Older Fiberglass/wood bows

[Valley Station]

Are '60s and '70 vintage Bear recurve bows still safe to use??
Many have "stress cracks" in fiberglas , can they be repaired?
Would like to get another old Bear Kodiak or Grizzly to shoot.

[INKYHUNTER]

Valley, I don't think the small cracks are a problem. However some older bows tend to stack(all the weigh coming in the last few inches).If I was purchasing one I would want to have hands on and you can't tell by looking.

[MQ1ofKy]

Valley....The thing to remember about these older bows is that each shot you make w/them is one less they have in them....I purchased a beautiful mid 60's Browning recurve from a collector a few years back..This was one of the most beautiful and sweet shooting bows I'd ever shot...After shooting it at the guys house for 1/2 hour we setled on a price and I took it home.....While shooting w/the guys on my deck the next night the bottom limb hit me in the chin....I took my new bow and threw it in the garbage...This bow showed no sign of stress or delamination but it still blew...But I also have 2 Ben Piersons that I shoot on a regular basis that have never even worried about...It's kind of a crap shoot....If you want them as collectors pieces , don't shoot em....If you want to enjoy them , fire away...I shoot w/ many guys that still shoot their vintage bear Kodiaks...If you want to sell them let me know <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> I'm always looking for recurves for my collection....I have even bought a few w/twisted limbs and worked on em till they were shootable...If I own one ,I'm dang well gonna be using it......
)))----> Mike