Shakespeare Model X22 and THE CUSTER X22

Shakespeare Catalog May 1969

The Custer X22 Wonderbow

by Larry Vienneau

   

Naming a bow “Custer” is quite ironic, especially when you consider how the bow factored into General Custer's demise.  The “X” Wonderbows are named after National forests or well know hunting regions.  The bow is actually named after Custer National Forest in Montana and South Dakota, a huge 1,188,133 acres forest and grassland area part of the greater Yellowstone area, one of the largest intact temperate ecosystems left on the planet.

X-22: 1962-65

• AMO 60"
• 25-50 lbs
• sight window 5 1/2 inch
• limb width 1 1/4
• glass: white woven belly(1962 & 63), white or brown parallel back (1964 & 65)
• brace height 6 1/2 from back of bow
• riser: Cherrywood
• rest: vertical feather with calf skin arrow strike 

The Custer X22: 1966-1971

• 62” AMO
• 20,25,30,35,40,45, and 50 lbs.
• Sight window 5 1/2 inch
• Limb width 1 ¼ inch
• Brace height 7 ½ 
• Pistol grip riser
• Riser: Cherry (1966-68), or Imbuya wood (1969-1971)
• Glass in various colors: dark brown and white Glass
• Arrow speed:12 shot average,410 grain arrow-168.63 FPS

The Shakespeare X22 has not always been "The Custer"  From 1959-1960 Shakespeare introduced the Model 100 through Model 600 series of recurves. 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. In 1961, the leather grip was dropped, and so was the RH 100.LH100. After 1962 Shakespeare dropped “Model” designations which were replaced with the ”X“ models and the bows took on a more sleek design, showing the Ernie Root influence. From 1963-65 the Model X22 was a slender 60-inch target / hunting bow with white, or brown fiberglass. 35 lb - 50 lb  5 1/2 inch sight window. brace height 7 1/2 and 1 1/2 inch wide limbs. I own two white glass Model x22 from 1963. The X-22 is a very smooth shooter and an excellent target bow. One of my bows has a woven fiberglass belly and parallel fiberglass back, a very unusual use of fiberglass while the other has parallel glass,  In 1965 Shakespeare began naming their hunting bows after famous hunting areas. "The Necedah" X26 was introduced and the X22 was re-introduced as "The Custer" X22 in 1966.
 

My 1962 X-22

My 1962 50# Model X-22

X22 with White and Brown glass

X22

my 1967 44# Custer X22 lefty

My 1966 45# Custer X-22

Shakespeare Archery created a series of bows designed for the novice archer which included The Manitou x20, the Tioga x21, The Custer x 22, and the Yukon x24 models
They were designed to be target/field bows; durable, sturdy, inexpensive, yet accurate. They were created with the young archer in mind and intended to “take the strenuous beating of beginners” in school or camp environments. They were also produced for bowhunting and were referred to as “real shooters”. Many of these bows were also part of archery sets that included bows quivers, glove targets, and arrows. The 1966-68 Custer Bow had beautiful Cherrywood Risers which is a tough wood and its color will vary from a light honey color to deep dark mustard brown and sometimes these varied colors can be found in a single riser. The Later Custer had exotic Imbuya wood which could be as dark as rosewood.

 dark wood riser with white glass

an excellent example of a two-toned Custer x22 Cherry riser

One would think that these novice bows would be plentiful however they are not. The Custer appears occasionally on auction sites and is rarely in pristine condition. It isn’t surprising that these bows are often seriously dinged and scuffed when you consider youngsters were using them. The Custer was a target/field bow and was produced as a hunting bow. The ones in higher poundage seem to be in better shape. My bows are 45# and the riser is a rich dark variety of Maple; I refinished one and used a Maple stain to bring out the mottled textures of the grain. The Custer riser style is likely an Ernie Root design.
The Custer is actually an uncommon bow, hard to find in good shape and nearly impossible to find in pristine condition. If you are lucky enough to find a Custer expect to do a little work on it. Mine was in excellent condition but there were some scrapes and discolorations in the riser and the lower limb had some scratches. Like the entire Shakespeare archery line, this bow is a fantastic shooter. At 62” it can stack for those with a long (31 or higher) draw length. For me, it is a very smooth draw and it zings an arrow! It is a very handsome bow, and as the old timers said “It is a real shooter!”

as usual, if anyone has additional information please comment.

© Copyright, Larry Vienneau Jr.

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