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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: ZaneD on June 17, 2007, 11:09:00 PM

Title: Has this happened to you???? (friends bow blew up)
Post by: ZaneD on June 17, 2007, 11:09:00 PM
Yesterday at a 3D shoot we were talking to a gentleman about a Centrar that he got a few months ago and so he says "here, shoot it". So my dad picks up his nice $800 bow and nocks an arrow, begins to draw it and my dad gets it back about 26"-27" and POW, the bottom limb breaks just above the tip. And there's carbon and wood flapping around. Fortunately the he watched my dad do it and saw that he did nothing wrong, and assured us that it was guaranteed. Does anyone have an idea why this happened??
Title: Re: Has this happened to you???? (friends bow blew up)
Post by: Shakes.602 on June 18, 2007, 02:13:00 PM
MAJOR BUMMER!!  :scared:   I feel Sorry for All involved, BUT Nobody got Hurt, at least thats what I get from your Post!
  Gremlins. The Sneaky Archery Gremlins Did it! Or it could have been Poor Workmanship, or a List of Many Other Possibilities.   :readit:  
   It would be Interesting on How the Dealer Handles it, and what Really Did cause the Boo-Boo to begin with.  :confused:  
       Glad Nobody got Hurt Though!! Live to Shoot Another Day!!  :archer:
Title: Re: Has this happened to you???? (friends bow blew up)
Post by: eagle24 on June 18, 2007, 02:26:00 PM
The possibility for that to happen with any bow exists (IMO).  I would'nt pass judgement on the bow or bowyer from one isolated instance.  Good nobody was injured, the bow can be replaced.
Title: Re: Has this happened to you???? (friends bow blew up)
Post by: bjk on June 18, 2007, 02:35:00 PM
Bows are made from wood and glue...the possibility of it happening is always there.

Good that your Dad came out without any lumps.
Title: Re: Has this happened to you???? (friends bow blew up)
Post by: JEFF B on June 18, 2007, 03:00:00 PM
i had a selfbow go on me not so long ago not a good look but these things happen.  :scared:
Title: Re: Has this happened to you???? (friends bow blew up)
Post by: Steelhead on June 18, 2007, 03:29:00 PM
Have had 2 bows blow up in 15 years.On one the top limb almost broke in half at full draw.On another it broke in half at the throat of grip.once again at full draw.I wouldnt blame the bowyer.All the top bowyers IMO try to assemble the best product they can.Some variables are out of their control.Like material failures etc.One of the bows was replaced with no charge and even had some upgrades put on it.Compensation for the huge knot on my forehead.It was worth it LOL
Title: Re: Has this happened to you???? (friends bow blew up)
Post by: Curveman on June 18, 2007, 03:30:00 PM
Happened to me once in a 62# bow. The buf horn tip sheered off and took some lim lam with it. I confess it is pretty scary when that happens! the company sent me a new set, no hassles. It could happene with any bow-even one made with manmade materials.
Title: Re: Has this happened to you???? (friends bow blew up)
Post by: mike g on June 18, 2007, 04:52:00 PM
I was with Bill Price (bowyer)in Oregon at a shoot....
   While we where on the practic range he had me try one of his Pyramid style self bows, and after I shot it a few times it made a tic sound and I looked at him worried and he said he thought it was the guy next to me, So I pulled back again and at full draw the bow literly exploded pieces went everywhere, He laughed and told me to try another one....
   It's definetly a wierd feeling when a bow goes in your hands....
Title: Re: Has this happened to you???? (friends bow blew up)
Post by: Steertalker on June 18, 2007, 05:23:00 PM
Had 3 Bear Super Kodiaks in row break at the limb fadeouts.
Title: Re: Has this happened to you???? (friends bow blew up)
Post by: Eric Krewson on June 18, 2007, 06:14:00 PM
Back in my dark era I had two different wheel bow limbs come apart on me, that is why I am a strictily a selfbow shooter today. Break a limb, make another bow, no problem, no companys to deal with.
Title: Re: Has this happened to you???? (friends bow blew up)
Post by: rainman on June 18, 2007, 06:18:00 PM
Had a Coco Bolo bamboo backed bow blow on me at 25" on the tiller tree today.  It's a bummer when it happens but you have to get back on the horse.

Dan Raney
Title: Re: Has this happened to you???? (friends bow blew up)
Post by: MikeM on June 18, 2007, 06:22:00 PM
I recently had a lower limb delaminate as I got to full draw on a bow from a top notch bowyer. His evaluation was a weakness in both the lamination and in the glue. Said it could also have been affected by the string groves being cut too deep. He is in the process af making me new limbs but it is taking some time - been a little over a month. Hope it's not too much longer.
MikeM
Title: Re: Has this happened to you???? (friends bow blew up)
Post by: Woodduck on June 18, 2007, 11:53:00 PM
Back in the '80s, had a Bear Alaskan compound riser blow/explode! I think it was magnesium.

