Another fine '59

[johnnyrazorhead]

Bowdoc-Who else but you would know what is hidden under the leather grip.Not too many of us collectors would have the guts to tear off the original leather.I guess it comes with the territory for you so to speak.

[Wade Phillips]

Doc -

Where do I look when there is no leather grip on the bow, such as the 1959 Kodiak Special ??? Just joking of course.

As you say, lots of cool things written under the leather grips. I have 1953, K6 -66", 80# Kodiak that had a shot leather grip, that I removed. Under the grip is written on separate lines, 80#, Whiffen, 2/7, 6. I speculated that the bow was made for Larry Whiffen Sr., who died in 1960. When I asked Larry Whiffen Jr if his father ever hunted with heavy bows, he said that his father shot much light bows. Undoubtedly the elder Whiffen special ordered the 80# bow for a customer.

At 47# and 50#, the "L" on these two 59 Kodiak Specials obviously does not mean "light weight".

If the "L" means leftover, I hope I find a lot more leftovers like these. LOL

   

[jcar315]

Every day I learn something from you guys. I can't thank you enough!!

[johnnyrazorhead]

I had to bring this little beauty back up again with a story to go along with it.We had some friends over last night for dinner.Hardly ever get to see them with me working afternoons it's hard to get together with most people on a normal schedule.But since I'm off work for a couple of weeks we invited them over.Just the mom and son came,he's 15.The sad part is that he just lost his dad to cancer two months ago.He was a great guy and a good friend.
 After dinner,we had a little while before dark so I asked him(Steven) if he wanted to try shooting a bow.He said sure.So I went to the bowroom and got down this beautiful little 35# '59 Kodiak and strung it up for the first time.The limbs were perfectly straight.I set the nock point,grabbed some arrows and found a shooting glove to fit him.This was exactly the reason I bought this bow.I thought it would be perfect for a youngster or woman that might want to try shooting a bow.Most of my bows are 45-55#.Nothing worse than over-bowing someone right out of the gate.
 At first Steven was a little awkward.Arrow coming off the shelf while drawing,not pulling back far enough,no anchor point at all.Grip too tight,etc..We didn't have much time before dark and the mosquitoes were getting hungry.I was trying to give him a crash course on shooting without overloading him with too much information.I thought maybe the 35# was still too heavy for him.After a few missed shots,Steven started pulling with his back muscles more and started anchoring his shooting hand.Loosened up on his grip,kept his bowhand up,canted the bow,both eyes open.Within less than 1/2 hour he was hitting the McKenzie deer target regularly with even a few kill shots and nice groups.His mom was outside watching him shoot and was eventually in tears and told my wife that was what Steven needed since his dad passed away.It's just him,his mom,and his sister.At 15 years old,a boy needs a guy around for "guy stuff".
 It started getting dark so we brought the bow in but Steven said he really enjoyed shooting and would like to maybe go to a traditional archery shoot with my son and I if we went.I was just amazed at how quickly Steven caught on and was shooting really good in such a short amount of time.Once he got over the hump he was pulling the bow back to full draw with no problem.
 I couldn't help but think of that picture of Fred Bear in a couple of the late 1960's catalogs where he's showing a very young blonde headed boy how to shoot a bow.The same scenario was being lived out here yet again some 40 years later.Different players but so similar.This is so much of what Fred Bear ws all about,carrying on the tradition and getting as many people interested in the bow as possible.
 Sorry for the long rambling,but it really was heart warming to me see a young boy that just lost his dad,laughing and enjoying something so simple as a bow and arrow.I never expected a 35# 50 year old bow to bring so much joy to not only myself but another youngster that doesn't even know who Fred Bear is.
 

[jcar315]

John, Great story and thanks for sharing. People in general just want someone to care. Showing some caring towards others is what this life is truly all about. Shooting trad archery gear is just so intuitive for people and really easy for youngsters to pick up. Just one small act of kindness can change the course of someones life. You just never know when might have a chance to make a big impact on someone. Big ups to you my friend!! In watching some of my old Fred Bear VHS tapes he is shown teaching some young people about shooting and having never met the man I have a picture of him in my minds eye. While a business man he still truly cared about archery, bowhunting, and others through and through.  

[johnnyrazorhead]

I couldn't agree with you more John.I just lost my own father in March.He was 83 and I am 50 years old.Still very hard to imagine him gone.I couldn't help but feel compassion for this young 15 year old losing his dad suddenly.So many memories never to be made.I didn't have much to offer him,what could possibly replace the love of a father towards his son and visa-versa.But it was just nice to see him laugh and enjoy something so simple as the flight of an arrow.It was a very enjoyable evening.

[Stickbow98]

Nice going, John..."Pay it forward".      

Fred would be proud of you keeping the tradition alive. I know my hat's off to you. We ALL need to take the time to share the archery experience with the youth of TODAY, or there won't be any bowhunters of tomorrow.

   

>>--Ron--<>

[TonyW]

Didn't L indicate 60" AMO and S 64" AMO for some of the Kodiaks?

Maybe this was only for the last years before the Super K in 1967, but that L rang a bell.

[johnnyrazorhead]

Ron-I believe you are right.More and more things going on every day that make it harder for a young kid to enjoy the fun of shooting a bow.With less and less hunting opportunities and everything getting so fast paced in the world it seems,it's hard to find the time to just slow down and enjoy the simple things.
 Tony-I'm still not sure what the "L" means.Seen it on a few bows but never knew what it meant.

[TRAP]

Thanks for sharing the story John.  

Hopefully, with guys like you in his life, the pain of Steven's loss will be diminished at least for moments in time.  Any time he can spend occupied with positive activities, such as archery, with friends will be great for the healing process.

I have 3 girls, 10, 7 and 5.  When they have friends over, their friends are constantly wanting to shoot bows and arrows.  It's so cool to watch the youngsters shooting for the first time and when it starts clicking and they start hitting what they are looking at, their actions, expressions are priceless.  

I'd say every penny you paid for the lightweight 59 was well spent if it brings happiness to a young shooter.

That's the "Good Stuff" My Friend,

Trap

[johnnyrazorhead]

Double D-I just had to share,it was very inspiring to me.Like you said,I remember when my kids were small,closer to your kids'ages now,whenever they would have friends over and we would be shooting their little recurves,they would want to try shooting them.They were so awkward at first,like Steven was,but very quickly started hitting the target.To see their faces light up was "priceless".A couple of my daughter's friends seemed to rather keep shooting the bow than go do girl stuff.
 Steven is a wonderful kid and it was just nice to see him smile,even for a little bit.