Vintage Paul Bunyan Model 300 - Lower limb tip leans to one side when strung. Safe to shoot or is there a fix?
I recently got a string for my vintage Paul Bunyan Model 300 fiberglass recurve (55#), and after stringing it I noticed something that has me a little concerned.
When the bow is unstrung, both limbs appear perfectly straight. However, once it's strung, the last 4-5 inches of the lower limb lean noticeably to one side, while the rest of the limb remains straight. The top limb appears perfectly straight both strung and unstrung.
The bow doesn't show any obvious cracks, delamination, or fiberglass separation, and the tip can actually be pushed back toward center fairly easily by hand. It doesn't feel like the entire limb is twisted—just the last few inches seem to move off center once the bow is under tension.
I've attached photos from a few different angles. Has anyone experienced this with an older one-piece fiberglass recurve or specifically a Paul Bunyan bow?
Is there anything that can be done to correct this? If it's a slight tip twist or alignment issue, are there any proven methods to fix it, or is it simply something that has to be lived with? I'd also appreciate any suggestions for things I should inspect or try before deciding whether the bow is safe to shoot regularly.
Any advice from those with experience restoring or shooting vintage fiberglass bows would be greatly appreciated.
