Dating '70s Grizzly

[Whip]

I picked up a Grizzly at Compton.  From the Bear Catalog CD the closest I can tell is something like between 73-76.  Green/black riser and brown glass.  Are there other distingushing things I can look for to narrow it down?  From the catalog it really doesn't look like much changed from year to year.

[Jack Shanks]

I've often wondered that myself? I've had three or four and currently have one.

[Ronyag]

I sent an e-mail to Bear and this is what they told me. You might try the same. They supplied the data by the ??

Model #  Grizzly
 
Serial # KRO8752
 
AMO - 58" / 50#
 
MFG in - Grayling , MI
 
Bear Coin - Brass
 
Brace height - ????        7.5-8.5
 
Year MFG - ????        1972
         
String length - ????        54 inch

[Jack Shanks]

Rod,

 The years prior to 73 are pretty easy to distinguish in most Bear models. I have most of the Grizzly years 1953-70 where I stopped collecting them.

Joe,
 
 From 73 on the Grayling Grizzlies are pretty much the same as far as I know. It would be interesting to find out if there is a way to put a year on them by serial number or some other means.

 I bought another one from that time period yesterday.

[Whip]

You're right Jack about the ones prior to 73 being easier, but these mid '70's models sure have me puzzeled.  I'm guessing that at the time it was a cost cutting move to not make changes every year, at least on the lower end model Grizzly.  The only thing I could think of would be serial # or location of the decals maybe?  But have never seen anything about that.

[Blackhawk]

Has anything changed in the past 3 years?  

[wadde]

I noticed 73 thru 75 were all ptrtty much alike, 76-77 seemed to have darker stain almost black looking on half the riser compare to the more brown on 73-75. Also the rest on 76-77 came as a stick on black rubber type where 73-75 has leather strikeplates and rugs on the shelf.

[Blackhawk]

Were the decal positions on limbs the same?

Were all limbs brown?

[wadde]

I believe the decal positions were the same and they all had bark brown glass.