Shakespeare Shim Bo’ X1 & X2

1973 Shakespeare Catalog

The Shim Bo’: Shakespeare Archery’s 

Ugly Duckling

by Larry Vienneau

I have reviewed a wide variety of beautifully designed and crafted Shakespeare Bows. Now I need to talk about the Shakespeare ugly duckling- The Shim Bo’, which is really its name. I have no idea why it is named Shim Bo’. From its unusual name to its basic design the Shim Bo’ is unique. I have discussed the Shakespeare Model Numbering system (or lack of a system) Back in 1961 Shakespeare introduced its X Model. The numbering didn’t start with X1, it started with X15. Many of these bows would be renamed later. The strange thing is Shakespeare started using the X1, X2, and X4……numerations in the 1970s. Why? Who knows? Unfortunately, there isn’t any information about why they chose to number their models this way.  Oddly, they chose to number two Shim Bo models as X1 & X2

1972 Shim Bo' Ad

Shakespeare Shim-Bo' recurve was an ambidextrous hunting bow; it used a new method of lamination called LamiLite which used a synthetic polyester fiber/fiberglass blend. It came in two lengths, 52” in military green with a wood riser. I have only found one reference to brace height -9" brace. This is a no-nonsense bow, it isn’t beautiful but it did get the job done. It was meant to be an entry-level, low-cost (sold for $14.95), low-fuss, no-eye candy, high-performance bow.  I found one reference to it online; “I learned to shoot and bowhunting with a succession of unremarkable, cheap or second-hand “traditional” bows …and finally a nondescript 45-pound Shim-Bo’ laminated recurve with ambidextrous, stapled on plastic handle/arrow shelves, with which I killed my first couple deer.”( by Patrick Meitin from “Today’s Youth Bow”) Not a flattering description but I have seen many chat room posts that praised the bow. It seems that the Shim Bo’ could have been an attempt by Shakespeare to introduce a new class of bow, a laminated hunting bow with similar ambidextrous traits to the old Parabow or fiberglass bows. The Parabow hunting bows were durable and inexpensive, perfect for bow fishing or use in nasty weather. Perhaps this concept of these low-cost bows would have caught on if the compound had not become so prominent in the market. The speed performance is similar to the Parabow. The Shim-Bo is not a speed demon, my 45lb arrow speed is 155.87 shooting a 410 gran arrow. Like the Parabow,  arrow speed will be gained by shooting a heavier-weight bow. I think the advertising on this bow was a bit optimistic, "Top Noch Speed" is a bit of an exaggeration. On the positive side, the Shim-Bo is extremely smooth to shoot! I own an X1 52-inch and there isn't any string pinch, stacking, or hand shock, unlike a Parabow. These traits make it a great teaching/novice bow which is its exact purpose. The first production compound was introduced in 1972, the year before the Shim Bo. Within four years the market was completely dominated by the compound and Shakespeare Archery ended production. Shim-bo' 62-inch X2 was also sold as part of a target set- including a bow, three arrows, quiver, armguard, target face, "ABCs" of Archery booklet, and shooting tab. The Shim-Bo 52-inch X1 was sold in a hunting set including a bow, three hunting arrows, quiver armguard, target face, "ABC's" of Archery booklet, and shooting tab each for under $30.

Shim-Bo' Target and Hunting Sets 1973

Shim bo' X1

Shakespeare Shim-Bo’: Model X1 52 AMO" 1973

• Ambidextrous Rubberized Riser
• Forest Green Glass- Lami Lite fiber, Maple painted Green
• Draw weights 40-50 lbs.
• Brace Height – 8 1/2-9 1/2 inch 
• 46-inch string 
• limb width 1 3/4 inch
• sight window 5 1/2 inch
• Riser Imbuya
• arrow speed: 410 grain arrow -------155.87 FPS

My Shim-Bo X1

Shim Bo' X2

Shakespeare Shim-Bo’: model X2 62 AMO" 1973

• Ambidextrous Rubberized Riser
• Green Glass- Lami Lite fiber, Wood Riser
• Draw weights 15-30 lbs.
• Brace Height – 7 1/2- 8 1/2 inch
• Riser Imbuya
• Limb width 1 3/4 inch
• sight window 5 1/2 inch
• 56-inch string 

© Copyright, Larry Vienneau Jr.

