'59 Grizzly renewal

[4runr]

What a pleasure it has been to bring these two old girls back to life. This first one was aquired from Cody Roiter. Cody had gotten it in with a group of other bows he had purchased. It had been abused and mistreated almost to the point of worthlessness. The tips were chopped off just inside the overlays, and new string nocks were haphazardly filed in. The coin was missing and there were marks left from prying it out. It set around here for most of the fall waiting for deer season to come to an end. I sanded all the old finish off and the Rosewood in the site window looked promising.

I added new Phenolic tip overlays, then decided the green glass needed to have a covering. I ordered D'back skins from Mike Yancey and went to work making my version of a cool looking bow.

Having been shortened by an inch and a half on each end, I was concerned about how well the bow would perform. After installing the tip overlays, I narrowed the limbs slightly to transition into the new tips, then filed new nocks. I had a string that fit and gently strung it for the first time. I checked the tiller and did a little more work on the limbs to get things right. I shot the bow several times and was impressed by the performance. I didn't want to go through the labor of skins and finish if it was going to be a dog.

Here are some before and after pics.
 
 
 
 
 
 

[4runr]

[4runr]

The second bow was found in a trash can about 15 years ago, then hung in a garage until this past November. When I got it the tips were starting to come loose and were in questionable shape. I decided to go ahead and replace them cause the rest of the bow was in exceptional shape. The finish was dried and flaking, but the bow was not beat up at all. I sanded it to bare wood and glass, ordered new transfers from Al H. When the transfers got here, I installed them acording to The Bowdoc's instructions and started adding coats of finish. I know I may have gone overboard with the finish application, but wipe on seems to go on in very thin coats and I wanted the finish built up so the transfers couldn't be felt. I also wanted this bow to last another 50 years of all the abuse that can be handed a hunting bow.

I am very pleased with the way this bow came out. I tried to keep it as original as possible. A new side plate from Bob York, and Trap feather rest. The original handle wrap was a much lighter color than most I have seen, but it looked good along with the really dark Rosewood. I found some just right leather down the road at a little leather shop.

Don't have any before pics of this one.

[Whip]

Wow!  Nice work Kenny!    
Those are a couple of beauties  

[JimB]

Just beautiful-both.nice save on that first one.I love seeing these old bows brought back.It is a shame to hide all that beauty under and old,yellow finish.You did an amazing job.Nice to see.Those '59's are hard to beat.

[AALLFAB]

very nice recovery well worth the work. jim

[yellow bow]

[Jack Shanks]

Great job! Beautiful bows!

[macclare]

Very nice work

[Chuck Homitz]

NICE JOB KENNY. IF YOU COME TO EITHER OF OUR SHOOTS BRING THEM ALONG.

[ishi1archer]

Nice work Kenny. I love the snake skins on the one bow!

[d. ward]

OUTSTANDING work my brother bd

[mwmwmb]

nice work

[MR BILL SHORTY]

YOU did a BEAUTY of a job KENNY

[reddogge]

Great job Kenny.

[billy shipp]

Great job Kenny.....the skins are nice too.

[Jmatt1957]

I was just at Kennys house today and got to shoot both of these beautiful bows.. It is hard to imagine but they shoot better than they look.

[Wapiti Chaser]

Kenny (or should I call you Bow Doc II) great job !

[hormoan]

Wow Kenny,    nothing like reviving the misfits. Great job!!!!!!!!

[4runr]

Oh my, Bob, I have many, many years and thousands of bows to go to even be a toenail clipping in HIS shoes.

A misfit reviving misfits Brent??

Thank you friends.