As I noted in a previous topic about finding a '59 Kodiak MSW, in the lot was a small fiberglass Locksley bow with an unusual contraption attached.
It's called an "Air-Bow" and was made by Indoor Archery, Inc. out of Melbourne, FL.
(http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac44/hayslope1/Bows/DSC_0619.jpg)
(http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac44/hayslope1/Bows/DSC_0621.jpg)
It obviously was designed to allow a shooter to draw and release indoors without actually launching the arrow. It appears to use air pressure. The tube is lined with plastic. The little Locksley bow has a bit of a crack in the upper limb and being a horizontal crack, I've been VERY hesitant to do much more than a partial draw and release. Anyhow, it works like a charm.
This little bow came with an assortment of attachments...sight, clicker and a wood block which I guess made an easier attachment area than the fiberglass limbs.
The arrow is fiberglass with a plastic vane mounting sleeve.
Has anyone else seen one an Air-Bow.....or better yet, owned and used one?
It still had some old paper attached to the front (on the verge of disintegrating) with company info, safety info and the typical disclaimer-type language printed.
The first sentence says "This device is built to attach to regular bows only." So my guess is that this was designed and built in the early days of wheelie bows......and before someone decided to coin the term "traditional" bow!
Printed on the paper is:
Air-Bow Indoor Archery, Inc.
P.O. Box 361653 Melbourne, Florida 32936 U.S.A.
This device is built to attach to regular bows only. It is dangerous to point this or any weapon at a person. Particularly dangerous for eye and ear injuries. Operate this system with all necessary protective gear. Observe all safety rules.
U.S. Pat. Pending Made in U.S.A.
If I can figure out how to actually mount it on another bow without damaging the bow, I think I will enjoy this thing. Would probably be great for "eyes closed - blank bale shooting"......without the bale and indoors to boot! Given the amount of snow we have right now....that wouldn't be too difficult to take!!!
Has anyone else seen one of these?
(http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac44/hayslope1/Bows/DSC_0624.jpg)
(http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac44/hayslope1/Bows/DSC_0622.jpg)
(http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac44/hayslope1/Bows/DSC_0623.jpg)
I have a video here of a newer version called The Idaho Paint Bow. In the video they had a very similar device mounted on compounds. It would fire a paint ball driven by the compressed air. These guys were out there in the toolies in their cammies shooting each other. This video(VHS) probably dates to the late 80s to early 90s.
Someone still makes a model today(I can't remember the manufacture)kind of like the air-bow same deal.It mounts to the arrow rest in your riser and the same system compressed air stops the arrow.Those are a pretty cool device and would be great to pratice a clean release bd
Can it shoot a BB or a lead pellet?
QuoteOriginally posted by Stumpkiller:
Can it shoot a BB or a lead pellet?
I don't think so......it seems to be designed and sized for arrows.