Shakespeare Parabow Solid Fiberglass Bows

“Archery’s Greatest Improvement” 
Howard Hill

Shakespeare Parabow 

Solid Fiberglass Bows 

by Larry Vienneau

 While it's true that solid fiberglass bows don't quite compare to wood core and laminated recurves, as well as modern compound bows, they played a crucial role in the evolution of archery. These self-bows were once a vital tool for young archers, like Robin Hood, to perfect their skills. During the mid-20th century, archery companies such as Indian, Herter's, Paul Bunyan, Ben Pearson, Bear, Ply-Flex, Stream-Eze, Outers, Stemmler, Lockleys, York, Fleetwood, Zeus, Parabow, and Shakespeare produced millions of durable fiberglass longbows and recurves.

     During the late 1800s, William Shakespeare, Jr. developed a patent for his fishing reel and began manufacturing fishing equipment. As the 20th century progressed, Shakespeare grew to become a significant player in the world of sporting equipment. In 1959, the company acquired Parabow, an Ohio-based maker of archery equipment that was organized into Shakespeare's Archery subsidiary. Parabow was one of the leading producers of solid fiberglass bows in the 1950s. Shakespeare was a pioneer in the use of fiberglass for fishing rods, and the merger of these two companies was a perfect match. Shakespeare continued to produce fiberglass and wood laminate bows in the 1960s and 1970s, while also maintaining its Parabow line of solid fiberglass archery equipment.

    The 1950s were an era of nostalgia, with many popular cultural icons like "Happy Days," Twinkies, and Howdy Doody, as well as a boom in mass production. This period saw the manufacture of numerous solid fiberglass bows, including the Parabows. While lacking the smoothness and speed of wooden bows, these bows have their own unique benefits, despite the tendency of heavier fiberglass laminate bows to stack.

Expense: For those new to archery or on a budget, a solid fiberglass bow is a cost-effective option compared to laminated equipment. These one-piece, mass-produced bows are durable and readily available, with used models often found at yard sales or online marketplaces like eBay for just a few dollars. The value of these bows relies on factors like condition, draw weight, and manufacturer, with BEAR and BEN PEARSON being the most common brands. While prices generally range from $25-$75, rare bows can fetch up to $125, with complete sets sometimes selling for as much as $300. However, it's important to research the condition and authenticity of these sets before making a purchase. Be wary of sellers who overprice their items, such as a fiberglass bow being sold as an antique for $598 on eBay. 

This bow is not a rare find. Rather, it is a Ben Pearson youth bow that is missing its decals. It would be reasonable to expect it to be priced around $35. To make an informed purchase, it's important to conduct thorough research and ask relevant questions.

Resilience: When it comes to durability, fiberglass bows are a top choice. They can endure a variety of conditions such as snow, rain, mud, or even being left outside on wet ground overnight without delaminating. Additionally, these bows are nearly indestructible and perfect for activities like bow fishing, hunting, canoeing, and boating. You don't have to worry about overdrawing with fiberglass bows and they can even be left strung for long periods without the limbs following the string. However, if you're looking for a more powerful model, you'll have to search the used market. It's essential to inspect for cracks, hairline splits, and twisted limbs before making a purchase.

Efficiency: While a solid fiberglass bow may not cast an arrow as efficiently as a built laminated recurve and longbow, it can still be lethal and has been used to harvest many trophy animals. However, heavier fiberglass bows may experience stacking due to their narrow limb design. If you plan to use a fiberglass bow for deer hunting, it's recommended to add an additional 5-10 pounds to compensate for the slower cast. For example, my B7 Comet 45 lb. shoots at 158.27 FPS, while my other 45 lb. recurves typically shoot between 170-184 FPS.

Shakespeare Parabow #50 RH Brushmaster (Thanks to Lewis Kent), #45  Model B-7 Comet, #18 Model B-9 Fury

Early Shakespeare Parabow Sharpshooter Longbow 40 lbs. with a Waverly Ohio tag

    The Shakespeare Parabow series offered a range of bows with varying weights, from 18 lbs. to 65 lbs. While most models are suitable for both right-handed and left-handed users, it's important to note that a few were exclusively designed for right-hand use. The Parabow B2 Brushmaster, B1 Hunter, B11, B-8 Rocket, B12, and B12 Omni Bow are only available in right-hand models. Unfortunately, I was not aware of this and ended up bidding on a 50# Brushmaster, only to find out upon its arrival that it was a right-hand model. Despite my disappointment, the bow was still a beauty, and thankfully, my friend ended up purchasing it. You can check it out in this blog post.

