Trad Gang

Main Boards => Trad History/Collecting => Topic started by: Ray Lyon on February 03, 2014, 11:54:00 AM

Title: Got my first 1959 Kodiak (pics added pg 2)
Post by: Ray Lyon on February 03, 2014, 11:54:00 AM
I finally nabbed one of these classic bows.  BB451, 60" 35#.  My oldest daughter will get a chance to use this before she moves up to a Super Shrew Little Favorite.  Of course I'm going to put a few arrows down range too.  I've got to redo one limb tip, but I'm getting to be an old pro at that now.       :rolleyes:    
Even the original handle leather is still in decent shape, a few light cracks on one side, so hopefully just a little leather conditioning to keep it protected. Otherwise I'll redo the grip too.  Limbs are straight and only a single tiny stress crack in one limb, so I'm pretty pleased with the overall condition.

I'm looking forward to experiencing what others have with this classic bow.  My youngest daughter just completed refinishing a 34# 1955 Bear Kodiak and I redid a 1957 Bear Kodiak, including limb tips and they're both dandy shooters. There's just something unique about this 1959 bow however.   Pictures are cell phone, so please excuse the quality.  

 (http:// [url=http://s1246.photobucket.com/user/shrewshooter/media/20140203_113814_zpsfb647b2f.jpg.html]   [img]http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/gg617/shrewshooter/20140203_113814_zpsfb647b2f.jpg)[/url] [/IMG]

  (http:// [url=http://s1246.photobucket.com/user/shrewshooter/media/_121_zps78034984.jpg.html]   [img]http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/gg617/shrewshooter/_121_zps78034984.jpg)[/url] [/IMG]

  (http:// [url=http://s1246.photobucket.com/user/shrewshooter/media/20140203_113835_zps024cc56c.jpg.html]   [img]http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/gg617/shrewshooter/20140203_113835_zps024cc56c.jpg)[/url] [/IMG]
Title: Re: Got my first 1959 Kodiak (pics added pg 2)
Post by: highlife on February 03, 2014, 12:15:00 PM
Good for you and your daughter ... my daughter loves to shoot mine as well. You will love the feel in your hand and the smooth shooting qualities of this bow.
Title: Re: Got my first 1959 Kodiak (pics added pg 2)
Post by: Shane Reed on February 03, 2014, 12:33:00 PM
Congrats!
Title: Re: Got my first 1959 Kodiak (pics added pg 2)
Post by: shick on February 03, 2014, 01:24:00 PM
Ray, 'you dun good, pilgrim.  Good for you.  Keep us posted with the progress.

Shick
Title: Re: Got my first 1959 Kodiak (pics added pg 2)
Post by: Horney Toad on February 03, 2014, 05:19:00 PM
It's a milestone! lol

  :wavey:
Title: Re: Got my first 1959 Kodiak (pics added pg 2)
Post by: zepnut on February 03, 2014, 05:43:00 PM
Nice nothing like a 59
Title: Re: Got my first 1959 Kodiak (pics added pg 2)
Post by: yellow bow on February 03, 2014, 06:42:00 PM
Congrats. You are going to love that bow.   :)  


  :cool:
Title: Re: Got my first 1959 Kodiak (pics added pg 2)
Post by: Ray Lyon on February 04, 2014, 12:41:00 AM
Glass overlays on the limb tip is glued up. Will shape to I match the other tip tomorrow along with cutting  string  nock groves. Might have to get it out for a test shoot  before applying final finish.
Title: Re: Got my first 1959 Kodiak (pics added pg 2)
Post by: 59Alaskan on February 04, 2014, 06:30:00 AM
nice looking bow!  Congratulations
Title: Re: Got my first 1959 Kodiak (pics added pg 2)
Post by: Herder on February 05, 2014, 05:47:00 AM
From which wood is the side window of your 59er, one of the best for me, bow ?

Congratulations!
Title: Re: Got my first 1959 Kodiak (pics added pg 2)
Post by: Ray Lyon on February 05, 2014, 08:25:00 AM
Herder,
It's a purple heart window. Hard to see in the photo.
Title: Re: Got my first 1959 Kodiak (pics added pg 2)
Post by: Herder on February 05, 2014, 09:37:00 AM
Ja, that's what I thought.

ps.
I guess if you give it to your younger daughter, she brings the color to shine:-)
Title: Re: Got my first 1959 Kodiak (pics added pg 2)
Post by: Wade Phillips on February 07, 2014, 11:51:00 PM
Ray,

Nothing like an original 1959 Kodiak. My belief is that you can never have too many...

