Do old bows wear out and lose their strength ?
A. Yes, it’s possible. Over many years, a bow may lose its strength by heavy continual use. However, not all bows do lose strength. There are some Peccatte bows as strong now as the day they were made, and others which are softer and have become “tired.” The same applies to other makers. Obviously if the grain in a bow is wavy or uneven, or if the wood has weaknesses in it, over time these will let the bow down, gradually softening with heavy use.
