Shakespeare Longbows

Shakespeare's Three Ambidextrous 

Dual Shelf Longbows. 

by Larry Vienneau
From the sister blog:

http://dualshelfshooters.blogspot.com/2014/05/shakespeare-archery-dual-shelf-models.html

 Yup, Shakespeare made longbows!

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 bow were simple and they were often the first bow of a youngster. In 1959, along with the Parabow line, Shakespeare introduced the 100 through 600 series of recurves. Around this time Ernie Root began designing and building the bows for Shakespeare. These were beautifully crafted laminated wood and fiberglass. They had leather-wrapped grips, and if right-handed, had the name 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, the Model 300-400 in the mid-price range, and the Model 500-600 lower price range.  In 1961, the leather grip was dropped, and so were the RH 100, and LH 100 designations which were replaced with the X Models, and the bows took on a sleeker design, showing the Ernie Root influence.

1959-60 Model 600 1959-60 Model 500

The RH and LH 100-600 bows were the first composite wood and fiberglass bows made by Shakespeare's 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. They resembled 21st-century Longbows.

1961 Model X20-58

From 1961-64 many of Shakespeare's bows were re-designated with “X” plus a number. The Model X20 in 1961 was a 58-inch entry-level bow with bright red fiberglass. The X20 looked very similar to the 1959-60 Model 600 which also had ambidextrous arrow rests, had an identical profile, and was just two inches longer. The 1961 X20 was also the last Shakespeare laminated model with a leather-wrapped handle. The 1962 X20 was no longer an ambidextrous bow, it was offered as either an RH or LH option, and the leather wrap was dropped. The really interesting thing is all three of these bows were NOT recurves but were the only longbows made by Shakespeare Archery.

1959-60 Model 500 & 600

• Contoured handle with spiral leather grip
• Model 500 – 60” AMO, Model 500- 56” AMO
• Draw weights: Model 500- 30 lbs. to 60 lbs. Model 600 25 lbs. to 50
• Riser: maple
• Limbs: Parallel Glass, 1 ½ inch. Model 600  face is a red back and white belly, and Model 500 red back and white belly
• Semi-recurve
• Brace height:  7 ½
• Model 500-600 were ambidextrous models

   1961-62 Model X20-58

• Contoured handle with spiral leather grip
• AMO: 58”
• Draw Weights: 25 lbs. – 40 lbs.
• Riser: Maple
• Limbs: Woven fiberglass- Maroon, 1 ¼ inch
• Semi-recurve
• Brace height:  7 ½
• Ambidextrous

© Copyright, Larry Vienneau Jr.

All rights reserved.

Ernie Root's RANGER and RANGE MASTER

The Fabulous Root - RANGER and 
RANGE MASTER

 by Larry Vienneau

Root Ranger thanks to Jeff  Freeman. 

Ernie Root didn’t worry about keeping precise records, he published catalogs without dates, and they often didn’t include information that can help identify his bows; he was more interested in getting his hands dirty building exceptional bows. So, reconstructing the chronology of many of his bow models can be a daunting task. I recently bought a lefty Range Master and immediately found very little information about the model. I began piecing things together by looking at the printed material I had which are ads, excerpts for dealer catalogs, and my three Root catalogs. 

A late 1950s Root Ranger thanks to Thomas Grossman

1950s Root Ranger

My 1958-59 Root Ranger

I suspect that the Range Master began as the Ranger during the mid-1950s. Ernie Root loved long-limbed bows. He began his shooting career as a tournament archer.  Longer limbs add stability and allow for a longer draw length with no “stacking”. These bows were about 64 inches long, were made with alternating maple and exotic woods, and had leather-wrapped risers. Like the Range Master, the Ranger was also a mid-priced bow.

 

1959-60 Root Ranger without leather wrap

 In the early 1960’s the bow gained one inch, 65”, and lost its leather wrap. The riser had a more contoured form and the riser was made from a single piece of wood rather than laminations. 

 

1961-63 Ranger with a solid wood riser

By 1963 the Ranger was now 66” and the profile was distinctive, a profile which Root would use in many of his bows as well as in the bow he designed and built for Shakespeare Archery. After 1963 I believe the Ranger became the Range Master. The Range Master was designed as a target bow, a bow for all-round field or stump shooting, and a hunting bow.

 

1964-66 Range master

  The 1964 Range Master had a very similar profile to the ’63 Ranger and it was also a 66” bow, the main difference was the white fiberglass and a slightly longer riser. 