  (http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo301/WadePhillips/IMG_11281.jpg) (http://s386.photobucket.com/user/WadePhillips/media/IMG_11281.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Got my first 1959 Kodiak (pics added pg 2)
Post by: Jack Shanks on February 08, 2014, 07:44:00 AM
Wade,

Always a pleasure to see part of your collection. Glad to see you posting again.
Title: Re: Got my first 1959 Kodiak (pics added pg 2)
Post by: Ray Lyon on February 08, 2014, 09:27:00 PM
Wade, I'm officially a rookie in your shadow.    :notworthy:    :notworthy:
Title: Re: Got my first 1959 Kodiak (pics added pg 2)
Post by: damascusdave on February 09, 2014, 04:08:00 PM
You have been missed Wade...hope all is well with you

DDave
Title: Re: Got my first 1959 Kodiak (pics added pg 2)
Post by: Larry m on February 09, 2014, 04:37:00 PM
Now just get Doc back and this site will get very interesting and informative!!
The 59's truly are classics and no doubt why Bear is reproducing them. Would like to see it come back in a 64".
Title: Re: Got my first 1959 Kodiak (pics added pg 2)
Post by: damascusdave on February 10, 2014, 10:11:00 PM
I managed to pick up a nicely refinished 64 inch 60 Kodiak...I hope Bear decides to reintroduce that bow and leave more originals for me to buy

DDave
Title: Re: Got my first 1959 Kodiak (pics added pg 2)
Post by: jr1959 on February 11, 2014, 09:53:00 PM
My 59's, new and vintage are a pleasure to shoot.  Jim
Title: Re: Got my first 1959 Kodiak (pics added pg 2)
Post by: Ray Lyon on March 01, 2014, 12:41:00 AM
Oh my, the refinish is coming along beautifully.  Since I had to replace a limb tip I decided to do a glass clean up and riser wood  scrape and sanding.  The decals and limbs were good with a little
Wet sanding with some 600 grit wet sand paper. I scraped the riser with a curved razor blade and then went over it with 100 grit wood grade paper followed up by 220.  The first coat of poly soaked right in to the riser and the woods are very chocolate colored with a darker purple heart inlay. The limbs and tip tracked smooth on the first stringing, so I was pleased with that.  
Since the limbs were just a clean up I'll probably just do two coated of poly there but I'm guessing I'll need four or five on the riser.  Pics tomorrow after second riser coat.
Title: Re: Got my first 1959 Kodiak (pics added pg 2)
Post by: Jack Shanks on March 01, 2014, 06:54:00 AM
What no pictures Ray?
Title: Re: Got my first 1959 Kodiak (pics added pg 2)
Post by: Ray Lyon on March 02, 2014, 10:36:00 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Jack Shanks:
What no pictures Ray?
Jack has called me out-a major Tradgang Fauxpas.  OK, so here's some interim pictures. The glass needs another wet sanding and a final coat of finish. That will have to wait until the final coat for the handle area, which is a ways away yet. Note how porous that handle is.  It's just soaking up the finish, but I don't want to use a 'filler' on it.  You gotta love the contrast between the burnt orange glass and the dark chocolate handle. One tip is my replacement that was done from scratch with white and brown glass and the second is the original that's still on the lower limb. I just can't match those layers of micarta colors, but didn't want to take if off unless it pops off.  


New upper tip:
  (http:// [url=http://s1246.photobucket.com/user/shrewshooter/media/003_zps12ac1fe5.jpg.html]  [img]http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/gg617/shrewshooter/003_zps12ac1fe5.jpg)[/url] [/IMG]

 
Original tip still on lower limb:
(http:// [url=http://s1246.photobucket.com/user/shrewshooter/media/005_zps45453632.jpg.html]  [img]http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/gg617/shrewshooter/005_zps45453632.jpg)[/url] [/IMG]  

What rich color:
  (http:// [url=http://s1246.photobucket.com/user/shrewshooter/media/006_zpsea318e07.jpg.html]  [img]http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/gg617/shrewshooter/006_zpsea318e07.jpg)[/url] [/IMG]

  (http:// [url=http://s1246.photobucket.com/user/shrewshooter/media/004_zps7266a8a9.jpg.html]  [img]http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/gg617/shrewshooter/004_zps7266a8a9.jpg)[/url] [/IMG]

    (http:// [url=http://s1246.photobucket.com/user/shrewshooter/media/001_zpsc7ee357d.jpg.html]  [img]http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/gg617/shrewshooter/001_zpsc7ee357d.jpg)[/url] [/IMG]
Title: Re: Got my first 1959 Kodiak (pics added pg 2)
Post by: Ray Lyon on March 02, 2014, 11:01:00 AM
Note in the last picture the chocolate handle wood didn't get cut away totally with the purple heart sight window on the belly side of the sight window.  Also, I'm not sure what the two 'dots' were for. It almost looks like plugs. The original ink specs were barely visible and were probably black. I just thought the gold stood out more and looked better. Also, the last two bows I've redone were a 1955 and 1957 maple handle Kodiak's. Fairly plain Jane compared to the woods and orange glass backing on this bow.  It's a genuine pleasure to unravel the beauty in these bows. The draw was super pleasing before I started refinishing after repairing the limb tip, so I'm anxious to finish it and send some arrows down range.
Title: Re: Got my first 1959 Kodiak (pics added pg 2)
Post by: cmh on March 02, 2014, 08:43:00 PM
Looks great  ;)  I hope one day to own a 59 kodiak..... Would be a happy man  :)