1960 Bear Kodiak? 56" model

[ahandle70]

I believe this bow is a 1960 model based on the coin and overlays.  I think the 1959 model had red overlays and a bronze coin.  My brother picked up this bow over 10 years ago and it has been sitting in a box in his basement.  He thought the 1959 models were more scarce but I am not so sure.  We both think the 56" models are a little harder to find. He called me later last night and told me I could have this bow!  Is the '60 as rare as the '59? Could the Kodiak experts help me out on this? Is it still a somewhat rare bow?  Thank you.
 http://s882.photobucket.com/albums/ac24/ahandle70/1960%20Bear%20Kodiak/

[Jack Shanks]

1960 The 56" models are a rare breed indeed. Great brother you have there!

[Bjorn]

I don't know the production numbers, both 59 and 60 would be pretty scarce in that length. I have a 56" 51# bow  that shoots amazing.............what are the specs on that beauty?

[ahandle70]

The gold writing on the bow is completely gone but you can read: 11N41  56"  36# @ 26" as it is kinda indented into the wood.  It seems like awful low poundage.  Maybe for a woman or a youth?

[59Alaskan]

That bow is beautiful!

[Jack Shanks]

I picked up a 59 Kodiak a couple weeks ago that is 60" 26#. I have a 1960 60" that is 31#.

[ahandle70]

Was the draw weight on the 56" bows all measured at 26"?  How rare is this bow on a scale of 1 to 10?

[OldSkoolArcher]

That is a beauty!!!

Would look great on my bow rack!

[Larry m]

That is a Very Nice looking Bow!! Love those clean lines.

[oldbohntr]

I would consider a 1960, 56" Kodiak extremely hard to find.  Every 56" Kodiak I've seen has been rated at 26".   And, several were very light weights.  I believe you had to special order to get a longer Kodiak in less than 40# draw weight, but I don't know about the 56" ones.  I have a '55 Kodiak 56" in 37#.  
A few years back I found a 56-56-56 as well. (1956, 56", 56#).

[ishi1archer]

I have a 55 and 57 Kodiak in 56". The 55 is 38# @ 26" and the 57 is 40#@ 26". I did have a 62 Kodiak that was 38# @ 28". I love those early Kodiaks!!!

[ahandle70]

Thanks for the responses.  I do have a great brother...maybe he has an old "B" handle in his basement in a box he forgot about year ago.  That has always been my "dream" bow!

[SlowBowke]

I'm going to have to drive to MI and kick MY brother's butt now.

Some brother HE is......I never got a collectable Bear from HIM.

geeeeeeez

Super bow....congrats!
BTW ONLY ONE 59 Bear bow per customer, dag nab it! LOL

God Bless

[newell38]

i had a 59 that was 56 inches and [email protected] it at a garage sale for 10 bucks....FOOLISHLY sold it before i knew any better and it went to the auction site via the collector i gave/sold it to and it brought over 1400 bucks. id love to have that bow back because that bow is what got me back into traditional archery. it has quite a bit of sentimental value.  it was like new as well.  the nice lady i bought it from told me stories of all the game her late husband killed with the bow.  the collector i sold it too had it signed by frank scott. i sure wish i could find that bow. id trade all my customs for it.

[ahandle70]

Newell38 - Wow...65# and 1400 bucks!!!   From the looks of your pic 65# is probably a toy to you.  I am old and out of shape so I stick around the 50# range.  I've heard the '59's are worth quite a bit more than the '60's but I am not sure why.  Maybe the first year for the coin possibly.  I like the tips better on the '60 because the '59's can look pretty bad if the bow was abused.  It would be hard to turn down that kind of money for a little 56" bow!!!  I have a funny feeling you will own that bow again someday.  BTW - you play any football by chance?

[newell38]

Ya I was 19 at the time and sold it for 450 which is 440 more than I paid for it. I took that money and bought a brand new kodiak magnum and the rest is history! I wanted to bid on that bow so bad when he listed it on the auction site but at that time I didn't have the cash. Id be happy just to shoot that bow one more time but oh well what can ya do. I did play a little runningback in hs and in college at a small school in nebraska. I have shot some really heavy bows but for hunting I shoot 58 to 72#. 88# is a bear after sitting 5 hrs in 0 degree weather!

[ahandle70]

The small school wasn't Wayne State?  Went there a few years back in the day.

[newell38]

No it was midland in fremont! Nebraska was an interesting place!