A good friend of mine sent me this photo asking what it might be worth.  Looks to me like it might be a Bear Archery set by the yellow arrows, but I don't know.  It looks like a self bow to me; which makes it 1950's or older.  Anyone have a guess at what it is?  I haven't even looked at it myself yet, hopefully will be able to get my hands on it next week and post more details and closer photos.

   

Can you get more pictures of the bow? From the side it looks a lot like a 1940's era Ben Pearson longbow I have. Mine was not part of a boxed set, though.

QuoteOriginally posted by Sam McMichael:
Can you get more pictures of the bow? From the side it looks a lot like a 1940's era Ben Pearson longbow I have. Mine was not part of a boxed set, though.

Oh yeah, will be posting more pics as soon as I can arrange to check this out in person.  Apparently two of these sets were found in an old barn; waiting to the second one to photograph, measure and document whatever I can about them!

In the 50's archery sets like this were sold by American, Indian, Pearson and most common was York. They usually had the bow, arm guard, shooting tab, a paper target and six or eight arrows. I see there are three matching footed shaft arrows in the set pictured. I have seen sets with footed shaft arrows. Someone most likely made the wood box. They were sold in cardboard boxes. A York set with a mixture of arrows in the cardboard box recently sold on the auction site for 100.00.

Indian archery and toy co sold a set in a wooden box. This may be an Indian.

Got my hands on this set.  The bow is definitely a self bow with a little backset and no arrow rest or knob at all.  Box looks "factory" made solid wood slats (no plywood) with some sort of painted or sprayed green flocking inside.  Bow is 67" long.  Paper instruction book with it suggests Ben Pearson, but there are no markings on the bow what so ever.  Hope more photos follow:

                                 

Here's a picture of my old Ben Pearson. Similar but maybe not identical due to the dark lamination in the handle. Does have the arrow locator though. Probably same era. Mine is marked Ben Pearson.

 

Those footed arrows are awesome.

67" bow, not a kids bow I wouldn't think.

Nice piece.  Agree, those arrow are sweet.

The Pearson website has all of their catalogs available for free download, all the way back to 1958.  Prior to that I believe they just issued pamphlets.

I didn't see your bow specifically in the 1958 catalog but it does show black hardwood footed shafts.  Good detail on the points available then as well.

Jack