The Shakespeare Wonderbow has a unique history. Shakespeare Corporation has been producing fishing equipment since the 19th century. After
World War II, fiberglass became widely available. Shakespeare saw the potential of fiberglass
for fishing rods and became an industry leader in fiberglass applications. In the early 1950s, fiberglass found its way
into the archery market. In 1959 Shakespeare acquired Parabow, producers of
solid fiberglass bows. They also formed a partnership with archery manufacturer
and legend Ernie Root. Their first laminated composite wood and fiberglass bows
were the 1959-60 Model 100-600 bows. From 1961-64 Shakespeare began using the "X"
designation for their bows. Later in 1964, Shakespeare began producing hunting
and target bows with the X designation with a Model name such as the famous
Necedah X26.
From 1961 – 1965 Shakespeare was experimenting with
materials and designs. Ernie Root’s influence was very obvious in these early
bows. After 1960 the “X” designation was used. Interestingly Ernie Root
also used the “X” designation in his own Root bows. Many of the later
Shakespeare bows had earlier incarnations during this period. These later bows
had very few similarities to the earlier versions. For example:
The 1961-62X15had three versions, 63” 66” and 69”.
It was designed as a target bow. In 1966 the X15 became the X-15 Titan.
In 1964 X-16was introduced, in 1966 it became
the X16 Supreme.
In 1961 there was the X17 which in 1966 became
the X-17 Ocala.
The X18in 1961-62 was a long AMO of 64”. In
1971 the X18 was completely redesigned as theX18 Sierra52 AMO.
The X201961-62 was unusual because it was ambidextrous
and the last Shakespeare bow with a leather-wrapped handle, it was very similar
to the 1959-60 Model 500 and 600. In 1968 the X-20 became the X20 Manitou which
looked nothing like its previous version.
The X22 was introduced in 1964 as a dual
hunting/target bow, in 1966 it was reintroduced as the X22 Custer.
In 1964 the X24 was designed as a semi-recurve.
In 1966 the X24 Yukon was presented as an all-round hunting /target bow
All of these early “X” bows went on to another version, all
except for the poorX19 Wonderbow. Why couldn’t the 1968 X-21 Tioga have been
the X19 Tioga or the 1971 X23 Pecos have been the X19 Pecos?
The
1961-62 X-19 Wonderbow was different than most of these earlier
designs, it had a riser forward design rather than a riser backward like a
traditional longbow. It was also an odd length at 63" in the early 1960 and 60" late 1960s and 70s. The only difference between the two years was that 1961
had a white glass back and gray belly and 1962 was a front and back gray glass.
Like many of these early X bows, the riser was durable maple wood. What makes
this bow an orphan? Perhaps there were plans for another X19 incarnation that
never developed. Perhaps Ernie Root merged the qualities of the X19 into later
bows. We will never know.
Lewis Kent's unique and scarce Gray 1962 Wonderbow X19
Lewis Kent's Unique 1968 (?) Wonderbow X19
This
example of the X19 belongs to my friend Lewis Kent. The X19, like most of these
early bows, was produced as the right-hand bow, lefties were special orders. So
Lewis, a righty, gets all the fun! We spotted this gray glass bow on eBay
and we were both intrigued. Lewis bid and won it. A few weeks later the green
glass and walnut riser X19 were up for auction. It is quite different than the
1961-62 models. The profile is different and it does not have the model number
with the logo, the model number is handwritten on the riser. It is a very odd
one too because the serial number dates it as 1968 but this bow does not appear
in 1967-69 catalogs.
calfskin arrow rest
The bow was in very good shape but it needed
some refinishing. Lewis did an amazing job and even added a calfskin rest
identical to the original rest.
It is distinctly different than other early X
bows because of its brief history. It is also unique because of the gray
fiberglass. The only other Shakespeare bow to use gray glass was X17. It
is a very beautiful color gray and has a slight green cast to it. Lewis prefers
dark wood risers but he is the first to admit that this is an exceptionally
beautiful bow. The color combination of gray glass with the golden maple riser
makes for a truly stunning and rare bow!!