    I believe that many people have fond memories of the simple bow. Personally, I recall using them during camp as a child and practicing target shooting during my late teenage years. However, one particular memory that truly moved me was when I stumbled upon a 50-pound Shakespeare Parabow Brushmaster while moose hunting in Alaska. It had been left leaning against a tree for over forty years, undisturbed and waiting for me to discover it. Despite some debates in traditional archery forums, I firmly believe that the fiberglass bow has greatly contributed to American archery.

Chris Libby with son Clint

 Chris Libby wrote a much more in-depth article on solid fiberglass for Traditional Bowhunter "Ayuh…Fiberglass!" (http://www.tradbow.com/public/272.cfm) In his article, his last paragraph brilliantly places the Solid Fiberglass Bow into its rightful place in modern archery.

“Dismiss my affection for "self-bows" made of fiberglass, as nostalgia, and the bows themselves as children's toys and mere junk, if you will. However, the fact remains that these bows are as much a part of the history and culture of archery during the last century, as are Howard Hill's bamboo longbows and Fred Bear's Kodiak recurves. If it wasn't for the solid fiberglass bow, millions of people wouldn't ever have known the feeling of standing under a blue sky in the warm summer sun and watching an arrow arch in its mystical path toward the target. Given the importance and overall usefulness of this basic but deadly introductory weapon to our sport, as far as I'm concerned I'll agree with my Grandfather; "Ayuh…Fiberglass!" “

Parabow by Shakespeare

B-1 Hunter Shakespeare 1960-68

• Charcoal color fiberglass
• Leather grip
• Shaped static nocks
• 55” 51” string
• Draw: 35#-65# 1960-61, 35#-55 1962, 35#-60# 1963-68
• RH only
• 6 ½ brace

B-2 Bushmaster 1960-62

B-1 C 1964-70

• Charcoal fiberglass
• Leather grip
• Shaped static nocks
• 63” 60” string 1960-62
• 55” 1964-70
• Draw: 35#-65#1960-62, 45# 1965, 40-50# 1966-70
• RH only
• 6 3/4" brace

B-3 Sharpshooter 1960-65

• Red, Black finished fiberglass, Red 1962-65
• Mottled gray grip 1960, white pistol 1962,63
• 60”-57” string
• RH LH 1960-61
• RH 1962-65
• Draw: 20#-40#
• 7” brace

B-4 Robin 1960-62

• Red and black finish 60-61, red 1962
• White plastic grip
• White nocks
• RH LH
• 54” 50” string
• Draw: 20#
• 6" brace

B-6 Marksman 1960-62

• Brown, white mottled fiberglass 1960
• White plastic grip, brown 1960
• White tips 1961, 62 brown.
• 58" 55" string
• RH LH
• 25#—50#
• 6 3/4 brace

B-7 Comet 1960-62

• Brown and white molted fiberglass, two-tone brown 1961, forest brown 1962
• White plastic grip 1960, Brown 1961,62
• 56” 53” string
• RH LH
• Draw: #40-#55 1960, 35-55# 1961
• 6 1/2 brace

B-8 Rocket 1960-75

• Red finished fiberglass 60-61, green 62-68
• White handle, wt. pistol grip 1962-75
• 56” 53 ½” string
• RH LH 1960-61, 1965-75
• RH 1962-64
• Draw: 25-35# 1960-61, 20-45# 1963-77
• 6 ½ brace

B-9 Fury 1960-75

• Red, Yellow, or green fiberglass 60-61, red or green 1962,
• White handle
• 50” 46” string
• 6” brace
• RH LH      
• draw: 18#

B-10 Will Scarlet 1960-65

• Red finish fiberglass
• White handle and nocks
• 48” 41 1/2“string
• RH LH
• draw: 12#
• 5” brace

B-11, 1962,63

• Fiberglass gold finish
• Pistol grip black, 6’ sight window
• 66”
• draw: 20#-50#, #30-50# 1963
• RH 
• 7 “brace height

B-12, 1962-63,

Omni Bow 1964- 67

• Fiberglass copper finish
• Pistol grip black, 6’ sight window
• 64”
• Draw: 20#-50# 1962, 20-55# 1963-,67
• RH
• 7 “brace height

Here are some beauty shots of George Stout's Parabow. Looks like he had a great day!!!

Thank you, George.

© Copyright, Larry Vienneau Jr.

All rights reserved.