Double Lever Action – Self Stringing – Take Down Recurve

Wade Phillips · January 12, 2009, 03:45:00 PM

Has anyone seen other Lever Action variations of This Sylvester Chessman, Double Lever Action – Self Stringing – Take Down Recurve?

Chessman's 1961 patent application illustrates this same design missing the Lever Action which begs the question, what other Take-Down/Break-Down/Take-Apart bows did he produce that were not shown on his patent?

EricW · January 12, 2009, 04:22:00 PM

Saw that one at the NTA redezvous last year, right? Very cool bow.
Eric

PAPALAPIN · January 12, 2009, 07:44:00 PM

Hey Wade...

Haven't seen you here in a while. Great to have you check in.

sticknstring+ · January 13, 2009, 02:13:00 AM

Wade - your lever action Chessman is awesome. I just picked up my Chessman in November and posted the picks here to see if anyone has one or has seen one and got no response. The only thing I could find out at all was the patent info you spoke of. I thought mine was unique, the wood work over the metal is very different and kind of pretty, but that lever action self stringing beauty is unreal! Thanks for posting it. If you look back to the end of November my pics are still there. Do you know of many others my plain jane variety Chessman out there?
Very nice bow, I love the proto's and exp's. Greg

Wade Phillips · January 13, 2009, 02:46:00 PM

Jack - Good to see you are still at it. Yes, I'm back after a 4-year non-voluntary sabbatical.

Greg – Have 5 Chessman bows, each is a little different, but only the one Double Lever Action Self-Stinger. Your bow looks similar to the top one. Never guessed that he made two the same.

I keep playing with the second one from the bottom as the metal is partially open. I'm thinking it is some how a Chinese Puzzle Box Design and when I push or slide the proper spot, the metal will suddenly spring open and the limbs will fold back or slide out... I will let you know if I ever figure it out.

hormoan · January 13, 2009, 04:13:00 PM

Those are really neat Wade, Thanks for sharing some very unique bows!

Liquid Amber · January 14, 2009, 07:33:00 AM

You always have the coolest toys.

sticknstring+ · January 14, 2009, 12:23:00 PM

Wow Wade, nice Chessman collection! That top one does look like the one I have. Is the middle bow built with copper? The puzzle box idea is very interesting. I hope you find its secret.
Mr. Chessman seems to have been an amazing inventor. Thanks for sharing. Greg

alaskabowhunter · January 14, 2009, 03:10:00 PM

When I looked at the first photo, I wondered if it also had a knife, screwdriver, or file that also folded out? Nice bows for sure.... just not real "grainy"... :D

Wade Phillips · January 16, 2009, 03:45:00 PM

Brent – See that you are from Michigan so would guess that you may have seen the Double Lever Action, Self-Stringing Chessman at Floyd Eccleston's archery shop in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, as Floyd was the previous owner of this particular Chessman.

Floyd loved to demonstrate its unique function. He had a lengthy routine about stringing bows, and walked through several different methods of stringing with his unsuspecting listener. Demonstrating the Self-Stringing option was the grand finale that always blew away his audience.

Perhaps the most historically significant story behind this particular Chessman, is that when Floyd was inducted into the Archery Hall of Fame, he took this bow with him and demonstrated it there. Floyd was a unique character with wonderful sense of humor that most often completely blindsided his unsuspecting victims. We all miss Floyd, the Dean of Collectors. He was a great man. Not many like him.