Cracks in my bow limb, repairable or even bad?

[scythefwd]

This is a Bear Kodiak from around the 60's. It has some vertical cracks, very small ones but a few inches in length, in the fiberglass backing and fronting on the limbs. Found several archery forums stating this is normal for the bows of that time and it is fine to shoot. Want second opinion. Going to an archery specialty shop later to get their opinion (and possibly a new string for it) later.

The cracks MAY extend down through the fiberglass, and to, but not into, the wooden core. They are parallel with the unidirectional fiberglass strands and not perpendicular to the grain of the fiberglass.

 

[scythefwd]

pro shop sad shoot it. Extremely smooth action

 

[Sniper X]

as long as they aren't along the axis of the parting between wood and laminate on the limb. In other words, as long as the limb is not de-laminating, it is safe to shoot. But watch for them to get bigger when it gets COLD. If they increase in length, might want to look for a new old bow. I have my 1968 Groves Archery recurve that is still in perfect condition. I also have a nice Larry Nirk legacy that the limb is de-laminating on that I can't shoot, bummer because it is a recurve longbow.

 

[janobles14]

i would say NOT to shoot it. i have had a bow come apart in my hands before and its not in any way fun. this very bow was about the same age as yours and i had a single fissure in the laminate (or so i thought). i also got an opinion from my bow pro and he said dont worry. a grand total of 14 shots later it blew up on me while practicing. no serious injury was incurred but i had a cut on my arm and one on my cheek. it could have been much worse. i know they arent cheap but i would replace it.

 

[scythefwd]

janobles - was it delaminating or was the fissure on the front or back face of the bow? The way you phrased that, the bow had the laminate start to separate... Which is very dangerous and not what my bow is doing. I won't have to replace it per say.... I already have 2 other old bows, one recurve and one commpound. Might be getting a third this year or next as the fam. Member who has it doesn't shoot it.

 

[wheelgunslinger]

Yeah, when the fiberglass starts cracking, they're pretty much on their way out.
This year my recurve, a custom bow made in the 70's, started cracking and I had to retire it and look for another.

That's the thing about recurves. People place little value on them because they're simple, so they're easy to find cheap or have people give them to you. And there are too many around to risk shooting one that's marginal.
They'll all be dust one day, so enjoy them while you can.