Collecting? shooting?

[texophilite]

This has been said before, in as much as things change, it does seem that things remain the same.

As a young man i would catch the trolley to Atlanta with a friend and more times than not wind up at Riches department store. They had a great outdoor sporting goods dept. We would look at the 1959 Kodiaks, knowning neither one us could afford one.

As i was saying nothing changes, i do not want to afford one. Not that i do not have several custom bows and a few Bears and Wings. It is just more than i think bring myself to spend on a bow that might come apart in my hand. I want to be able to shoot all that i own.  L.

[doug77]

I have been shooting my LH 59 Kodiak that i got fron Dropting 3-4 night's a week for the last 5 month's and plan on shooting it till I can't shoot any more.

doug77

[d. ward]

I been shooting the one I have now for 12-13 years.It also had been used for 37 years before I got it.I actually have never seen a 1959 fail under normal conditions and usage.There are quite a few originals still in service today after 50 years.bowdoc

[PAPALAPIN]

Mine looks like crap...but solid as a rock.  Just as solid as mu '57

[TRAP]

I shoot every single bow I have including the 2 Kodiak Deluxes which many say you shouldnt shoot at all.  The 50#er shoots great by the way Cam.  Thank You.

I shoot my 59 Kodiak more than any of the others but I recently received another bow that has gotten quite a bit of attention since it's arrival.  Pics and story coming soon    

Even a brand new Custom can come apart.   I suppose some bowyers offer a warranty but if it's 2 years old you're probably SOL just like you are with a 50 year old bow.

Seems like after the early 60s, many bows were built like tanks.  Maybe better adhesives, better glass, many reasons probably.   I have a couple 62 Kodiaks that I dont think you could hardly break if you tried.  

As Chuck always says they were "Meant to be Bent"

I'd have to agree, Trap

[ckruse]

Glad to hear it Trap. The only one I ever had let go on me was lots newer than '59! And, that was one bow out of a couple hundred I've handled. CKruse

[d. ward]

Actually when you put it all together.Recurve bows are not working as hard as one might think.In the old days bows that broke alot were all wooden self bows.But when backing bows with fiberglass started that was pretty much the end of breaking bows under normal conditions.
Trap I would like to add Bear archery never ever had any Kodiak Deluxe or KSD break or fail because of the clear glass.The reason they stopped producting it was because stress cracks are butt ugly in clearglass.But the KD and KSD never broke under normal useage...bd

[TonyW]

My brother gave me an old 59 Grizzly that had been gathering dust in his garage for 10 or 15 years. He probably paid a couple of bucks for it at a yard sale. That was 6 years ago. I thouht of it as a wall hanger, and just hung up as an artifact until I started up with Tradgang. As I began to collect and shoot bows from the 70s and then 60s a lightbulb went off.
I shined up the 59, got a string, and ??????????

That damned old Bear is the smoothest and quietest bow of the bunch. I trust it so much that my 13 year old son shoots it now that he has outgrown his starter bows.

My gut tells me that any of the half-century old shooters were made with the right stuff. I hope I outlast the 50s Bears - but I doubt it. I already have more stress marks in my L-5 than the bow, and if my wife stuffs me (instead of planting me) I will end up as a wallhanger while the grandkids are still shooting the Bear.