New old crossbow

[TimboKhan]

So, my folks recently sold the farm, built a house and moved to town. My stepdad has been taking his time cleaning out his shop, and while doing so he found a treasure that I haven't seen since 1989 or so: an old Ben Pearson recurve crossbow! I used to shoot this bow quite a bit in high school, and other than the screws being a bit rusty, the crossbow is in good shape. He gave it to me, and I shot it when I got home and everything worked fine. I am not really a crossbow guy, but I have good memories of this one and it was fun to shoot it again.

My question is one of care and maintenance. This thing has been strung (not cocked, just strung)for probably 40 years or so, and I have to assume that's not a big deal since the limbs are straight with no cracks, but am I right or was that a grievous mistake? Second, anyone know a source of parts for these? Third, while not interested in selling it, anyone know a general value?

I am to lazy to take a picture of mine but it looks exactly like the one in the picture

 

[TimboKhan]

Eh... Here are some pics I took with my wife's iPad mini after she mocked me for being lazy, lol

 

[TimboKhan]

Another, since I can't figure out how to post multiple pics from this mini...

 

[TimboKhan]

And...

 

[TimboKhan]

Boy, I am impressed that I evidently stumped the crowd with this one! Hard to do in here!!!

sent from my Galaxy Note II.

 

[whetrock]

Looks great, I like the smaller profile, recurve crossbows, and hope to get a Excaliber Ibex, or something similar. A bit less to go wrong, than with say a compound, though they are harder on strings from what I understand, either way, I could probably suffice with a less powerful, more economical, recurve. Those, seem to be a thing of the past, in a world were power i everything, I wish they'd manufacture more simplistic Crossbows like yours.
The closest thing to my ideal crossbow, for not necessarily hunting, but general use, would be a entry level Barnett, sell as the Panzer V. Still I like the smaller Excalibers, and might acquire one sooner or later. All in all, old school Crossbows, are just aesthetically pleasing, and darn useful.

 

[GCBurner]

I remember seeing ads for those in Popular Science and Boy's Life when I was a kid, but I never got one. I would guess the bow would wear out, eventually, and maybe be brittle in cold weather, since the Medieval crossbows had a similar problem. If you're handy, the bow part could probably be replaced with one from some other brand. The one in the ad had a steel bow, but yours is the updated version with laminated fiberglass. Most any archery pro shop could make a new bowstring for it, if you don't feel like doing it yourself.