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.

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