All rights reserved.

Shakespeare Purist X-4

The Blue Beauty: 
The Shakespeare Purist X4

by Larry Vienneau

The Purist X4 was the only Shakespeare Bow that had a similar name in the Shakespeare Fishing line: Shakespeare Purist Fly Rod. 

Lewis Kent's beautiful Purist X4

    There is absolutely no information about the X4 available through online sources, however, I did find one Ad in a 1975 Archery Magazine.  I also have two catalogs with information. I have sent emails and written inquiries to Shakespeare about their Archery Line. All were dead ends though I did get a pleasant phone call from a customer service representative who was sympathetic. She knew folks in the old Archery Division of Shakespeare, however over the years the company has downsized and specialized in their prime market; their fishing gear. Most of the people in the archery line are now dead or unable to provide help. The company has relocated several times and anything not associated with the new company mission was destroyed. She did say that they would keep my letter and would let me know if anything turned up.

     I believe this bow was designed by Owen Jeffery. I found an auction for a Jeffery Enterprise The Graduate model 102 which is identical to the Shakespeare The Graduate X6, the sister bow to the Purest.  

Owen Jeffery took over for Ernie Root when Shakespeare moved operations from Kalamazoo MI to Columbia SC where Jeffery is from.  I don’t own the X4 but my good friend Lewis Kent does own a beautiful example of the model.

Shakespeare Purist X4

• 1974-75
• AMO 66”
• Weight 20-35
• Pistol grip Riser. Blue Wonderwood
• White Glass
• Limbs 1 3/4inch
• Stabilizer insert
• Sight window 6 ½
• Blue overlays
• Flipper-style rest
• Shakespeare Foil Medallion
• brace height 8 1/2 inch - 9 1/2 inch 
• optional M-430 sight
• optional M-24 stabilizer  

The Purest X4 was one of Shakespeare last target bows. When Ernie Root was designing for Shakespeare, their archery line had some of the finest target bows on the market, such as the Professional X10, The Titan X15, and the Supreme x16. all of which went out of production in 1971. The Purist x4 was introduced in 1974 and was Shakespeare effort to re-enter the competitive recurve bow market.

detail of the Blue Wonderwood

    The Purist was a beautiful entry-level tournament bow. The Purist riser is one solid piece of maple dyed blue with matching blue limb overlays. Dying wood for use as risers was a common practice in the 70s, Bear archery first dyed a few bow risers green in 1972 and called it "Futurewood".  In 1973 Shakespeare began to dye a few risers too calling their dyed wood "Wonderwood”.

Shakespeare really had no apparent logic to their X model numbers. This bow obviously was made 1974-75 after the invention of “Wonderwood” however the numbering (X4) suggests it is an early bow but the X15 is from 1961-67. Confused yet? Remember this is the 60s, need I say more?

      Despite the obvious problems in understanding the model numbers and dates, the aesthetics of the Purest is remarkable. It is truly unique. The use of blue Wonderwood set this bow apart from other Shakespeares, Bears, and all other bows of the period. The color of the bow ranges from deep blue to bluish turquoise, and finally an earthy Sienna. The tip overlays are a vivid blue. Lewis was excited about this bow, and he had good reason to be, it is very distinctive and striking. Shakespeare produced some of the most beautiful bows of this era but this bow is in a class by itself.
It is a rare beauty.

June 1975 Purist Ad in ARCHERY magazine

© Copyright, Larry Vienneau Jr.

All rights reserved.