UPDATE: SEPTEMBER
13,2014 Of course, there is
always something unexpected when dealing with vintage bows, especially in Shakespeare.
When I first wrote this article on 8/24/2013 Lewis Kent and I were confident we
had figured out the chronology of this enigmatic bow. The design fits perfectly
into the early bows which Ernie Root made for Shakespeare, they were typical of
the early 1960s bows. However earlier this year Lewis won an X19. When it
arrived he compared both bows and was surprised to find that the bow had a
"Shakespeare Archery Equipment" logo typical of 1970! Its serial
number shows that it was made in December 1970.
Lewis Kent's odd X19 1970 with style logo and medallion and leather Root style arrow rest
This odd X19 also had the raised medal medallion found on bows from the early 1970s. It also has a gray leather arrow rest used by Ernie Root during the early 1960s.
We
debated why there is such inconsistency in this model. I suggested that this
bow may have been resurrected in the 1970s to be used by the US military. The
Army used the Shakespeare M24 as a recreational bow for the US troops in Vietnam. Perhaps Shakespeare was also sending the X19? But Lewis disagrees because
of the shiny metal medallion, which he feels is inconsistent with military use
which makes sense. I have been sitting on this update for quite a while, trying
to research this newer incarnation of the X19. I have found nothing. It leaves
us scratching our heads!!!
SECOND UPDATE: 8/13/2022
I originally published this post in 2014, but it has taken me nine years to finally find a left-handed X19-63 Wonderbow. The bow looked dirty when I bid on it, and when it arrived it was dirtier than expected. But the limbs were straight, and the gray fiberglass had very few scratches. I did a quick cleaning with Windex and discovered that the bow was in remarkably good condition and would not require refinishing. I use the white eraser pads and Renaissance Wax and the cleaning and polishing was done in less than an hour. The 1961 & 62 catalogs describe the bow with a calfskin rest and strike plate, so I added the same to the bow. I put an old string on it and had to fling a few arrows. I like the gray fiberglass and it is a nice shooter, at about 46 pounds. I have ordered a 63" AMO Dacron 50 string and plan on putting it to work soon.
White eraser pad and Renaissance Wax
My left-handed Wonderbow X19-63, 46 pounds
Shakespeare
Wonderbow X19 1961, 1962, 1968, 1970
63-inch AMO1961-62, 60 inches 1968 and 1970
Draw weights: 20- 50 lbs.
Riser- Maple and walnut
calf skin arrow rest
Maple tip overlay
Glass: Ivory White back, Steel Gray belly -1961, Steel Gray
back and belly 1962. 1963 - Green glass walnut riser
6-inch sight window
Brace height- 6 ¾
Right hand, the left hand was special ordered.
Wonderbow logo
1970 Shakespeare Archery Equipment Logo and raised metal medallion
A very RARE x19 set, circa 1962.
if anyone has information on the X19 please share.
I
was given a homework assignment by one of the foremost experts in vintage bows,
Rick Rappe, Author of Vintage Bows I, II, & III:
My
assignment was to write about the early Shakespeare bows and I will try.
Teacher, please be kind.
Shakespeare has been producing
fishing equipment since the late 1800s. In 1959 Shakespeare acquired Parabow
Archery Inc. and began the Shakespeare line of archery equipment. They first produced
solid fiberglass longbows and recurves. The style of these bows was simple and
they were often the first bow of a youngster. In 1959, along with the Parabow
line, Shakespeare introduced the 100 through 400 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. The Model 100 and 200 were top
for the line and the Model 300-400 mid-price range. In 1960 Shakespeare added Model 500-600 as lower-priced ambidextrous bows. In 1961, the leather grip was
dropped, and 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.
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 longbows. The
riser is not more vertical than modern recurves, showing less reflex.