Scared me good. Had a quiver full of razor heads on the bow too. They went everywhere. The top limb knocked my hat over my eyes and stunned me. I thought I was blinded...ha.
I like wood, glass, or carbon, laminates, now.
Title: Re: Has this happened to you???? (friends bow blew up)
Post by: paleFace on June 19, 2007, 12:53:00 AM
got beat up by an ash self bow i was building 2 years ago. when she went i was left holding about a 12" section of the riser/handle. the top limb struck me on top of the head and as i came too i felt the blood trickling down my face. the bow was in 7 pieces scattered around the yard. wood was to dry...
Title: Re: Has this happened to you???? (friends bow blew up)
Post by: JIM B on June 19, 2007, 09:10:00 AM
had an old pearson recurve explode at full draw i don't think anyone can be prepared for these unexpected events.
Title: Re: Has this happened to you???? (friends bow blew up)
Post by: 6 POINT on June 19, 2007, 09:43:00 AM
I've had two bows explode on me both of them at full draw. I heard a very light tick on the draw before they  blew. If I ever hear that tick again the bow won't be drawn another time. Both times I was hurt but not seriously. Quite a rush. Frank
Title: Re: Has this happened to you???? (friends bow blew up)
Post by: JIM B on June 19, 2007, 11:06:00 AM
6 point, mine made that same sound  tick.boom! ten years ago and i still cringe.
Title: Re: Has this happened to you???? (friends bow blew up)
Post by: Bill Shepard on June 19, 2007, 01:55:00 PM
All of these posts sound like good reason to wear a hat and maybe even safety glasses when shooting.  

Getting hit on the noggin with a piece of bow limb just sounds painful.   :eek:
Title: Re: Has this happened to you???? (friends bow blew up)
Post by: M60gunner on June 19, 2007, 03:33:00 PM
Glad to hear no one was hurt. I have seen bows break, recurves, compounds mostly. Back in the mid70`s when the compounds used cast mag. handles it was not a question of if it was when on some brands of bows. I had one break a cable. Almost as bad as an accidental discharge with an M-16 rifle. I too went back to a recurve shortly after that happened.
Title: Re: Has this happened to you???? (friends bow blew up)
Post by: J.Nordwell on July 07, 2007, 08:35:00 PM
When I shot compounds I was adjusting the tiller and had the bottom limb bolt strip out of the riser and blew apart in my lap!!!!!!!!!! Sounded like a .38 going off. It sent the limb bolt over my 1.5 yr olds head. Luckly we both came out of it without a bump.
Title: Re: Has this happened to you???? (friends bow blew up)
Post by: mmgrode on July 07, 2007, 11:43:00 PM
It sure has a way of making you appreciate your face in the order it's in when you have a limb explode into proverbial shrapnel. It makes you appreciate it even more when both limbs explode at the exact same time. Now that was something. I was pushing the limits on a maple board bow and shot it a couple times when KABOOM!! splinters flying everywhere. It took several seconds for all the splinters to fall from the air. When the dust settled I was there holding what was left of the riser.  I didn't need to go to the bathroom after that one;) I've never seen that many splinters in my life. It really was pretty cool but I thank the good Lord I wasn't hurt. I now always wear safety glasses when working on bows, and many times a baseball cap for a little bit more protection from the unexpected.  Cheers, Matt
Title: Re: Has this happened to you???? (friends bow blew up)
Post by: Weekend Warrior on July 07, 2007, 11:54:00 PM
Had a riser break completly into on a compound, had a tear drop bread also...Luckly not hurt

Had a week old recurve top limb splinter from tip to limb bolt.. I got lots of splinters in my arm left a pretty good blood trail back to the  house.
Title: Re: Has this happened to you???? (friends bow blew up)
Post by: Plywood Bender-laptop on July 08, 2007, 12:04:00 AM
At Denton Hill a few years ago a friend of mine pulled back a Border bow in their booth.  One of the limbs just came apart.
Title: Re: Has this happened to you???? (friends bow blew up)
Post by: StickBowManMI on July 08, 2007, 10:10:00 PM
I have had three top of the line bows break. Two brand new bows split at the grip and were replaced by the bowyer. The third bow had a 70 Lb (draw weight)limb delaminate at full draw. This was also replaced by the bowyer. I had a bow that I took in trade at ETAR split at the handle after about 100 arrows were shot through it by me. Unfortunately, I needed 9 stitches in my scalp from this bow. First time that I ever walked into an emergency room and was taken care of immediately. Didn't even fill out the paperwork until after the first aid was completed.
Title: Re: Has this happened to you???? (friends bow blew up)
Post by: Doug S on July 08, 2007, 10:22:00 PM
I have had 5 break while in draw. A Widow recurve I shot for years, Palmer longbow ( a friends new bow), A longbow by a bowyer now out of business, A laminated longbow I made and took 3rd at Cloverdale with 1 year, and a riser on an unknown 3 pc recurve. I think every bowyer out there has had a bow or 3 break. It's going to happen.