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Sunday, February 20, 2022

Finally, Ernie Root will be Nominated for the Archery Hall of Fame!!

 

In 2013, I started the process of Ernie Root's Nomination to the Archery Hall of Fame. In 2022 we will finally get a nomination to the Archery Hall of Fame Committee. Since the 2013 inquiry, I have written 23 new posts on Ernie Root about every bow Ernie made for Root and Shakespeare, owned dozens of Root and Shakespeare bows, and collaborated with Larry Root to write chapters in Rick Rappe's book Vintage Bows III. I have had help from some of the most knowledgeable people in the archery field. I have also made some good friends. So, in retrospect, 2013 was too early, I didn’t know enough. By 2022 I formed the friendships that helped me learn so much more about Ernie Root and the Golden Age of Archery.

The nomination would not be possible without the help of

·        Lewis Kent for sharing his obsession, for his research, and for his help in writing many of these posts.

·        Lawrence Root is the “Guru”, all knowledge flows from “Larry 1”, he has been unselfishly sharing his memories and experience.  

·        A special thanks to Rick Mansberger for kicking Larry 1 and Larry 2 in the butt and helping us get this done.  

Larry 1 and Larry 2

·        Thank you to Michael “Rick” Rappe, the author of Vintage Bows I, II, III.



·         George Stout, you are an endless source of knowledge.

·         “The Code Breakers”- Kerry Hardy, Peter Denley, David Ross, and John Murphy. They figured out the Shakespeare Serial Number system.

Thank you to everyone who shared knowledge, experience, and their bows: Lewis Kent, Edward Campbell,  Jeff  Freeman, Thomas Goessman, Shayne Efaw, Joseph Spallone, Kerry Stout, Jacki Clauson, Joey Zoppa, Kevin Sperber, Lavi Niv, Jack Shanks, Bob Hargreaves, George Stout, Jermy Leemgraven, Aaron Brill, Cody Connerley, Brett Parker, Cameron Root, Russ Otis, George Trefethen, RCG Cochron,  David Landis, Mike Shaw, Chris Miller, Josh Conway, Brian T. Swords, Brad Barclay, Jim Luby…….I am sure I am missing many!!

Thanks to the nearly 500,000 people who have visited the blog.



Tuesday, May 25, 2021

Root's Last bow: The Root Rover

 

ROOT ROVER

 


I don't have many resources from Ernie Root such as catalogs, ads, or magazine articles to help me write this post. As a left-handed archer, I have discovered that Root produced very few left-handed bows, which were mainly special orders. I could try shooting right-handed, but I prefer to assess a bow with my left hand. So, I'll have to wait until I acquire a left-handed bow to provide a shooting review. From my research on Root serial numbers, I learned that this particular bow was manufactured between 1965 and 1971. The Rover, an entry-level bow, had a light draw weight that started at 15 lbs. and went up to 40 lbs. It was designed for target shooting by smaller or less experienced archers. The Shakespeare Model X24 and the Rover were introduced in 1965 and 1966 respectively, to cater to young archers and withstand the wear and tear of beginners in school or camp environments. On the other hand, the Yukon was a shorter bow with a draw weight of up to 50 lbs., making it ideal for hunting. While the Rover was not intended for hunting, it could be ordered in hunting weights. Although Ernie Root did not have a significant amount of written material, I possess a few of his catalogs, magazine articles, and ads. Unfortunately, these items did not provide me with enough information to write this post. As a left-handed archer, I am aware that Root manufactured very few left-handed bows, and most of them had to be custom ordered. Although I could try shooting right-handed, my accuracy and assessment of a bow are better when using my left hand. Therefore, I will have to wait until I acquire a left-handed bow to provide a shooting review. After collecting Root's serial numbers for some time, I discovered that this specific bow was produced between 1965-1971. The Rover bow was an entry-level model with a draw weight starting at 15 lbs and increasing up to 40 lbs, making it ideal for smaller or less experienced archers who prefer target shooting. The Shakespeare Model X24 and the Rover were launched in 1965 and 1966, designed with young archers in mind, and intended to withstand the rigorous use of beginners in school or camp environments. Although the Yukon was a shorter bow, it had a draw weight of up to 50 lbs, making it suitable for hunting. The Rover, on the other hand, was not intended for hunting, but it could be custom ordered in hunting weights.



 1966 catalog “A great value- The same quality as in all Root Bows. An ideal all-around bow for the beginner and economy-minded and great for family fun. The Rover has modified recurve tips, a full-view center-shot sight window, and a full-size hand-polished positive aligned grip. The smooth drawing limbs are Micro tapered. The select hardwood handle section has a multi-coated hand-rubbed finish for beauty and permanence. Price $22.50”

 


The Rover was a versatile and reliable bow, often praised for its smooth shooting. Following the merger of Root and Shakespeare in 1969, it was rebranded as the Rover X152. By 1970, like all Root models, it had been renamed "Root by Shakespeare".



If you come across these bows in auctions or for sale, they may require some refinishing work due to the wear and tear of children. However, the heavier bows tend to be in better condition. For collectors of vintage bows, the Root Rover recurve bow would be a valuable addition. Personally, I am on the hunt for a left-handed Rover.