My 1959-60
Model LH 100 66inch AMO
Lewis Kent's perfect 1959-60 Model 200 with original feather rest and strike plate
a fine example of a 1959-60 Model RH-300
another excellent Model RH 300
Jon Patterson's 1959-60 RH-400
Lewis Kent's beautiful 1959-60 Model RH-400
My 1960 Model 500
My 1960 Model 600
1960 Shakespeare archery catalog
1959-60
Model 100 66inch AMO
1959-60
Model 200 60 inch AMO
1959-60
Model 300 62 inch AMO
1959-60
Model 400 64 inch AMO
1960
Model 500 60 inch AMO
1960
Model 600 56 inch AMO
·Weights
35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, and 65
·Contoured
handle with spiral leather grip (except for Model 100- no leather wrap)
·Handle
of laminated maple, walnut, and beefwood (red Australian hardwood)
·Glass
face is buff, maroon, red, brown, or white depending on model
·Full
working recurve
·Brace
height 7 ½
·Sight
window 7 inch
·Laminated limb tips
·Model
100-400 (1959 & 60) were available in RH or LH models
·Model
500-600 (1960) were ambidextrous models
These
were considered a poor man's bow but were competition for the Bear Kodiak and Grizzly. Their physical appearance is very similar, and
both were excellent shooters. However, Bear bows have always held higher value, Shakespeare bows are more desirable now than they have ever been.
My LH 100 with a new plate and feather rest, Lewis Kent's RH 200 with original rest and plate
Lewis Kent's RH 200 is nearly perfect. It shows some minor use but the original arrow rest and strike plate is in outstanding condition. He used him as a model to make a new strike plate for my bow. The new arrow rests available online are much smaller than the original rests. I hope to find a larger feather arrow rest.
The
bows that I own are a 1959-60 Shakespeare Wonderbow LH100 50#, a 1960 Wonderbow Model 500 30#, and a 1960 Wonderbow Model 600 45#. My Model 100 was a disaster, but I didn’t pay very much. The bow had two holes
drilled through the riser and there were four holes on the back of the bow as
well as three small ones on the sight window. Above the arrow rest, there was a
small area that had routed out to insert a bristle rest. The finished was
crackled and the riser looked as if it was carelessly clamped in a vise.
However, the limbs were straight and in excellent condition but the Shakespeare
logo was a ghost. There was also an insert for bow fishing or stabilizer added
which is not original. I spend a lot of time giving the bow new life and I
actually don’t mind the battle scars, it gives the bow character. The
bow is extremely smooth to draw. I like the deeply carved string grooves which
make it easier to string.When I
shot the bow, I was shocked but its performance. OK -no lie; my
first shot was at a half-dollar-sized target from thirty-five yards, drilled it
dead center!!! The remainder of the afternoon was not always as perfect, but it
was always my fault and not the bows. The bow is deceivingly powerful. The draw
is so smooth that it felt like I was pulling a lighter bow and my aim was high
because I perceived that the cast would be weaker. Toward the end of the day, my arrows were right on target. I also tested this bow on a chronograph and its
speed was 182.25 FPS, faster than many newer bows. I would love to test this
bow against the Bear Kodiak of the same era. This is a great shooting bow, with light handling, smooth to draw, and an excellent addition to my collection. I also own a Model 600 which I shoot left-handed. It has red glass on the back and white glass on the belly. This bow isn't actually a recurve it looks more like a longbow because the limbs don't actually push forward. My Model 600 is a 45 lbs bow and shoots very well. The arrow speed for this bow is slightly over 170 FPS. My #30 Model 500 is very similar to the #45 Model 600 except it is longer and it has maroon and white glass. Both of these bows are more reminiscent of a modern reflexed longbow than a recurve.
UPDATE 2/18/23
Not long after writing this post, my Model 100 suffered a limb failure in 2014. I loved that bow! it was one of the finest shooters. I spent the next 9 years looking for this rare bow, especially rare in the left hand. I found a beautiful 55# LH 100 on auction and added it to my collection. like my first Model 100 this bow is incredibly consistent. Welcome to the collection!!
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