Trad Gang

Main Boards => Trad History/Collecting => Topic started by: warpedarrow on September 25, 2015, 07:09:00 AM

Title: First of the Bear Beauties
Post by: warpedarrow on September 25, 2015, 07:09:00 AM

This bow came to me several years ago with the tip overlays missing.  It was one of the first bows that I repaired the overlays on.  After working on it, I did not bring it back to place into the collection, but kept it on the rack in the workshop.  Three or four times a year I would string it up and cast a few arrows.  I really like the feel of the shot with this bow and it is one of my favorite bows in that regard.  A month or so back I was playing with this bow and then just sat down and looked it over really well.  The finish was yellowed, the gray looked green, the white looked yellow, there were scratches and dings, but the bow had potential to be a real looker. Something clicked in my brain and I walked into the shop and grabbed a piece of sandpaper and within a couple of hours had all of the old yellow finish removed from the bow.  As I started taking the finish off of the glass I began to get a bit excited.  The color was bright and even and I just knew what it would look like with some finish applied.  I wasn't disappointed.  I haven't made up my mind yet whether I prefer the high gloss or the more muted gloss after wet sanding and buffing.  The bow does have a better feel to it with the final wet sanding but some of the depth of the finish is lost.

  (http://i1245.photobucket.com/albums/gg583/bradlehmann/1959%20Kodiak%20Special/IMG_3877_zpsgx8bf0e1.jpg) (http://s1245.photobucket.com/user/bradlehmann/media/1959%20Kodiak%20Special/IMG_3877_zpsgx8bf0e1.jpg.html)

  (http://i1245.photobucket.com/albums/gg583/bradlehmann/1959%20Kodiak%20Special/IMG_3993_zpspzcclclv.jpg) (http://s1245.photobucket.com/user/bradlehmann/media/1959%20Kodiak%20Special/IMG_3993_zpspzcclclv.jpg.html)

  (http://i1245.photobucket.com/albums/gg583/bradlehmann/1959%20Kodiak%20Special/IMG_4003_zpsqrosnrd9.jpg) (http://s1245.photobucket.com/user/bradlehmann/media/1959%20Kodiak%20Special/IMG_4003_zpsqrosnrd9.jpg.html)
  (http://i1245.photobucket.com/albums/gg583/bradlehmann/1959%20Kodiak%20Special/IMG_3994_zpskilcmvoe.jpg) (http://s1245.photobucket.com/user/bradlehmann/media/1959%20Kodiak%20Special/IMG_3994_zpskilcmvoe.jpg.html)

  (http://i1245.photobucket.com/albums/gg583/bradlehmann/1959%20Kodiak%20Special/IMG_4004_zpssvbuv7k0.jpg) (http://s1245.photobucket.com/user/bradlehmann/media/1959%20Kodiak%20Special/IMG_4004_zpssvbuv7k0.jpg.html)

  (http://i1245.photobucket.com/albums/gg583/bradlehmann/1959%20Kodiak%20Special/9de4c5f2-9b44-4a7a-95cc-f83f76a1bbf1_zpsm6lckbem.jpg) (http://s1245.photobucket.com/user/bradlehmann/media/1959%20Kodiak%20Special/9de4c5f2-9b44-4a7a-95cc-f83f76a1bbf1_zpsm6lckbem.jpg.html)

I am also reworking a 1960 and a 1962 Kodiak Special and they are coming along nicely.  Once they are done I will have to decide whether to back up and work on some older KS's or do some of the other 59s in other different lengths.

Title: Re: First of the Bear Beauties
Post by: MR BILL SHORTY on September 26, 2015, 07:09:00 AM

:thumbsup:    :thumbsup:    :archer:

Title: Re: First of the Bear Beauties
Post by: zepnut on September 26, 2015, 07:57:00 AM

One of Bear's  best looking bows.

Title: Re: First of the Bear Beauties
Post by: stagetek on September 26, 2015, 08:52:00 AM

Job well done. Beautiful old bows.

Title: Re: First of the Bear Beauties
Post by: dbd870 on September 26, 2015, 09:11:00 AM

Man that is a beauty!

Title: Re: First of the Bear Beauties
Post by: 59Alaskan on September 27, 2015, 06:39:00 AM

That is a BEAUTY!
I miss mine.  These are sweet shooters

Title: Re: First of the Bear Beauties
Post by: JJB on October 01, 2015, 09:48:00 PM

That's a looker,nice work!
-Jay

Title: Re: First of the Bear Beauties
Post by: mangonboat on October 01, 2015, 11:43:00 PM

Wow! Talk about a classic beauty!

Title: Re: First of the Bear Beauties
Post by: cacciatore on October 05, 2015, 10:28:00 AM

Lovely, I had one but a little to long for my taste, 68".