Tips on buying used bows

1. Check the entire length of the limbs for splits or cracks.

A. Use old T-shirt to rub the edges of the limbs of the bow. This will catch the smallest fiberglass fiber. A small split on the edge of the limb is not real bad. You can cut the split at its base. If you can cut enough to stop the split, you can sand it down; and, the bow will be shootable. Look very closely to see if the split goes into the laminations. If this has occurred, the bow is not shootable.

B. Check the bow tips for delaminations,especially on the string groves. Any split or delamination (regardless how small) and the bow is not shootable

C: Look for "stress cracks" on the limb. As long as the cracks are longitudinal, are near the handle and do not go into the working part of the limb, the bow is probably still shootable. Look closely, most are cracks in the finish, if the glass is cracked
draw the bow slowley and watch the cracks to see if they open and listen for any sound as the bow is drawn.Usually a bow with a crack in the glass is a wall hanger.

D. The lines that run across the limbs on older Ben Pearson bows are usually varnish cracks. If the cracks are serious, you can tell by looking at the bow when it is strung. If one limb is out of tiller( bent more then the other), the cracks are effecting the limbs and the bow is not shootable

E *Note aluminum bows are not shootable. They break and cause injury. Most older bows(1950 and before), both fiberglass and wooden bows have been stored in hot dry places attics, garages, ect. They will break if shot. These bows are better enjoyed on the wall.

2. Check limbs for limb twist

A. Always use a bow stringer. Once the bow is strung, pull it several times and look at the tips to see if the string lines up with the string groove. If it does not, the limb is twisted pretty bad, if not put the bottom tip on the ground and hold the top tip in your hand. Line up the string with the sight window or the center of the bow if it is not a center shot bow. The string should line up with the center of the limb all the way down the bottom limb of the bow. Turn the bow around and check the top limb. If the string does not line up on either limb there is a twist in that limb If the alignment is only off a little, the bow probably can be straightened
If there are no splits or twist in the limbs the bow should be a good one. There is of course no guarantee how long it will last.