Late 1960s Range Master

By the late 1960s, the profile of the bow had changed completely. The versatile all-purpose Range Master had stabilized handle section and “pendulum” balance found in much more expensive target bows (Pendulous and Professional X10). Range Master had a full view Center shot sight window and 1 3/4" wide limbs with “Micro-Tapered” laminations. The handle and riser section are sculptured from imported hardwoods and had a comfort-contoured thumb rest. All of the Shakespeare Bows were designed and built by Ernie Root. The Ranger and Range Master would morph into the Shakespeare Wonderbow x17 in 1962 and Shakespeare Trident X25 in 1964.

late 1950s – 1962 Ranger

•  64”-65” AMO
• Riser – laminated hardwood. Leather wrap before 1960
•  Limbs 1 3l4 inch
• Fiberglass: green woven until 1960, white parallel glass after 1960
• Draw weight 25-55 lbs
•  Hardwood tip overlay
•  6-inch sight window
• Leather rest 

1964- late 1960s Range Master

• 64” 66” AMO
• Riser- solid exotic hardwood
• Limbs 1 3l4 inch
• Weight 25 to 50#
• Brace height 8”
• 6" center shot sight window
• Feather rest — leather arrow plate
• Stabilizer insert on late 1960s models
  Chronograph: 39# Range Master- 410 gr arrow, 12 shots average ---161.14 FPS

The eBay photos for my future lefty Range Master

My Left Hand Range Master

I was excited to win my 1964 Range Master. The seller’s photos were poor and his description was sparse but the bow came with 10 cedar arrows fletched with orange and black turkey feathers, a nice bonus. I contacted him to ask how the limbs looked, any twists or delaminations?  I also asked about the material on the riser. He said it had been there when he bought the bow, and he never removed it. When the bow arrived, I was pretty happy, it needed some refinishing but overall, it looked good. I removed the riser material and discovered that someone had bound the riser with a cord, hum…not good, and then I saw the crack in the riser, and my heart dropped. I took the chance of bracing the bow and saw the crack open but nothing creaked or popped which was a good sign. While the crack was open I filled the fissure with Loctite 420, which is a deep-penetrating superglue. I completely filled it until it ran out the sides and fill the top of the crack then clamped it closed and unstrung the bow. The next day I removed the clamps and braced the bow and the crack held, then I drew the bow awaiting the dreaded snap, crackle, pop. But it held. I took the bow out and shot over 140 arrows and it held up. I refinished the bow and added a leather plate and made a red feather arrow rest for the bow. It is a very consistent shooter and a welcome addition to my Root collection. 

My Resurrected Left Hand 1964 Root Range Master

© Copyright, Larry Vienneau Jr.

All rights reserved.

Arrow Speeds for Vintage Shakespeare Recurves

Arrow Speeds for Vintage Root, Shakespeare, and assorted recurves from my collection
by Larry Vienneau

Technology has made spectacular advances since the 1960-70s. The strides have reshaped our culture, changed the environment, opened the universe to the inquisitive mind, and changed the sport of archery. Despite these technical achievements the recurve is essentially the same. Today's designs are basically the same ones perfected in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The real differences are more esthetics than new innovations. Why mess with perfection.  The vintage bows of this era are the standard of quality and beauty to which contemporary bow makers must constantly strive.

I have finished testing my Shakespeare bows but I also want to post my other vintage bows for comparison. I bought a chronograph and it took a while to figure it out. I also bought an amazing App for my iPhone “Archery Chronograph” for .99 cents!!  

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/achrono/id530335013?mt=8
http://www.ollapp.com/app/achrono/android 

I shot the same 410-grain arrows with three 3-inch fletchings. I shot a dozen arrows and averaged the results. My string was mostly D-50 material. I use Fast Flight for my solid fiberglass bows and they are denoted with *FF

 Shakespeare / Parabow / Root / bows:

