. In looking forward to reading about your season.

Thank you! Buck Hollow Bowhunters has a vintage bow shoot in July. Figure I'll give it a whirl there and try to keep in tune with it.

 

[Lost Lake]

Great story! Beautiful bow! Congratulations!

Thank you!

 

[Iglow]

Nice!!! A stick bow and a couple of judo point arrows literally makes the whole world your archery range. From 10 feet to 60 yards , what ever catches your eye is the target, no bags or bales needed.

 

[Lost Lake]

Nice!!! A stick bow and a couple of judo point arrows literally makes the whole world your archery range. From 10 feet to 60 yards , what ever catches your eye is the target, no bags or bales needed.

That's right! Roving and stump shooting is the best practice that I can get.

 

[Ski]

Nice!!! A stick bow and a couple of judo point arrows literally makes the whole world your archery range. From 10 feet to 60 yards , what ever catches your eye is the target, no bags or bales needed.

You just described my childhood. Many times I cut a maple or hickory sapling, tied on a stretch of twine, and used dead standing golden rod weeds as arrows. My first real recurve was a Ben Pearson that I had for eons. I was a stump killing champion!

 

[Wooden Arrow]

An old 1960's Bear Tigercat recurve that his father had bought for him as a hunting bow when he was in High School.

they made that bow as a 58" AMO for one year, even more of a collectors item...good bows !