New to Me: Alaskan

Amberjack · September 04, 2013, 07:01:00 PM

Won this on the big auction site a few days ago and it just arrived on the brown truck today.

1959-60 'Halloween' Alaskan
NT538
62"
45#

Draw weight, and for the most part, condition were unknown until today so I just tossed a $50 bid out there and took my chances.

String was old and nasty. I'll pick up a new one tomorrow.

Pros: No evidence of delam anywhere, doesn't appear to have any limb twist (but haven't strung it yet) tips are in good shape, looks like the original leather grip, flush aluminum coin in place, nice 45# weight, should clean up nicely.

Cons: Someone 'installed' a Hoyt plastic rest and appears to have used an entire bottle of rubber cement. Fortunately it was soft enough that 10min with a plastic gun cleaning tool got most of it off. Some stress lines. Not unexpected. Guess we'll see if she holds together when I string her up tomorrow.

Overall a nice pickup for less than $50.

Anyone know what original strike plate or rest was provided with this bow when it left the factory?

AJ

Kituwa · September 04, 2013, 11:19:00 PM

Here is a pic i found that you should be able to make out the strike plate. It is leather and are skived on the backside so the edges are thin but thicker in the middle. The whole piece of leather is pretty thin too. They had a leather on the shelf too but a bear feather rest works real good on them too. Looks like yours is in pretty good shape other than the varnish. Cant go wrong for $50! I think you will have fun with it.

Kituwa · September 04, 2013, 11:19:00 PM

Sorry, forgot the link.
http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=14;t=005422#000000

NIGEL01 · September 05, 2013, 01:43:00 AM

It looks like a fun project bow! That was my plan anyway. I missed the other one that was on the auction, that one looked pretty minty. I'll have one someday!

ArrowPlane · September 05, 2013, 12:46:00 PM

So you're the one that outbid me...

Congrats

That's a very, um, thorough glue job on the rest. Glad it came off ok, would've been a bummer if it was really stuck!

Blackhawk · September 05, 2013, 04:48:00 PM

Gosh...the used bow market must really be down if bows like that are going for only 50 bucks.

Amberjack · September 05, 2013, 07:19:00 PM

Just back from RockyMtnSpecialtyGear where Howard took care of me. Bow has a new Flemish B50 string, a bear hair rest and leather strike plate and is shooting like a dream.

I also picked up some new-fangled carbon stump shooters to play with while I wait for my woodies to be built. Never shot carbons before. When last I pulled a string ('97) Easton aluminum shafts were top shelf.

@Blackhawk - I don't think the market is down as much as this bow seems to indicate. The seller didn't provide much if any detail (draw weight, condition) and his pics left something to be desired. There were a few of us bidding on it at the end but I think it went low simply because it was a shot in the dark. Could very well have been delammed and cracked.

Thanks all for the comments. Looking forward to getting her in the field!

ArrowPlane · September 07, 2013, 05:11:00 PM

Alaskans just aren't nearly as in-demand as the other, more popular Bears. They're kind of an odd bow. Still, if the seller would've listed more info, it probably would've gone for about double. Hard to justify throwing full market value at a bow you don't even know the draw weight of

Love to see some better pics of her now that she's all gussied up!

ArrowPlane · September 07, 2013, 06:11:00 PM

Alaskans just aren't nearly as in-demand as the other, more popular Bears. They're kind of an odd bow. Still, if the seller would've listed more info, it probably would've gone for about double. Hard to justify throwing full market value at a bow you don't even know the draw weight of

Love to see some better pics of her now that she's all gussied up!

Phrogdrvr · September 11, 2013, 09:44:00 PM

I love the Alaskans. First bow I ever shot. Nice buy. Here's a photo of the original strike plate of an Alaskan.

Tom

Phrogdrvr · September 11, 2013, 09:44:00 PM

Oops, double post.

Amberjack · September 29, 2013, 07:09:00 PM

Thanks for the pics and links to original condition Alaskans.

Here she is all cleaned up and in her Sunday best.

Found a leather top tape-on quiver - perfect for this bow but my carbon stump-shooters rattle around in the clips too much. Have to switch to woodies I suppose...

Shoots pretty well too...

She meets with Jessie's approval...

mihuntr · September 30, 2013, 04:29:00 PM

It looks outstanding! Very nice bow!

59Alaskan · September 30, 2013, 06:00:00 PM

"Odd". Ok, maybe. I own 4 of these Halloween Alaskans and I have been accused of being odd too.

They shoot great, anyone (right or left) can shoot them and they look cool.

None of mine are for sale...26#, 34#, 40#, 48#

I have 4 kids and a mix if RH and LH shooters

CONGRATS on a fine bow!

Larry m · September 30, 2013, 09:31:00 PM

That turned out to be a real nice set up. Love the clean lines on that bow strung. Very Nice!!! You have a great place to stump shoot, Yep Nice indeed..........

Phrogdrvr · October 03, 2013, 10:37:00 PM

Ooh, looks nice. I like it.

Tom

Rick Enos · October 06, 2013, 09:15:00 AM

Theres a holloween bow in Galesburg Michigan antique shop.35.00 with a 35% off price sale...it has a chip on the left side dual shelf but other than that a good bow.a couple of doors down from the antique shop is a bycicle shop the owner is a past employee of Shakespeare archery.Loves to talk archery history....