For years and years.....maybe 10+ years.....just put away years ago in a strung condition by the owner ...limbs are straight.
Unstring it, check it out, re-string it, draw it...just like you would any other bow. If it's a laminated bow, it should be fine--just like if it had sat for 10 years unstrung. Buy or borrow a scale and check the weight, but keep in mind that some bows weren't marked exactly right in the beginning.
Thank you....makes sense.
It would be nice if you could shoot it. Bows are very personal things, and you can tell a lot by shooting one.
I bought a Super K from the early 70s that had been strung for 15 years, When unstrung an compared to a similar bow, it was not the same, it had a set. I got the bow $20 after the owner saw that. It also seemed to draw light. I do not know if it ever came back to its original shape as I did not have another to compare it to after that. What happened next, I picked up a Red Wing pro of the same stated on the riser poundage, they were not even close. Those Slimline Wing Pros are fast, it maybe was not a fare comparison, I gave the Super K away, it is still in use.
Just guessing, but the temperature and humidity where it was stored could be a factor. If it was stored in an indoor man cave, probably fine. If it was stored in a barn in south Florida, I would be worried.
Around 1989 when my then father in-law passed I was given a 1969 bear alaskan recurve he had.
It had been strung for an unknown amount of time , resting on it's lower tip propped up in the Corner of a closet.
It scaled at 46#, originally a 50#'er.
The limbs were straight and I shot that bow for 20+ yrs.
It now belongs to my adult son and he's has had no issues.
Just check it out carefully.
Pulled it back a few times slowly and it was all fine but the string was tattered and not trustworthy.....so we will get a new string on and see how it goes.....seemed to deliver all of the advertised 40 lbs but will scale and finally get down the road. $60.00....had to go with it.
I had a similar situation..strung for so many years the string loop actually left an indentation on the wood tip overlay. I unstrung it for a week and then put a new string on it. No worries..it was fine.