Bear Archery - That's all is says....

[Terry Green]

Any info on this one?  A customer broght it to me to find out more about it.

Thanks for any help on date made, model name, woods used, what's the screw for?, the two other holes?.....

     

       

     

     

     

[Terry Green]

 

   

   

[d. ward]

SWEET real nice bow right there bd

[Danny Rowan]

Terry,

That looks a bunch like a Grumly Bear but I am no expert. Woven fiberglass on the back. The screw is for a Bear bow quiver and the two holes are also from the quiver, it has a couple of Points on it that fit in the holes. Bow was probably made in the 40's-50's. It does not look like the quivers made in the late 50's an on, it was the first bow quiver Bear made and rather bulky. Could be a old Grizzly model also.

Danny

[shaft slinger]

The screw is for a bear quiver and the two small holes are made by two "dimples " on the quiver bracket to keep the quiver from moving around,
     All i know  Harold
    Opps i was a little late with that post

[PAPALAPIN]

I agree that it looks like a GRUMLY.  However, Nels Grumly usually signed all the bows he made.  Either "Nels Grumly", or "Bear Archery by Grumly".

That doesn't mean this is not one.  It could be one that he did not sign, or the signature could have worn off.  Other Bear Bowyers also made bows semilar to this.

In any case, it is a highly collectible bow, but moreso if it is a Grumly.

[Roddo]

I have a bow that is pretty much identical except it has the j hook takedown feature. I showed the bow to Fred  and he said that he had made the bow in 1946. He said "I made that bow in 1946 and its a good one." Based on that this should be an early Deerslayer. They were Hickory and Fortisan backed,Yew center,Osage face. 60 dollars in 46. Takedown feature,10.00 extra. Anyway you have a real gem.

[Blackhawk]

I agree with Jack that it is most likely not a Grumley (but I'm not Wade Phillips either  

[Rick Enos]

I have one just like it.They say if it dont say by Grummly...Its not a Grummly..Nels may have had a hand in making it but probabily didn't make it from start to finish...Still a gorgeous Deer slayer....

[reddogge]

Terry,
Nels Grumley parted ways with Bear in 1948 and his bows were all wood.  Bear continued to build all wood bows in 1948 and 1949 but after 1949 Bear introduced fiberglass backing to the bows.  It looks like your bow has fiberglass backing so I'd say it was built after 1949 and not by Grumley.

[seboomook]

We can whittle down the age and model pretty close from the pics. With the longer brush nocks, it's either a Deerslayer (62") or Hunter (66") Both were standard with hickory and fortisan backing, yew center and osage lace(This pic looks like the shorter deerslayer to me)
  Fred patented the scabbard type quiver in '46, so assuming the screw and bushing are original, and running bear decals started in '48, We are narrowed to that time frame. Remember too, the Grayling move from Detroit in '47, with mass production and Nels leaving soon after and replaced by Bob Meeker.
  The fact its laminated and not a self bow also suggest late Detroit, early Grayling.
  Other bowyers worked for Fred, and marked the bows exactly as above but they usually worked on the lower end models like the Field, Rover and Ranger.
  Anyway, she's a beauty in great shape. Maybe Wade will come along and find more clues.

[d. ward]

were getting warmer bd

[johnnyrazorhead]

The bow is a deerslayer model and most likely made in the late 1940's.Sometimes called a "transition bow" as it was most likely made around the time Nels Grumley left Bear Archery in 1948 and when Fred started to mass produce his bows.I have a similar bow in a "Hunter" model,no tip build ups,with Bear Archery written in black on the belly,woven glass and the small running bear logo on the back of the upper limb.From what I've been told,if Nels didn't make the bow from start to finish,he didn't sign it.

[JavelinaHink]

 April of 47.........Hink  :cool:

[d. ward]

wow Hink nailed that one dead nuts bd

[Cody Roiter]

Guys, That some what looks like the 1948-49 Hunter...

Terry how long is the bow ??..

>>>-------->

Cody

[4runr]

Comon Hink! What day in April???

[Terry Green]

Thanks for the replies guys....I'll pass it along to him.  Much appreciated.

[jcar315]

So good to see some familiar faces on this thread!

Thanks for chiming in guys. Always look forward to learning.

[Shaun]

April 1st 1947