Phenolic bow

[SpeRo]

Hello everyone,

It's my first post on this forum. I don't know if i had to present myself or not, but i think it's more proper to do it.

I'm French guy, from the south, i'm 23. I came to archery grace my father. I tend string since i was a kid and after years of hunting with rifles i decided to go entirely in the trad way.

I'm on search in the old continent of a phenolic bow, i don't know why but this kind of bow mesmerized me.

I try to find one on internet and i put a topic in a french trad forum, but i think this 70" bow styles have not much enthusiasm.

I came on tradgang with hope to have returns of americans fellaws on this types of bow, nervousness, reliability ...

I look for a Wing Thunderbird or a Shakespeare Cascade X-29 by the way

[SpeRo]

Wing Thunderbird: https://nebula.wsimg.com/9dae9de937adb77bf6ec67c2a3e5619d?AccessKeyId=A203C91555201A4407B4&disposition=0&alloworigin=1

Shakespeare Cascade X-29: https://nebula.wsimg.com/952e07b5444da0f2aaaac4f1fd1404d8?AccessKeyId=A203C91555201A4407B4&disposition=0&alloworigin=1

[Wudstix]

Welcome, and good luck on your search and journey.

[SpeRo]

Thanks!

[Wheels2]

I have had two phenolic bow risers.  I still have the 19" Covert Hunter riser that I use.  Both made by Border Archery in Scotland.  It adds weight and strength to the riser.  it is not used in the limbs.

[SpeRo]

 I don't see the Border Achery ones when i search this type of bow. I never possessed bow of this brand but the model you mentioned look great!

The ages of your riser?

[McDave]

Micarta is a type of phenolic, I believe.  Bob Lee is making more and more of their bows with solid micarta risers.  I have two of them, and like both very much.  Other than perhaps not having the "soul" of a wood riser, micarta seems to be an ideal material for making bow risers: durable, heavy, and highly resistant to damage from wet or hot conditions.

[Wudstix]

 

[SpeRo]

Micarta is a type of phenolic, I believe.  Bob Lee is making more and more of their bows with solid micarta risers.  I have two of them, and like both very much.  Other than perhaps not having the "soul" of a wood riser, micarta seems to be an ideal material for making bow risers: durable, heavy, and highly resistant to damage from wet or hot conditions.

Yeah your right, Micarta is a type of phenolic material. I don't know if this type of bow can be call "Micarta bow" because i'm not expert in the process of fabrication. Maybe it's the actual Micarta??

I also think this haven't the soul of the wood and i'm not adept of plastic things, but in this way it's look clean.

This bow can clearly pass through the age! I just need to find one 

Somebody in France told me, in USA this bow will cost 50$...
Can you attest because i'm little bit pensive on this words

Thanks for your returns 

[ksbowman]

I've had several 62" Wing Thunderbirds and shoot one currently as my go to bow. They are wonderful shooters and very fast,stable and smooth shooters. I also have a Ben Pearson Raider that is a Phenolic/Micarta bow and it is a great little bow also. You can't go wrong with the Thunderbird though. I've shot a lot of animals with mine. I'm down to 2 even though I've had 4 at one time.

[SpeRo]

I've had several 62" Wing Thunderbirds and shoot one currently as my go to bow. They are wonderful shooters and very fast,stable and smooth shooters. I also have a Ben Pearson Raider that is a Phenolic/Micarta bow and it is a great little bow also. You can't go wrong with the Thunderbird though. I've shot a lot of animals with mine. I'm down to 2 even though I've had 4 at one time.

You reassure me!!

Honestly i put interest on this bows because of their looks, and i told myself if they no more produce bows like thats it's maybe beacause it was a bad innovation of this epoque.

The guy who told me it cost 50$ told me also it was unpleasant to shoot...

Thanks for your experience

[bucknut]

There is nothing bad about them.  They are a bit heavier but this aids in the ability to absorb more shock and steadies the hand at the shot a bit. They are virtually bulletproof though.  You wont find them for $50.  Maybe $200-500 used and likely $1000+ for new.

[SpeRo]

There is nothing bad about them.  They are a bit heavier but this aids in the ability to absorb more shock and steadies the hand at the shot a bit. They are virtually bulletproof though.  You wont find them for $50.  Maybe $200-500 used and likely $1000+ for new.

Ok, it's the price range i think about!

[M60gunner]

The new material bowyers like Black Widow are using is G10. It's as heavy but it's supposed to be better made than Phenolic. But it is considered an upgrade and can cost substantially more depending on the bow.

[Nomadstalker]

There is a Wing Thunderbird on eBay. This is the listing #
296326399854

[SpeRo]

The new material bowyers like Black Widow are using is G10. It's as heavy but it's supposed to be better made than Phenolic. But it is considered an upgrade and can cost substantially more depending on the bow.

Ok good to know, thanks for the informations !

[SpeRo]

There is a Wing Thunderbird on eBay. This is the listing #
296326399854

I will check this thank you. But the taxes importations for France are spicy 

[Jim Wright]

I believe that the "Phenolic" you refer to is Linen Micarta which is a mix of phenolic resin and many layers of fine cotton cloth compressed under great pressure to make the extremely stable material found in some risers and tip overlays as has been noted.

[SpeRo]

I believe that the "Phenolic" you refer to is Linen Micarta which is a mix of phenolic resin and many layers of fine cotton cloth compressed under great pressure to make the extremely stable material found in some risers and tip overlays as has been noted.

You maybe right, i don't know exactly the material use in them. But in general i saw this 70" bow calls phenolic bow. Micarta consists with phenolic and the Linen Micarta on google look similar on some knives, to deepen...

Toelke seems to propose a Linen Micarta bow. I don't know if it's recents or not but doesn't really look like a Wing Thunderbird.
I let you judge!
https://montanabows.blogspot.com/2018/01/linen-micarta.html

[SpeRo]

An other one by Bob Lee
https://bobleebows.com/shop/gallery-of-recent-builds/58-49-heavyweight-recurve-13535/

For me it's look more rough to touch than the old phenolic in the Cascade or Thunderbird.