Can you tell me anything about this old Firecat?

[bhale187]

Sorry the pics aren't the best, but they are about as good as I can do.
Only other marking on it that i could not get a decent pic of is a sticker "Assembled by Eulon Brown"
Any info on the bow would be appreciated, I just picked it up at a garage sale.

Thanks,
-Ben

[bhale187]

One more pic

[NeilMac]

I can't lay my hands on my catalogues right now (they are somewhere safe!!!), but that's got to be around a 1988 or 89 model, with the same round wheel I have on my Lynx. It has steel cables, unlike modern bows that use the same materials as the string.

It will throw aluminium arrows at around 220 to 250 fps with very good accuracy, and although it's not exactly a hunting device, for FITA or 3D, or just general fun at your local club, it will out perform many. It is also a perfect finger release bow.

You should have 3 inches of draw length adjustment on the cams, but as there was no such thing as a draw stop in those days, at least not on the cam, you will need to get the draw length into the bottom of the valley at your normal DL.

There is a whole thread on 3D shooting older bows in the 3D / Target section.

Nice bow.

EDIT: Forgot to say, the limbs are wood / grp laminates and the riser is cast, but I can't recall if it's aluminium or magnesium alloy of some sort.

[RLW]

I'd also guess about 1987-1989 Firecat XR with classic wheels (not sure they called them "classic" then).....and it was the cast magnesium riser
Somebody changed the wood inlays on the bow
Here is link to 1987 Martin ad I found on-line, which I believe was year they started the Mirco-tune harness on cable, which this bow has http://www.archeryhistory.com/compou.../firecat88.jpg


My first Martin Firecat was a 1990 with wheels and standard limbs. Set at 29", 74lb draw at 65% let-off, it would shoot a 500gr 2413 aluminum arrow at 230fps
I shot mine w/fingers and used a springy rest as shown on bow above

[Hutch~n~Son Archery]

I can tell you one thing about the bow. I like it.



Hutch

[Spiker]

It is awesome to see these old bows still out there sailing arrows !!!
Mine is bow #8718

[peace]

Really nice to look at. Man those bows have some style!

Smarten Up and Martin Up

[bfisher]

Really nice to look at. Man those bows have some style!

Smarten Up and Martin Up

Tell me a about it. This was back when bows looked like bows.

Taking RLW's comments to task, if that old bow would shoot a Lincoln log like a 2413 at 230 fps just what does that say for the potential speed it could shoot at today's limit of 5 gr/lb. True, the limbs wouldn't last long, but it points out to me that today's bows aren't really that much faster than those from 25 years ago. Just that they'll handle the increased stresses associated to get that speed.

I vividly remember one of my earlier compounds. A 1977 Jennings Arrowstar; my field bow. It shot 232 fps set at 27 1/4" and 51#. Not far off real world speeds of some of the newer soft cam bows today. Think about it. That was almost 35 years ago.

[bhale187]

Thanks all, I appreciate the information.

I think I'll get a new string and take her out to the range. It's been a long time since I shot a bow, and I think it's been a while since this beauty has been shot.

[NeilMac]

Here are a few shots of my 1989 Lynx XR.

I have had it from new.