1959/60 Alaskan Wood Type

[Mikenmn]

What kind of wood did Bear use in the 1959/60 Alaskan bow? Is it maple with a stain? I have two and they both are in fairly good condition and seen many pictures of them which were also in good condition, if fact, I don't remember seeing many in a poor condition. Now I have seen many kodiak's and grizzly’s the same year that looked very rough.

Mike

[Blackhawk]

I have a '69 Alaskan and wondered the same.  I recently saw an auction for one and the seller stated it was walnut.  

We know Bear used a lot of maple, but if he had been using this stain on those earlier Kodiaks I bet sales would have been higher.

[Mikenmn]

I was told that the wood for the 59/60 Alaskan is walnut.

Mike

[d. ward]

imported walnut it was a bit soft-ish wood for risers and it got expensive in the mid 1960's bd