 


ROOT ROVER

  • Years: Root Rover 1965-68, 1969-71 Rover X152 (Root by Shakespeare 1970-71)
  • 62” AMO
  • Draw 15# - #40, #45-#50 special order.
  • Brace 7 ½
  • Limbs 1 ½
  • 5” sight
  • Riser: Maple, or Exotic Hardwood
  • Fiberglass: White, Light Green, or Dark Green 

 UPDATE: On August 27th, 2022, I purchased this Root last December at a reduced price due to its poor condition, as evidenced by its original Root decal. Although the model decal is no longer present, its profile, stats, and serial numbers indicate that it is a Root Rover. This bow is designed for left-handed users and weighs over 45 pounds, with the scale measuring it at 46 and a half pounds at 28 inches. This model would have been specially ordered due to its left-handed orientation and the fact that 45–50-pound bows are not common. The tips of the bow had some delamination, but I was able to fix them using Loctite 420. The effort was well worth it!


My 1965 Lefty Root Rover


Wednesday, October 7, 2020

"Table of Contents" A Visual Aid to the Blog Archive

 Full List of Posts, Pages and Articles




WordPress does not have a "table of Contents" for its blogs, I wish it did.  There are two search tools on this blog, one at the top left of the page and the other is in the start of the body of the blog, however, some people have not been able to figure out how to use them. Also, if you search the blog using a smartphone those search options are not visible. So, I have compiled a list of the 60 posts, pages, and articles I have posted since 2012, with a brief description, a small photo, and a link to the blog post. Hopefully, this will help people navigate the blog and find the information they need. 


Collecting and archery-related

 

Star Trek Killed the Recurve Bow

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2012/12/star-trek-and-compound-bow.html

Published  Dec 31, 2012


Right-Handed Bow VS Left-Handed Bow

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2017/10/how-totell-right-handed-bow-from-handed.html

Published Oct 13, 2017 


How Photography Can Sell Your Vintage Bow

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2017/03/how-photography-can-sell-your-vintage.html

Published Mar 11, 2017


Using Decals to Complete Your Vintage Bow Refinishing Project

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2013/06/using-decals-to-complete-your-vintage.html

Published Jun 17, 2013


Rick Rappe's Vintage Bows III

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2014/02/rick-rappes-vintage-bows-iii.html

Published Feb 7, 2014


How to Buy and Sell Vintage Bows, Avoiding Bad Bows, Bad Buyers and Worse Sellers

 https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2013/03/how-to-buy-vintage-bows-avoiding-bad.html

Published Mar 3, 2013


How to Refinish a Vintage Bow

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2013/02/how-to-refinish-vintage-bow.html

Published Feb 10, 2013


 Treasures of the Santa Clara By Lewis D. Kent page

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html


ROOT ARCHERY

 

Ernie Root By Lawrence Root

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2013/04/ernie-root-by-lawrence-root.html

Published Oct 9, 2013


 Ernie Root's First Bows, The "King" Longbows

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2018/06/ernie-roots-first-bows-king-longbows.html

Published Jun 9, 2018


Root's Last Bow: The Root Rover

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2021/05/the-root-rover.html

Published May 19, 2018


Ernie Root's Kadet Longbow and Recurve Bow

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2018/05/ernie-roots-kadet-longbow-and-recurve.html

Published May 13, 2018


Root Sporter Recurve

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2018/05/root-sporter-recurve.html

Published May 7, 2018


Root Score Master Longbow

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2018/05/root-score-master-longbow.html

Published May 5, 2018


Ernie Root's Target Master

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2018/05/ernie-roots-target-master.html

Published May 5, 2018

 

Root Predator X114

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2016/07/root-predator-x114.html

Published Jul 24, 2016


Ernie Root's RANGER and RANGE MASTER

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2014/05/ernie-roots-range-master.html

Published May 29, 2014

 

Root Hunt Master X122

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2014/03/root-hunt-master-x122.html

Published  Mar 16, 2014

  

The Root Game Master

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2014/01/normal-0-false-false-false-en-us-x-none.html

Published Jan 25, 2014


The GOLDEN EAGLE recurve

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-golden-eagle-recurve.html

Published Jan 7, 2014


The Root Warrior- “ROOT BY SHAKESPEARE “

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-root-warrior-root-by-shakespeare_30.html

Published Nov 30, 2013


 The Root BRUSH MASTER Recurve

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-root-brush-master-recurve.html

Published Nov 10, 2013


Root Pendulus Target Bows

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/search?q=Root+Pendulus+Target+bows

Published Apr 19, 2013


Ernie Root's Field Master

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2013/05/ernie-root-field-master-x176.html

Published May 21, 2013


Shakespeare and Root Bows In Action

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2013/08/readers-shakespeare-root-bows-in-action.html

Published Aug 9, 2013

 

 

SHAKESPEARE ARCHERY

The Manitou X20

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2013/02/shakespeare-wonderbow-manitou-x20.html

Published Feb. 3, 2013 


Why Collect Shakespeare and Root Bows?

