Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Bowhunting Longbows

Hey guys, I was digging around the "attic" & found a couple of longbows that belomged to my Mother when she was in highschool. (about 60 years ago).

Anyone have any interest in them? I can post pictures if so. One is a Ben Pearson about 67" unstrung. The other seems to be a bit newer, no name left, about 60" unstrung...

PatSeevers@msn.com

Pat

I would be interested, would definitely like to see photos.
Thanks

I will get some pictures up this afternoon, off to the hospital for my daughters surgery now...

Thanks for the replies, Pat

A couple of pics.

I have one exactly like the one on the right!
Cat

So Cat, what might it be worth? I know it is newer than the other because it has some kind of "tape" on the grip, the other is leather.
According to my Ma, she had them both when she was in H.S.
She is now 73. Help Me!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/help.gif" alt="" />

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Pat <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I really have no idea , and I have only seen stuf like that for sale at garage sales, and such.
I traded mine to a kid for a fiberglass bow that he could use, with his parents consent!
They were aware that it was valuble (to me) and would rather see it treasured than left strung, or broken!

I think the value is more in your heart than in the wallet , myself!
Cat

Cat, I am sure you are right about the value fer' sure. I was kind of hoping someone would want them for a good use so I don't have to store them anymore...

O'well, Thanks for the replies, Pat

Do you know their pound pull?

Sorry for the late reply...
I have no idea on the poundage, I have no strings or a scale to test with. I suppose the next time I go to Gander Mtn. I could have them try to tell me, they seem to be knowledgeable.

Pat

I like longbows a great deal. When you come up with a number, let me know. I have some old port orford cedar shafts waiting to be made into arrows. Need bows to make the project a higher priority. Love to hear back.

Pat, I have made and shot longbows, wood, wood composite and glass-wood composites for about 45 years.

Those two bows of your Moms appear to be made of Lemonwood(Dagame) which was a commonly imported tropical hardwood used for mass produced target archery bows up until the embargo against Cuba in the 60's..

The handles are laminated on pieces of hardwood.
Bows probably were made by Ben Pearson Co in Pine Bluff Arkansas back in the early 50's.
Weights (assuming your Mom shot them) were probably 25-35#@28" draw.

Bows would have been braced at about 6".

Older Lemonwood bows often will break if draw these days as the wood powders out and gets brittle.Old glues used to lam up the handle also can fail.
Bows originally sold for about $6-8.00.

One can see them on E-Bay these days for prices from 15-60.00, but usually collectors are looking for bows which still have the original mfgrs markings or labels on them.
Pearson made many, many thousands of hickory and lemonwood bows of that sort before the advent of fiberglas backed laminate longbows & recurves..

The old bows are probably worth more as family keepsakes, or as patterns from which to build target bows for the kids than for sale.jim

I would say about 75 or 100 each. without really looking at them i can not tell what kind they are. If the one is a ben pearson I would hang on to it foa while because it would be worth some money in a few years if it is as old as you say it is.