ok, here is what I think of the whole '59 vs '60 Kodiaks debate. Like Bowdoc mentioned, Bear made a lot more purpleheart site window '59s than they did all rosewood '60s. These two wood configurations being the most common produced. With that said, obviously there are rarer versions of each which would be more valuable. Factors to consider would be; differences not only in the woods used in the bows( i.e. maple sight windows) ,but also length and poundage being "rarity factors" as well ( i.e. 56 inch versions of each are relatively scarce, as well as high poundage versions too). Here is the bottom line for me, I like bows I can shoot. A 1960 Kodiak with the glass overlays and the shallow cut string grooves are better bows than the 1959 Kodiak with paper marcata overlays and string grooves that are cut deep into the limb cores.... that is why when you refinish a '59 you should replace the overlays with glass on the limb tips. I'm sure Rich and Don can elaborate more on this. For my money, a '60 Kodiak is my preference for a working bow. As a collector, I still think the fact that the laws of supply and demand prevail, there are less 1960s to choose from, they should have a higher value. (keeping in mind that Bear was also producing the Kodiak Deluxe model in 1960, so fewer regular Kodiaks were born). Just my thoughts...
Topic: Order of Value on 59-66 Kodiaks (Read 848 times)