1. 60 lb. Ocala 60" X17------------- 194.10 FPS
2. 55 lb. Necedah 55” X26--------- 187.74 FPS
3. 44 lb. Root Brush Master-------184.84 FPS 
4. 45 lb. Necedah 58"X26--------- 184.66 FPS
5. 45 lb. Tioga X21--------------------184.28 FPS
6. 50 lb. Super Necedah x32------184.09 FPS
7. 52 lb. Super Necedah X30----- 182.90 FPS
8. 55 lb. Kaibab X27 ---------------- 182.80 FPS
9. 50 lb. Model LH 100-------------- 182.25 FPS
10. 45 lb. Root Warrior X100------- 180.56 FPS 
11. 45 lb. Ocala 62" X17------------  178.97 FPS
12. 45+lb Pecos X23----------------- 177.46 FPS
13. 55 lb. Mancos X40--------------- 176.18 FPS
14. 41 lb Manitou X20---------------- 175.79 FPS
15. 50 lb. Cascade X29-------------- 174.66 FPS
16. 40 lb Yukon X24------------------ 174.66 FPS
17. 40+lb Professional X10-------- 174.23 FPS 
18. 45 lb. Wambaw X12------------- 173.62 FPS
19. 45 lb Model 600 -----------------  170.31 FPS
20. 45 lb. Sierra X18-----------------  170.13 FPS
21. 45 lb Root Field Master 1957--170.07 FPS
22. 40+ Model X22--------------------  169.73 FPS
23. 38 lb. Super Necedah X30 ---  169.11 FPS
24. 45 lb. Custer  X22---------------- 168.63 FPS
25. 39 lb Root Range Master-------161.14 FPS
26. 45 lb. B-7 Comet Parabow---- 158. 27 FPS
27. 35 lb. B-2 Brushmaster ---------155.98 FPS
28. 45 lb. Shim-Bo X2---------------- 155.87 FPS
29. 30 lb. Model 500------------------- 154.72 FPS
30. 30 lb. Wonderbow x20-58----- 150.40 FPS
31. 40 lb. B-3 Sharpshooter ------- 149.59 FPS
32. 36 lb. Golden Eagle S-Proline--147.91 FPS

The results for the Shakespeare bows were interesting. My fastest bow is my 60# Ocala 60 AMO at 194.10 FPS, which would have placed it as number three when compared to the list of top modern production bows!!! It also outperformed the heavier 70# Bear Kodiak at 190.88 FPS. One of my oldest bows The Necedah 55" at 45lb was the second fastest of the Shakespeare bows at 187.74 fps. The slowest was the 1959-60 30# Model 500 at 154.72 FPS. Next the 45# Custer at 168.63 fps, followed closely by the 52# Super Necedah at 169.11 fps (both faster than a Black Widow PTF II.) Most of my 45lb Shakespeare Bows (except for the Shim-Bo' and Comet Parabow) smoked my 45lb Bear Kodiak Magnum bow!!! The Shakespeare Professional was faster than the Golden Sovereign Lord Mercury and Hoyt Pro Medalist target bows. Still, the variations in speed are minimal when compared to the speeds of the Contemporary bows (Dec. 8th post).

My Vintage bows:

1. 74 lb. Homemade Longbow-------192.51 FPS
2. 70 lb. 1983 Bear  Kodiak------------190.88 FPS
3. 50 lb. Earl Hoyt Sky Hawk TD----187.01 FPS
4. 60 lb. Red Wing Hunter-------------185.85 FPS
5. 50 lb. Paul Bunyan 100 fiberglass-- 178.68 FPS  *FF
6. 45 lb. 1960 Bear Panda--------------176.67 FPS
7. 45 lb. 1957 Bear Alaskan ----------175.24 FPS
8. 50 lb. Ben Pearson TD Longbow---173.77 FPS
9. 50 lb Paul Bunyan 300 Fiberglass-----173.18      *FF
10. 42 lb. Homemade Recurve--------172.89 FPS
11. 58 lb. Homemade Sinew Backed   172.23 FPS
12. 55 lb. Homemade Sinew backed---171.09 FPS
13. 50 lb. Zeus Fiberglass ----------------169.88 FPS     *FF
14. 50 lb. Paul Bunyan 500 Fiberglass---169.57         *FF 
15. 52 lb. 1954 Bear Cub-----------------168.75 FPS
16. 51 lb. 1959 Bear Cub-----------------167.97 FPS
17. 50 lb Shawnee Fiberglass--------- 167.90 FPS       *FF
18. 52 lb. Homemade Longbow-------166.25 FPS
19. 38Lb Ben Pearson, Golden Sovereign, "Lord Mercury"                                   ----166.05 FPS
20. 45 lb.  #267 Indian  Archery--------165.76 FPS
21. 45 lb. 1967 Bear Kodiak Mag-----165.09 FPS
22. 40 lb. Homemade Sinew backed ----161.78 FPS
23. 40 lb. 1956 Bear Polar --------------157.07 FPS
24. 37 lb. Hoyt Pro Medalist------------154.30 FPS
25. 38 lb. Groves Spitfire----------------154.18 FPS
26. 40 lb. Lemonwood Longbow------152.91 FPS

The Homemade bows and Sinew Backed bows were made from 1982 to 1995. The Horse-bows are not vintage but are unique and powerful bows. The Chinese and Mongolian Bows are handmade in China. The Korean Bow is a Samick SKB traditional bow, it is the shortest, lightest, smallest, but one of the FASTEST of my bows- Proof that good things can come in small packages

HORSEBOWS

1.      60 lb Korean Samick SKB ----------193.46 FPS 
2.      60 Lb Chinese bow-----------------181.91 FPS
3.      60 lb Mongolian Bow---------------181.59 FPS
 4.      35 lb. Mongolian Horse-bow ----164.75 FPS 

Here is a great posting I found on Tradtalk.com. It lists an assortment of contemporary production recurves and longbows. A dozen arrows of the same weight were fired through a chronograph and the speeds were averaged. Here are the results. I realize speed isn't important to everyone, but seeing some of the higher-priced bows surpassed by less-expensive bows is interesting. These results are not mine. I can't vouch for their accuracy.
 
