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9.3K views 22 replies 9 participants last post by  zwerchau  
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#1 ·
Have the opportunity to buy a used Red Wing Hunter. Don’t know much about bows but this one seems to be well taken care of and in my price range.

Main question is about the serial # that begins with R. Anyone know approximate age based on this?

This will be my first bow. Is it a good idea to start out shooting an antique like this one? Owner says it shoots great.


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#2 ·
WINGS are Great Bows, some of the best.

BUT

You stated this will be your First bow. What is the poundage of the Hunter? Anything over 35# , then you should pass, or buy it and shoot it at a later time.

It`s called a Red Wing Hunter for a reason. It`s best used as a hunting bow, rather then a target bow.

I think a Red Wing Hunter is a fairly short bow, so it will stack. (Or get harder to pull as you reach your shooting anchor)

SO, if it`s your first bow and it`s in great condition and you can get it at a great price, I`d say buy it and shoot it at a later time. If you want to get started in Traditional Archery, I`d get a 30# 64" bow, practice with that, and shoot the WING at a later time.
 
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#7 ·
Wing

Are you buying this from a friend , or online from photo`s?

43# is on the high end as far as getting started in traditional archery. 30-35#`s is a better starting point.

For the same price you can buy a new entry level bow at 30#`s.

I`m not discouraging you from buying the Wing. I`m kind of partial to Wing`s , owning two WING bows. :wink:
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#9 ·
I happen to have a Red Wing Hunter on hand that I'm refinishing for a friend. It has an R serial number and knowing the history of this particular bow I know it is a mid '70's model. I'm partial to my Wing and Bob Lee bows. They are very smooth shooting bows. If you don't have too long of a draw length one of these bows can work very well for you assuming this is a 58" model. I have a small collection of Wing and Bear bows and I enjoy shooting them all. On my range nights I bring my heavier weight bows to start with and my lighter weight bows to finish out the evening with since we shoot for over two hours or more. I think it's really just a question of experience and if this bow would fit your size, draw length, etc.
 
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#10 ·
I had a red wing hunter that basically got me interested in stickbow hunting. I bought it for $50 and drilled an ams retrevier reel into the riser. I killed piles of fish with that bow. It was 45# at 26”. Great bows.
 
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#11 ·
Regarding age, it really depends on the rest of the serial number. Red Wing Hunters very early had just a capital R followed by about four digits for the serial.
The move of the production facility from Houston to Jacksonville, Texas more or less coincided with adding a capital W after the capital R, so far as I can tell.
Head Ski Company models from around 1968 and 1969 (after Bob Lee sold Wing to them) seem to have had R-A serial numbers.
AMF models immediately after that (and now we begin the severe quality decline IMO) typically had R-2 serial numbers.

Two, Roadsnakes? I’ve got seven.
:)
A 1966 or slightly earlier RWH is one of my favorites. It’s 45# & 28” and like most I’d say it and my 41# version are both too much to learn well on.
 
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#12 ·
SEVEN Wings! That`s Great! I`d like to pics of those bow`s. Love those old Wing`s!
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#14 ·
RWH, pre- Head Ski and Gull #5.
This slightly later RWH is a nice bow, but the overall presentation falls short of those made just a few years earlier IMO.
Image

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Also, I’d not buy one with ?bushings? (aka holes) in the limbs. I’ve seen way too many stress cracks start there. You’ll find those almost exclusively from the AMF (ughhh!) years.
 
#18 ·
I just picked up a 60" Head Ski Wing Chaparral. Not too thrilled with the overlays but the bow shoots fantastic. Next up will be a 62" Wing Slim Line. The 58" Hunters are too short for me but for a guy with a 28" or less draw they should work good. For that weight at $150, it is hard to go wrong. I hear that the Hunters are really good shooting bows.
 
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#19 ·
You heard correctly, but IMO you are selling the shorter bow...short, lol.
See my draw weight test of the old girl:
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Note the smooth, almost linear increase up to 30”. There are precious few vintage bows of this length that feel like a RWH. Of course, I can’t argue that there can be slightly more finger pinch, but the difference from a 60” bow shouldn’t be that significant.
 
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