Is this a collectors bow? Or should I re finish it

[Rich Baker]

            I am thinking of sending it to the bow doc to get it refinished but if it has some value should I not and just hold on to it?

[ckruse]

Rich, I believe your Kodiak is a 64" 1953. It's definately collectible, as is any early Bear bow, especially the Kodiaks. The high 70# draw weight is a plus toward the collectible side. Since it belonged to your dad, and has such an awesome history, I'd leave it just like it is. I don't want to insult you at all, but to put snakeskins on this bow would be a sacrilege. I don't know how well it would work over fiberglass anyway. Any collectible bow is better off left original and not re-finished, however there is a line that can be crossed where the value would go up some to re-finish. That is, when the original bow is in bad enough condition to merit it. Yours looks really good, and typical of this year. I'd keep it just like it is, shoot it, hunt with it, and never let it go!

But that's just me. You will get various opinions from different folks. I'm no "Bear Expert"  :D    as stated above, but collect a few old bows.      Take Care, CKruse

[raghorn]

If the finish was missing to where it became a wood protection issue than a refinish might be called for.

This bow......from what I can see....leave it as is.

[Matt E]

I agree with the others here except that I would not use the bow regardless of how sound it may appear to be. If it were my dads bow!

[Rich Baker]

If my Dad liked bow hunting and had used it, I could agree. He was not a hunter he just got it and shot it for a week or so and hunted once with some guys from work and then hung it up for year's I shot it for one summer and hunted with it and never shot at anything and it was put up again and I bought a darton compound. Now that I am into Trad archery I got the bow back. I wanted it back so I didn't have to buy a new one well here it is about a year after I got a new Chec-mate falcon. and I look at this bow as old and thought of fixing it up . but now there is a new sents of importants to the old girl and I want to know if its worth anything. From what I gather there isn't very many of these guys left and there was never many made.

[alaskabowhunter]

I'd leave it alone. It is a 1953 Kodiak. The higher weight vintage bows are historically in pretty good shape as they don't get shot as often. The defective ones broke many years ago. It is a nice collector piece.

[Rich Baker]

How would A guy find out what its worth??

[Earl E. Nov...mber]

Rich, Easiest way to find value on any of this stuff is to look at closed auctions on the Internet. How ever don't take just one auction but rather look at several and get an average.. The heavy weight will add some but for the most part these old Kodiaks are running in the 2-3 hundred range.

[ckruse]

I would agree with Earl. The pre-59 bows are collectible, but don't garner the attention that the 59-69 get. This is not a particularly rare bow, but at 70# it's not the run of the mill. JMHO CKruse

[Rich Baker]

thanks guys