Top Production Bows Speed List:

http://www.tradtalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26577


Posted by “Dediu00ro”


1-- 62# @28 Belcher Bows Patriot handle SSR recurve limbs 56" [205fps] = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zON5nhWih8 Video


2-- 72# @29" Black Douglas Swift with H core Hex 5 Limbs -[196fps]


3-- 47# @31" Border Harrier Royale--------------------------[195fps]


-- 50# @28" Predator "Classic" 9.8gpp----------------------[193fps]


-- 55# @33" AH ACS CX 11gpp------------------------------[188fps]


-- 48# @28" Firefly/G3 Hoyt bow-----------------------------[187fps]


-- 48# @28" 52" Montana recurve----------------------------[187fps]


-- 47# @30" Hoyt GM 2 with TT Blackmax Carbon 66"---[185fps]


-- 49# @28" 58" Cari bow WOLVERINE----------------------[184fps]


-- 51# @28" Pse Kingfisher Recurve Bow 9gpp------------[188fps]


-- 50# @28" PL X "Birdseye Maple" T/D 9.4gpp------------[185fps]


-- 55# @28" O.L. ADCOCK ACS LONGBOW 60"-----------[181fps]


-- 58# @28" 60" Palmer Carbon Recurve---------------------[180 fps]


-- 50# @28" 66" Grifon Gl Border Archery--------------------[180fps]


-- 45# @28" TT Titan Recurve w/ Carbon Extreem BF 11gpp-[180fps]


-- 48# @28" Samick Td Hunter-------------------------------[180fps]


-- 42# @28" 58" Lost Creek Longbow------------------------[179fps]


-- 50# @28" 62" Longbow Cari Bow Peregrine-------------[178fps]


-- 47# @28" 62" Liberty Chief Elite----------------------------[176fps]


-- 45# @28" 62" A D M longbow-------------------------------[176fps]


-- 47# @28" TT Black Onyx BM C limbs--------------------[175fps]


-- 42# @30" Blacktail TD Recurve: 66" 11.5gpp-----------[174fps]


-- 45# @28" TT Pinacle Longbow GW limbs 11gp!------[174fps]


-- 64# @29" on 17" DAS riser with Dryad ACS XL--------[174fps]


-- 48# @28" Anneewakee Addiction 56" 11.45gpp-------[171fps]


-- 45# @28" 62" Montana Whip Longbow-------------------[171fps]


-- 39# @29" Kaya Korean Traditional Bow 9gpp----------[170fps]


-- 49# @28" Harvest Master HC Recurve 12gpp!----------[168fps]


-- 50# @28" Black Widow PTF II (Prototype) 62"11.4gpp-[168fps]


-- 39# @30" Hwarang Bow MWP-------------------------------[169fps]


-- 40# @28" Samick Sage TD Recurve-----------------------[166fps]


-- 50# @28" White Wolf Red Moon Longhunter S4--------[165fps]


-- 39# @30" Wind Fighter Korean Bow-----------------------[165fps]


-- 60# @28" Hoyt Buffalo Recurve 12.5gpp------------------[160fps]


-- 38# @28" Black Widow SA lll 11.1gpp--------------------[161fps]


-- 49# @28" Morrison Dakota TD 60"----------------------[161fps]


-- 39# @30" Grozer TRH--------------------------------------[159fps]


-- 52# @28" Aidy Hayes Longbow---------------------------[158fps]


-- 49# @28" Falco Legends Flatbow 10gpp----------------[158fps]


-- 50# @28" Neil Harrington Longbow 72" 10.6gpp--------[155fps]


-- 49# @28" Chris Boyton High Performance Longbow 11.1gpp--[154fps]


-- 48# @28" Rampart TD RC 60"------------------------------[151fps]


-- 45# @28" R. Welch Dakota TD RC 60" 12gpp----------[150fps]


-- 46# @28" Samick Skb 9gpp--------------------------------[150fps]


-- 28# @28" Samick Polaris Td Recurve 11.5gpp---------[149fps]


-- 50# @28" Samick Stingray 58"------------------------------[142fps]


-- 55# @27"-@27.5" Samick Skb 10.5gpp-------------------[142fps]



© Copyright, Larry Vienneau Jr.
All rights reserved.