Bow Poundage

[Grey Ogre]

Is there an easy way to see what the poundage is on an older bow?

Ive had a wood bow sitting around for a while, and it was a gift from a friend a couple years ago- he said it was atleast 20 years old when he got it from a family member... its perfectly safe- the woods not splitting, it doesnt creak more than it aught to, etc- and the poundage is light... but Im not sure exactly how light it is.

Help?

Edit: Hey jimmy, actually that gives me a wonderful idea- I have just such a device at my mothers.

Its a metal box with a heavy resistance spring in it- we use it to suspend hay bales and weigh them up to 150 lbs. I dont know why I didnt think of just putting the string on their and giving it a pull. TY!

[Big King Jimmy]

Not really, you need some sort of pull scale. Sometimes the poundage is marked on the bow. You can use a fishing scale (that goes up to 35 lbs :/ ) etc, but you need something that weighs by hanging, then loop it around the string and pull it back aprox 28 inches, what the scale reads is your poundage. Also, not really a rules question... but I don't know what forum you'd put it in. Join the archery forum?

Any more questions, edit your original post.

[Derian]

Regarding your edit: that should do (potentially) perfectly. As long as it weighs in 1-2 lb. increments. Keep in mind that you'll want to measure the pull only to 28". Obviously the longer you pull the higher your poundage will be. As long as the bow pulls at 35 lbs. or less at 28" of draw, it should be legal.

Hopefully it won't be an issue, but keep in mind that string tension due to winding as well as the temperature influenced flexibility of the arms can impact the draw weight by 3-4 lbs or more.