Super Kodiak ? year

[hs6181]

I recently had a Super Kodiak given to me and I'm trying to figure out what year it was made. It has the metal coated plastic coin setting above the riser so I guess its sometime between late 72 and 77. Does anyone know of anyway to narrow this down?

Harold

[PAPALAPIN]

Best I can suggest is to get a CD of the BEAR CATALOGS.  It shows all catalogs from 1948 to 1978.  With this you can cruise through the pages and find the one that looks most like yours.  I do not think you can determine it by serial number in the '70's.

You can order the CD here

 http://www.wingsisp.com/red/hot/samp1/1978sm/1978.html

This is something that every Bear collector should have

[bearbowjunky]

The cd is a great way to go, thanks to a good friend. Thank you Lonnie !!!!!

[hs6181]

Thanks fellas, seems like trying to match it by looks is the only option for those years.

Harold

[hs6181]

I just read something on stickbow.com about the 1953 patent date being on the bear bows until 1972. So with the raised coin starting in late 72 and the 1953 patent date, I declare this a 1972 model Bear Super Kodiak  :D  

My brother gave it to me a couple weeks before my 43 birthday. He wont tell me exactly, but he got it for somewhere around 15 or $20. The finish has alot of cracks in it but a light sanding and some high gloss tung oil and its really starting to look almost new.

It is now my new favorite of the 4 recurves and 4 longbows I have  

[PAPALAPIN]

Unless I am wrong (and I could be) the 1953 patent date appears on ALL bear recurves.  So that would make your bow a 1972 or later model.

[hs6181]

According to the collector article on stickbow, bear quit putting the 1953 pat date on bows in 1972. So any bow after that does have a patent decal but it changed after 1972 and no longer has the 1953 pat date included. I found a pic of a newer bow and the pat decal is different then the one on this bow.(I also could be wrong) It doesnt really matter, just curious about it.

Harold

[hs6181]

well not really ugly (got the button) but not as pretty as the inlaid coin, and a real pain in the butt to refinsh around. Mine came to me in fine shooting shape, no stress at all but alot of scratchs and cracks in the finish, shot great but looked like crap. I'm not quite through with it but it sure is looking good, she'll be lookin like new when Im done.

[Reloading Rich]

Harold, you can remove the button by carefully inserting TWO sharp wood chisels with the flat surface laying up against the riser on opposite sides under the edge of the button at the same time.  The button is just a press fit and has a square stem that fits into a round hole.  Do not pry on one side only as you will break the stem off and render the button junk.  It makes refinishing the bow much easier and when you are done just press the button back into place, no adhesive needed.

[hs6181]

Damn, wish I'd known that when I started, Im just about done with it now. I hate to do it but I think Im gonna have to go ahead and remove it and start over. The rest the bow looks so good, it just makes that spot right around the coin bug the crap outta me. Thanks for the info Rich.

[hs6181]

finally finished my SK, its not a professional job but not to shabby.

[Jeff Strubberg]

Hrmmm, looks like a '71 to me.

Didn't they use the blue stripe through the riser on the '72s?


Very nice bows, dependable, solid shooters.

[hs6181]

not sure about the stripe colors and when each color was used but it has the raised coin which I understand wasnt used until late 72 and the 1953 patent which ended in 72. it is a great shooting bow, I was really suprised at how hard it would throw an arrow
 all pictures deleted to save space