Need help with Kodiak Special

[Crookedcreek]

I just tonight acquired a Kodiak special and need some expert help identifying the year. It is 66" long, 40#, with a brownish colored star decal obscurring the middle one (or two ?) digits of the serial number...what can be seen is: 10A (then the star)and 41. I can see the "tip" of what could be a 7 or 3 under the top left edge of the star. Riser wood is Tigerwood and the medallion appears to be aluminum with the name and bear in black enamel. It has a red feather rest, no back plate. The face and back of the limbs have been painted an ugly camo, but I can see that the glass color on both sides (and on the front  of the grip) is an Ivory color, rather than the green that I have seen in '61 and '62 catalog cuts, so I'm assuming it is either pre '61 or post '62. The bow is very solid and limbs are straight, but it is going to need a refinish....don't know if I can salvage the decals (can't see them under the camo)....any ideas where I can get them and the cost ? I've read that the star in the serial number (at least on Kodiaks with Bubinga risers) is an indication that the bow was one with "faulty" (improperly seasoned) wood that had been sent back to the factory and refinished, with the star meaning the bow was no longer under warranty (?). I don't know if the same applies to the Kodiak Special with Tigerwood (?). In refinishing, should I leave the star there or remove it ?
 Any help, and additional info or insights, will be much appreciated.
 Thanks,
 Roger Allen

[jcar315]

Roger, Interesting find. Any way to post pics?? I know there is a resource for decals here. Good luck with your bow as it sounds like a nice one.

[Crookedcreek]

I will take some photos on Thursday. It will be my first time posting photos on this forum. I assume I can do so through Photobucket, although, I don't see and icon to click. Can I simply copy and paste from Photobucket or is there some special "code"?
 Rog

[TRAP]

It sounds like a 61 KS to me.  

I'd get rid of the star if your're going to refinish the bow.  Sometimes they are pretty deep, but there is quite a bit of riser in a 61 KS.

Trap

[Crookedcreek]

I'm going to try to post some photos, as requested.
 
 
 
 
 
 

[Crookedcreek]

Here are some pics. of a few other goodies that were part of the "deal".
Nine Shakespear Wonder Shaft (Microflite) glass arrows. Fletchings a little "rough", but the paint is not even worn off of the tips. A full tube of Bear string wax. A well worn Shakespear roving quiver and an original Kwikee Kwiver.
 
 
 

[jcar315]

Very nice wood on that riser. Are you going to re-finish the bow yourself? Nice package deal...cool arrows. Is that paint on the green glass??? Nice bow!!

[ckruse]

That's a 1962 Polar. It's the men's bow- 66", the women's was 56". CKruse

[Crookedcreek]

jcar,
 Thanks for the comments. Most likely I will do the refinish. Actually, the glass is Ivory colored, as on the small piece seen on the front of the grip. The green and other colors are the camo paint job.

CKruse,
So, it's not a Kodiak Special! My mistake, it sure looked a lot like the photo I found for the '61 KS with the Zebra Wood riser, except the glass was a light green. Thanks for the proper identification. Now, I'll need to locate some decals.
 Rog

[Bjorn]

I agree with the 'Polar' by CKruse-great shooting target bow! Leave the star, maybe don't touch that beautiful riser at all. Sometimes that old paint comes off with soap and water-don't go for the sand paper right off.
Unless you are bowdoc, less is more, when it comes to refinishing old bows.

[Crookedcreek]

It looks like I can get a pretty good result with a "middle ground" approach, short of a total strip down refinish. I've removed about 80% of the camo paint so far (no sand paper), without ill affect to the original finish. I had already removed the star before seeing Bjorn's advise to leave it on. I was able to lift it off and see the other two digits of the serial number on the back side, so I will be able to restore the complete number. The decals are intact after removing the paint. When done I'll throw some more pics. up here.