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2012/10/why-interest-in-shakespeare-archery.html

Published Oct 22, 2012

 

Shakespeare Sierra Model X18

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2012/10/shakespeare-sierra-model-x18.html


Proline / Shakespeare bows

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2013/04/proline-shakespeare-bows.html

Published Apr 1, 2013


The Short History of Shakespeare / Root Archery 

1959-1976

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2012/09/normal-0-false-false-false-en-us-x-none.html

Published Mar 29, 2013


 SHAKESPEARE PECOS X-23

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2013/03/shakespeare-pecos-x-23.html

Published Mar 3, 2013

  

 THE SHAKESPEARE TIOGA X21

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-shakespeare-tioga-x21.html

Published Feb 15, 2013

 

Shakespeare Wonderbow X20, and Manitou X20

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2013/02/shakespeare-wonderbow-manitou-x20.html

Published Feb 3, 2013


Shakespeare Shim Bo’ X1 & X2

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2013/01/shakespeare-shim-bo-x1-x2.html

Published Jan 31, 2013


Shakespeare Purist X-4

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2013/01/shakespeare-purist-x-4.html

Published Jan 26, 2013


Shakespeare Wonderbow THE YUKON X24

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2013/01/shakespeare-wonderbow-yukon-x24.html

Published Jan 26, 2013


Shakespeare Professional X10

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2013/01/shakespeare-professional-x10.html

Published Jan 16, 2013

 

Super Necedah X30, X32

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2012/09/super-necedah-review.html

Published Jan 5, 2013

 

Shakespeare Wonderbow Cascade X-29

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2012/11/shakespeare-wonderbow-cascade-x-29.html

Published Nov 9, 2012

 

Shakespeare Model X22 and THE CUSTER X22

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2012/11/shakespeare-custer-x22.html 

Published Nov 4, 2012

 

Shakespeare Wonderbow THE MANCOS Model x40.

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2012/10/shakespeare-mancos-ad.html

Published Oct 19, 2012


 Shakespeare, Root, Proline, and Golden Eagle Archery Ads

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2012/09/shakespeare-ad.html

Published Sep 29, 2012

  

EARLY SHAKESPEARE BOWS: 1959-60 MODEL 100 - MODEL 600

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2013/08/early-shakespeare-bows-model-100-model.html

Published Aug 22, 2013

 

SHAKESPEARE WONDERBOW- THE KAIBAB X27

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-kaibab.html

Published May 13, 2017

 

 Shakespeare QT Takedown Recurve

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2013/06/shakespeare-qt-takedown-recurve.html

Published Jun 26, 2013

  

THE M24- A Shakespeare Yukon X24 prototype or War Weapons?

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2013/05/shakespeare-yukon-x24-prototype.html

Published May 27, 2013

 

Shakespeare TITAN MODEL X-15

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2013/05/shakespeare-titan-model-x-15.html

Published May 26, 2013

 

Shakespeare Parabow Solid Fiberglass Bows

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2013/02/shakespeare-parabow-solid-fiberglass.html

Published Dec 22, 2016


Shakespeare Graduate X6

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2016/08/shakespeare-graduate-x6.html

Published Aug 8, 2016


“The Necedah Wonderbows- Model X26, X28, X31”

 https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-necedah-wonderbow.html

Published May 23, 2015

 

Shakespeare Supreme X16

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2013/05/shakespeare-supreme-x16.html

Published Mar 23, 2015


Shakespeare Trident X25

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2013/05/shakespeare-trident-x25.html

Published Mar 21, 2015

 

Shakespeare X17-62, OCALA X-17 and rare OCALA X-14A (Ocala Special)

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2015/02/shakespeare-x17-62-ocala-x-17-and-rare.html

Published Feb 7, 2015

 

The Odd Shakespeare Wonderbow X19 and the Early Shakespeare "X" Wonderbows

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2013/08/early-shakespeare-x-bows-1961-1964-x19.html

Published Sep 13, 2014


THE WAMBAW Model X5, X12

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-wambaw-model-x12.html

Published Jun 1, 2014

  

Shakespeare Longbows

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2014/05/shakespeare-longbows.html

Published May 31, 2014


Arrow Speeds for Vintage Shakespeare Recurves

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2012/12/arrow-speeds-for-vintage-shakespeare.html

Published  May 28, 2014

 

The Most Popular Shakespeare Bows

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-most-popular-shakespeare-bows.html

Published Apr 22, 2014

 

Shakespeare Serial Numbers

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2014/01/shakespeare-serial-numbers.html

Published Jan 5, 2016

 

The Many Incarnations of The Shakespeare Sierra X18

 https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2012/10/shakespeare-sierra-model-x18.html

Published May 21, 2013


Dick Wilson- Shakespeare Archery’s “Mystery Man” revealed

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2014/09/dick-wilson-shakespeare-archerys.html

Published Sep 21, 2014

   

Dick Wilson - Shakespeare Archery's Mystery man

https://shakespearearchery.blogspot.com/2014/04/dick-wilson-shakespeare-archerys.html

Published Apr 18, 2014