SHAKESPEARE ARCHERY Dual Shelf Models

Shakespeare's three ambidextrous 
dual shelf Longbows. 
by Larry Vienneau
*Please see the sister blog pots: http://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2013/01/early-wonderbows.html

http://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2013/08/early-shakespeare-bows-model-100-model.html

Shakespeare has been producing fishing equipment since the late 1800's. In 1959 Shakespeare acquired Parabow Archery Inc. and began the Shakespeare line of archery equipment. They first produced solid fiberglass longbow and recurves. The style of these bow were simple and they were often the first bow of a youngster. In 1960, along with the Parabow line, Shakespeare introduced the 100 through 600 series of recurves. Around this time Ernie Root began designing and building the bows for Shakespeare. These were beautifully crafted laminated wood and fiberglass. They had leather wrapped grips, and if right handed, had the name of RH-100, 200, 300, etc. If left handed, they of course were LH-100 and so on. The Model 100 and 200 were the top for the line, the Model 300-400 mid-price range and Model 500-600 lower price range  In 1961, the leather grip was dropped, so was the RH 100..LH100.. designations which were replaced with the X Models and the bows took on a more sleek design, showing the Ernie Root influence.

1960 Model 600

1960 Model 500

The RH and LH 100-600 bows were the first composite wood and fiberglass bows made by Shakespeare archery. These bows have been described as hybrid bows. Of course that is a recent term. They are semi-recurve; fully working recurves but has traits of recurve as well as long bows. The riser is not more vertical than modern recurves, showing less reflex. They resembled 21^st century Longbows.

1961 Model X20-58

From 1961-64 many of Shakespeare bows were re-designated with “X” plus a number. The Model X20 in 1961 was a 58 inch entry level bow with bright red fiberglass. The X20 looked very similar to the 1959-60 Model 600 which also had ambidextrous arrow rests, had an identical profile and was just two inches longer. The 1961 X20 was also the last Shakespeare laminated model with a leather wrapped handle. The 1962 X20 was no longer an ambidextrous bow, it was offered as either a RH  or LH option and the leather wrap was dropped. 

The real interesting thing is that all three of these bows were NOT recurves but were the only longbows made by Shakespeare Archery.

Shakespeare 1960 Model 500 & 600

• Contoured handle with spiral leather grip
• Model 500 – 60” AMO, Model 500- 56” AMO
• Draw weights: Model 500- 30 lbs. to 60 lbs. Model 600 25 lbs. to 50
• Riser: maple
• Limbs: Parallel Glass, 1 ½ inch. Model 600  face is red back and white belly, Model 500 red back and white belly
• Semi-recurve
• Brace height:  7 ½
• Model 500-600 were ambidextrous models

   Shakespeare 1961-62 Model X20-58

• Contoured handle with spiral leather grip
• AMO: 58”
• Draw Weights: 25 lbs. – 40 lbs.
• Riser: Maple
• Limbs: Woven fiberglass- Maroon, 1 ¼ inch
• Semi-recurve
• Brace height:  7 ½
• Ambidextrous 

© Copyright, Larry Vienneau Jr.

All rights reserved.

VINTAGE ZEUS FIBERGLASS BOWS

Zeus and Shawnee Fiberglass bows
by Larry Vienneau

I have read in many traditional forums that fiberglass bows are worthless, that it doesn't make sense to attempt to restore them. That might be true if you are planning to resell the bows but for me it isn't about the money. I love to restore any bow. Most of these fiberglass bows are beaters, dinged up, painted, scratched, and needing TLC. They are usually inexpensive and I love the challenge.

Ironically solid fiberglass bows are a great place to start restoring vintage bows. You don't need to worry about laminations separating or the glues failing. You do need to remember that these bows are fiberglass and to always scrap with a piece of plastic from the riser to the to the nock and not nock to riser because you run the risk of lifting strands of the glass. 

my Zeus 50 lb. number 402 in Translucent Light Green Glass

 I have not been able to find anything on the Zeus Archery Company. I am sure there is some information buried in a stack of 1950s outdoor magazines, but for now I will just describe the bow and the rest will happen in time. This bow was a $35 eBay item. When it arrive it was in decent shape but the finish was pretty bad and the leather grip was falling off. I prefer to keep any original labels or logos intact so I used Frisket Masks. This is a transparent film used in airbrushing or watercolor. It works well because it is easy to remove and won't damage a delicate decal. Once it is covered I used Citrus stripper because it easy and is a water clean up. The Zeus only needed two applications of remover. I had the entire bow stripped and ready to finish in an hour. I tied a piece of heavy fishing line to the top nock, hung it from a tree and sprayed it with a couple coats of urethane. Then I wrapped a new leather grip and added Velcro as an arrow rest. Total time for refinish- two hours!

my Shawnee 50 lb. number #149R in Translucent Light Green Glass

I try to buy these bows in weights of 50-60 lbs. The cast is slower then a laminated bow so the higher weight help push the arrow. These bows are incredibly durable and are excellent shooters. That is one of the advantages over laminated recurves. Another huge advantage is you can use Fast Flight string with these bows, it isn't a good idea to use Fast Flight string with other vintage bows. 

Around the same time I picked up the Zeus I also won a Shawnee fiberglass bow. The photo of the bow was dark and I thought the bow was dark green. I was very happy to discover that these bows were very similar, both had Jade like Translucent Light Green Glass, the same grips, same yellow decorative tape,  and the nocks were identical. Most likely the same company produce both bows. The refinishing for this bow took even less time. Two bows for under $70 and a few hours of work. What is the real advantage to these old time bows is the ambidextrous riser. I can share the shooting experiences with my son and my friends. 

I shot these two bows with my chronograph, using 410 gr arrows, shot 12 arrows and averaged the results. These bow with fast Flight Strings shot better that my expensive Bear bows:  

 Zeus 50 lb. number 402 Fiberglass-------     169.88 FPS

Shawnee 50 lb. number 149R Fiberglass---  167.90 FBS

© Copyright, Larry Vienneau Jr.

All rights reserved.