Browning Backpacker I

[aeronut]

#159065

I went to an auction yesterday and in their listing they had a Browning Takedown Bow.  Not being familiar with the Browning bows I looked online for some information.  I found a listing of old catalogs and in the 1973 and 1974 catalogs they showed the Backpacker bows.

I went to the auction to see what they had.  I found a small leather case with a gray painted bow inside.  It took me quite a while to determine that it was indeed a Backpacker bow.  I probably paid a little too much for it and brought it home.

I started trying to remove the thick gray covering and I do indeed have a Browning Backpacker I bow.  They list two models in the catalogs.  A Backpacker I is 54″ long and a Backpacker II is 60″ long.

The limbs are 55# and have the same serial # on them as the riser.

It is refreshing to reveal the trademark and see it marked “Made in USA”.

Does anyone have any knowledge about these bows?  It will be a fun refinishing project and I can hardly wait to get a string made and shoot it.

[richard roop]

#159066

’bout all I know about Browning bows is that back in the day, they were considered pretty good bows. Harry Drake, the flight shooting guy was their designer for a time.

I think that once you get it cleaned up & tuned in you may reconsider that ”probably paid too much for it’ .

[Stephen Graf]

#159071

That looks like a fun project!  Let us know how it goes, and thanks for sharing👍

[aeronut]

#159075

I got the gray paint? off of the riser last night and now have to work on the limbs.  Then comes the sanding all the little nicks and scratches off of all of it.

I decided to do some work on the leather case today.  First was a good scrubbing with saddle soap to get all the dirt and mold removed and then an application of mink oil followed by a good rubdown.  Looks pretty good.

This thingamajigger was inside the side pouch.  I decided years ago that if I was going to pull a trigger it would be on a gun.

[Raymond Coffman]

#159093

Aeronut

I remember the browning bows as excellent quality bows. Outstanding job on cleaning up the case.

Looking forward to seeing the final refinished bow. Bet it shoots just fine…

Scout aka Ray

[Kees]

#159198

What Scout said.  I also remember high praise for the Browning bows, “back in the day.”

~Kees~

[aeronut]

#159248

Been pretty busy and had to set the Browning aside for a little bit.  I spent 12 days in Texas from the 11th to the 21st in the hottest weather I’ve been in for a long time.  Six days in South Texas helping on border watch operations in 95 to 101* temperatures and then in West Texas to hunt varmints.  Daytime there was  102-109* and all we hunted was shade.

I did get back to the bow and got a coat of finish one limb.  It took two tries on spraying the finish.  My first attempt was with Rustoleum polyurethane.  Big mistake there and had to sand it down again.  I had one fisheye spot that is a result of some of the Rustoleum  not getting completely removed that I’ll have to touch up.

Initial finish doesn’t look too bad.

And the fisheye.  That’s not a crack, it’s a small scratch I didn’t get sanded out.

More work to be done.  With all the rain we had there won’t be any finish being sprayed for a while.

 

[Raymond Coffman]

#159281

Aeronut

Limbs are looking good! Way better than when you started …Looking forward to the (re)finished product..

Scout aka Ray

[aeronut]

#159423

Been working on the Backpacker bow when I get some free time.  I’ve got the riser to the almost ready to spray point.

I’m afraid to sand too much around the specs or the decal areas.

[aeronut]

#159430

First coat of Helmsman Urethane Spar Satin.  Not perfect but it is a 49 year old bow.  It looks way better without that gray crap that was on it.  Now I have one more limb to finish.

 

[aeronut]

#159442

Today’s shot after a light wipe down with steel wool and spraying coat #4.

 

[richard roop]

#159445

What IS that green stuff all over the ground ???

Bow’s lookin’ good !!!!

[Kees]

#159524

Looking good!  Check out Epifanes varnish (https://www.epifanes.com/page/clear-finishes).  It’s spendy, but supposed to be light years better than Helmsman.  I say that, while I also use the Helmsman….

Can’t wait to see what the final result is going to be.

Oh, and how has your small trailer worked out?  That was a slick looking little rig, for sure.

~Kees~

[aeronut]

#159534

If you’re referring to the little camper I built it does great.  I’ve towed it to the Twin Oaks shoot, on out to the Smoky Mountains, and down to south Texas.  Finished weight was 880#’s and you barely know it’s behind you going down the road.

[Kees]

#159909

Yes sir, that was what i was asking about.  Glad it worked out so well.  You really should post a photo of it here, since the ones on TradRag are gone, as is the whole site….

Happy 4th of July, everyone!  Be safe out there.

~Kees~

• This reply was modified 2 years, 7 months ago by Kees.

[Raymond Coffman]

#159911

Aeronut

That bow turned out great

Looking good…..

Happy Independence day to all here … have a great day !

Scout aka Ray

[David Coulter]

#160966

That’s a great find. I have a Browning Wasp #45  that I got for Chrismas in 73. Not a bad bow. Shoots better than me. I don’t use it anymore since I got my longbow, but it has a special place in my heart.

 

[Michael Stenstrom]

#161120

Have you finished. I gifted a Backpacker 1 once. Great little bow.

[aeronut]

#161141

I still have one limb to finish cleaning up.  I put it aside to take care of some more pressing issues but it will be a good cold weather project.

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