First Archery Release Aid

[AtTheWall]

I know many of us in Archery have tried various release aids through the years. Got to digging around in the old Archery equipment gear box and stumbled on the first archery release I ever tried. A Black Widow Strap-Tab from the mid 60's. They don't make this guy anymore but it still works well on the recurve. Basically you wrap the strap around your bowstring and hold tension in your thumb. Start your draw pulling back to anchor and lighten your thumb pressure to release.

Just might have to blow the dust off the old Black Widow recurve grab the old release and see if I still got it LOL!

Wondering if anyone else has tried one of these through the years?

[Gerald S]

Dang you old, Rob! My dad hadn't even released the fury to be known as Finatic in the 60's!

Thanks for sharing. I had never seen one of those before.

[Bill M]

Never seen one Rob but after 40 some odd years hunting my archery career just started 5 years ago. Looks well used my friend.

[Rattler]

I hope I can find it sometime, my Paps had a "block" that had a grip into it and it gripped the string and all you did was release thumb pressure or something to that effect.

[ZZ Pops]

Yup! Archery technology has come a long way. Thanks for sharing a bit of history with younger guys! (Just kidding about the younger guy part!)

[AtTheWall]

LOL Mind you I was pretty darn young when this thing came out. Sure made flinging arrows a little more complicated....the reload was painfully slow. Shot it a few times yesterday with the old recurve.....18 and in.....not bad. 20 and out...another story You do lose some arrow speed vs tab or glove when the strap lets go but it certainly makes holding at full draw a little more comfortable, especially when there is no compound relaxation.

John...it's all between the ears now. Darn has the time flown by!

[Cotton]

Dang you old, Rob! My dad hadn't even released the fury to be known as Finatic in the 60's!

Thanks for sharing. I had never seen one of those before.

Yep, Rob is old as dirt!!!

[Arrowsmith]

Releases

I have an old red Hot Shot somewhere in my archery archives. I think it was vintage early 70's.

Heck...I still hunt with an 1984 Fletch Hunter.

[AtTheWall]

I'm like a big old gray pack rat I suppose but over time it brings back some good memories. I'm half tempted to pull out the old Allen/Jennings bow, stuff a couple of old school broadheads on my old Orange Easton's and give it a whirl. Middle age crazies I suppose in a bowhunting twist.

[rbridges00]

http://www.danielvwilson.com/BW_Catalog_60s_Page_8.html

Here you go!

[FarFromHome]

I saw a guy shooting one of those in Dubai at our archery club of all places. He said it was about 40 years old and you just confirmed it.

Thanks for sharing.

[AtTheWall]

Excellent find Mr. Bridges-Thanks!

FarFromHome I suppose some feel comfortable shooting this style even today? Arrow flight is consistent with stick bows and it was the rage in South Houston during the late 60s.

Some folks are shopping around for these guys on EBay. Too many memories for me to part.