recurve question

[12 pointer]

I have a 1953 bear glass powered Grizzly tht my father bought as a young man but never killed a deer with it. here is one of my questions.....can I find the proper string length by any of the info on this bow? here is my delima. If you lay this bow on a flat surface. one of the limbs is slightly twisted. I mean if you put the straight limb down and hold it firmly to the floor, the other limb is so slightly raised on one edge that it just barely comes off the floor. you can see it looking at it ever so slightly. here's another question.....will the proper string length pring this back into alignment ovet time. if I leave it strung for a little while. I think as a kid we may have warped it by using the wrong string. well over 20 years ago. does not look as bad now as it did when I was a kid. I would like to be able to hnt with this bow as it was my fathers and he and I never got to hunt together. he passed away when I was 14. 1 month before our first hunting trip together. it is lefthanded. another thing he and I shared. here are some pics if they turn out............... the twist was so slight that I gave it a slight twist in the oppisite direction, held it for a second, and it then lay flat on the computer table top.

on the lower limb it reads.....
bear archery company
grayling, michigan
u.s.pat's
2,423,765
2,613,660
2,665,678
Canada
1953

on the side of the riser it reads........

8r2380
amo 56''
44#


can anyone translate all that and take the guess work out of it for me?


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v727/12pointer/100_3817.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v727/12pointer/100_3818.jpg

[randy grider]

you're bow is 56" AMO ,which is the length. typically the string is 4" less then that, or just ask for the string for a 56" recurve.
the 44# means 44 lbs draw weight at 28" draw, which is about an average weight for those days, and enough to take the lungs out of a deer if properly tuned with matched arrows.
the 8r2380 will tell you date of manufacture, which i'm guessing is early to mid '60's.
the other numbers, are just patent numbers, that are on all grayling bear bows, the 1953 is the patent date, not the age of that bow.
go to the website stickbow.com or tradgang.com logon and post you're questions. some of the guys there are bear archery experts who can tell you all about you're grizzly. i'm not educated on it, but do know that most grizzlies are 58" and the 56" bows were not made too many years.
you have a treasure no doubt, especially since it was you're dad's.
don't doubt its ability to do the job, but realize you will need to limit you're shots to close range, and practice alot.
make dad proud, kill a deer and post the pic, and i will be proud too.:)
randy

[12 pointer]

thank you for the quick response and your information Randy. means the world to me.

[randy grider]

BTW, i can make you a flemish twist string for that bow, but don't know if i have a 56 incher around here to make it on. if you lived closer i could get up with you and fix ya right up. we are having a shoot near harrodsburg next sat., (aug 4) at the Mercer Fish and Game Club. i could bring everything i need if i thought you could make it, and make one for you in about 10 minutes while you watch. just bring the bow.
nice meetin' ya, i like the way you think, you are definately a potential member:)

[12 pointer]

Randy,it's a mid 60's model from the best that I gather. wil do more research later. wonder how common these bows are?

randy, the offer is great but thats a long way away for me. thanks for the offer. any brand type string you would recommend? or arrows? I remember shooting all dads arrows after he passed away. sticking all those valuable bear broadheads into tres and such. make me sick now. still see them all in my head. still has the original felt like rest on it. hang on, I'll post a pic.....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v727/12pointer/100_3814.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v727/12pointer/100_3809.jpg

[randy grider]

looks allright dude.., but its...its.. WRONGHANDED !!!:D
as for the string, i like flemish twist, its stronger, and quieter, and looks better. i could send you one, but its hard to get that perfect fit without having the bow to make it by. go to the websites i mentioned, and post and someone i'm sure can fix you up for $10 or less.
it being an older bow, you need dacron string , no fast flight or low stretch modern materials. the older bows may not holdup with the banjo wire characteristics of some string types.
pm me you're address, and if i get a chance i will send you a string, if it doesn't fit you aren't out anything.