Does anyone know who made the bows for Herter's? Were the bows made by other manufacturers with the Herter's name on them or did Herter's have their own bowyers?
Pretty sure they made them in-house.
I seem to remember reading on an old thread that their bowyer was Bob Barrie?
Thanks, Kevin. I found a couple of threads that mentioned Bob Barrie.
Time to do some more digging.
They did have a metal handle target and hunting takedown. Would be interesting to find out who cast those handles?
I was looking real hard at a Perfection Sitka on the blanket at Denton Hill.It had a beautiful rosewood riser with horns like a Black Widow.The price was a little steep and I passed.Are they shooters???
QuoteOriginally posted by 4406v:
I was looking real hard at a Perfection Sitka on the blanket at Denton Hill.It had a beautiful rosewood riser with horns like a Black Widow.The price was a little steep and I passed.Are they shooters???
The Sitka was my first Herters bow, IMHO not their fastest bow due to it's geometry but very stable and forgiving. Also very nice on the eyes. I (we) still own one and my wife shoots it regularly on the field archery course. A capable bow that is a pleasure to shoot...
4406v - I saw the same Herters Sitka at Denton, and they were asking too much. I have a large number of Herters bows, and they are really good shooters. I have the Magnum Take Downs and one piece bows , and the Sitka Hunters as well as the target versions, as well as other Herters models. The fastest bow in my collection is the Herters Perfection Magnum take down 62"- it really spits them out.
what years did they make the Sitka with horns? I saw one that was only 44" long that I wish I had bought.
Lucas
The Sitka, 1967 - 1978 as far as I can tell...
I have a 1966 Sitka with Honduran Rosewood handle.
Dave
Glad you Herter's collectors are on this thread... This Herter's has a sicker Perfection Sitka 66" on it.
The serial number written on it is K-660867007. Guessing it is a 1966 model? It is 32# @ 28".
4406v - Is this anything like the one you saw at Denton? I don't collect Herter's bows and really don't know much about them other than some had a lot of great wood in the risers.
(http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo301/WadePhillips/HETERS1.jpg)
The serial number reads as follows:
K-66/08/67/007. This means the bow is 66" inches, produced in the 8th month of 1967, and was the 7th bow produced in that month. I too have a 66" Sitka, 50# and it is a dream to shoot!
Sweet bow Wade, the 60's Herters bows were the best IMHO. Quality Rosewood and nice curves ;)
I heard that the yellow mustard colored glass Herters put on some of there bows was imported from Germany.They say its the best limb Glass in the world.Just something that I heard.
Dave - Thanks so much for the education about the Herter's serial numbers. I wish all bow manufacturer's serial numbers were that straight forward to read.
Do you know what month in 1967 the Sitka was first produced?
After posting the photographs, I strung it shot several dozen arrows through it. I was impressed with how well it shot.
Brian - Yes, Quality Rosewood and lots of it. I already checked and it looks like it would be possible to cut a solid 1-piece 1959 Kodiak riser out the Sitka riser. There would probably be enough scraps left over to glue up for a second 1959 Kodiak riser.
Rick, that DOES sound like something George Herter would have written... :readit:
And we all know that ever scrap of advertising that George L. Herter published was the unbiased truth...
:bigsmyl:
Thats gospel truth Wade. LOL
Lucas & Kevin -
Well, come to think of it, there might have been an instance to two where their catalog advertising or descriptions may have slightly embellished the truth.
PT Barnum was a rank amateur.... ;)
The glass on Herters bows is Farbenglass, from Germany. Always mustard and black except on target models of 66" or longer, then it was white, and on CV-17 International Match Hunter models of the 70's, it was green and black.