String silencers

yukon chuck · February 16, 2013, 01:28:00 PM

What string silencers or materials for silencers were being used and or most popular back around 1963? Were they even used often? I am setting up a 63' Dogleg Kodiak and would like it to be period correct for next hears hunting season.
Thanks guys.

Jon Stewart · February 16, 2013, 03:03:00 PM

I went thru the entire year of 1963 Archery magazines and there wasn't one add for string silencers. They advertised brush buttons and brush nocks that worked as a silencer and kept the brush from being caught in your string. I looked at all the hunting photo's that was posted and Bear didn't appear to have any kind of silencer on his string but in the December issue a guy had a photo of his deer hanging up and he had his bow in his hand and it looks as though he had Kwikee string silencers on his bow string.
Any thing else for your 1963 time period?

wadde · February 16, 2013, 05:45:00 PM

In a 1963 catalog that I have there was National String Silencer which was two neoprene triangular pieces and one each was tied to the string top and bottom. Sold for 39 cents a pair. There is also Kwikee Silencers which were made of soft gum rubber and slid over the string at each end. They had three arms and kind of looked like rubber stars. In the catalog they were 90 cents a pair. I see this type alot on older bows and probably even have some used ones around here someplace. Both of these are in the 1963 Kittredge catalog I have.

yukon chuck · February 17, 2013, 03:46:00 AM

Thank you for the information. I guess they weren't an item that was widely used. I think the Kwikee's might be the way to go. I am also wondering if an endless loop string is what is appropriate? I am assuming that Bear's string were endless loop.
Thanks again for taking the time to help me out.

OldSkoolArcher · February 17, 2013, 08:05:00 AM

Yukon,
Send me your address, I have a pair of Kwikees new in package I will send you.

Nick

TRAP · February 17, 2013, 09:22:00 AM

Send me your address and I'll send you an endless loop string that is close to the color you need with brush buttons installed. It's not an old string but a new one that I made for all of my Kodiaks from that era.

Kinda like this one

Trap

Blackhawk · February 17, 2013, 12:59:00 PM

Brush buttons and those Kwikee rubber things were in common use at that time. I began hunting with a recure in the early 60's, and just about everyone who used anything used those. Some only used the brush buttons while others used nothing.

Bjorn · February 17, 2013, 01:37:00 PM

Nice quiver Trap!

TRAP · February 18, 2013, 09:59:00 PM

Does that quiver look familiar Brother?

Trap

yeager · February 19, 2013, 05:32:00 PM

Also used the Kwikees and brush buttons on an endless loop string with my 1965 Herter's Perfection back in the late 60's and early 70's.

yukon chuck · February 19, 2013, 10:49:00 PM

Nick and Trap...thank you both for your generous offers. I have PM'd both of you. This is exactly why I love this site so much. The generosity of the folks on here, and the wealth of knowledge to be found are amazing. There aren't many places these days where strangers will reach out to help someone without looking for anything in return. This is a great community, and the bond we all share because of our love of the stick and string is quite incredible. I'm grateful to be a part of this "family". Thanks

TRAP · February 21, 2013, 04:26:00 PM

Actually I'm just trying to get rid of a bunch of this crap!!!!!

Just kidding of course, you're welcome Sir. It's always good to see the enthusiasm of another getting wrapped up in these Classic bows. It's pretty cool, and I'm glad to help out with your newfound addiction.

String will be in tomorrows mail.

Trap

OldSkoolArcher · February 22, 2013, 06:11:00 AM

Silencers are in the mail. Enjoy!

yukon chuck · February 22, 2013, 05:12:00 PM

Awesome! I will let you both know when they arrive.
Thanks again.

yukon chuck · February 22, 2013, 05:13:00 PM

Awesome! I will let you both know when they arrive?
Thanks again.

stagetek · March 13, 2013, 04:17:00 PM

I remember using those Kwikee silencers. Three pronged, light grey. That was in the late sixties. Earlier, I think most used brush buttons, both for brush and silencers.

jackdaw · March 23, 2013, 02:56:00 PM

My father started archery in the 1940's and continued shooting till the late 60's. When he started shooting trad archery again a couple of years ago..he asked why everybody had silencers on their strings???? I told him the obvious reason why and he told me.."geeze...back on the 50's and early 60's...NOBODY used string silencers. They didn't even pay attention to it! Bowhunting was not nearly as popular as shooting field archery courses, so thats the way the bows were set up. In looking at old pics of Fred Bear, you don't see him with them either???....