Bear Kodiak Year?

[HuronArcher]

Can someone identify the year?  Thanks
 

[vintage-bears]

1959.

[Jack Shanks]

1959 or 60. The '59 will have red and white handle and tip overlays while the '60 will have black and white.

[KYArcher]

What Jack said  

[Larry m]

Nice bow! What are the specs and overall condition?

[HuronArcher]

I picked this bow up last night.  It's a 1959 Kodiak based on the info everyone provided. Copper coin and red and white overlays.  The specs are 64" and 45#. Overall condition is very good in my novice opinion. Looks like original strike plate and feather rest. The finish is yellowing but no cracks, stress lines or twists. The owner said that it was his father's and that he cannot remember it being strung. Clearly it was shot due to wear on the rest and leather.  He said he was told by someone not to string a bow that old.

Many many thanks to the members on this site for helping in my traditional archery education.  I've been interested for a few years, but became hooked after picking up my first recurve at a yard sale two summers ago.  Hope to cross your paths, share a beverage, and listen to your stories in person.

I'll post some betters pics in the next day or two.

Rudy

[Jack Shanks]

Rudy,

 Very nice find. The 59's and 60s are two of the most sought after Kodiaks by collectors. I have a 1960 with about the same specs that was gifted to the original owner by Fred himself. It also has the copper coin like another 1960 I own. I seldom use the medallion usually associated with certain years as a deciding factor on year alone.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Rudy, Thats a nice find.  Took me 3 years of diligent searching to find one.    

In fact I just finished shooting it not 5 minutes ago.

[vintage-bears]

Your first post initially had 2 pics.

The medallion pic still shown and a now missing pic of grip and shelf which was clearly a 1959 model and no need for me to know tip and cap colors. 1959 grip and shelf are MUCH different from a 1960 model.
59 and 60 kodiaks may look the same To some but are much different aside from cap and tip. Copper medallions DO NOT confirm a 59 model although likely in most cases.
For example;
1960 kodiaks can vary from copper to aluminum and I have a late 1960 model with a pewter medallion!
I have 3 1960 deluxe kodiaks. Copper in 2 and aluminum in the other. I'm sure lots of 1960 models got the leftover copper medallions. Bear wouldn't throw them out! I wouldn't either.

The recurved ends are much different as well when comparing a 59 and 60 kodiak and the 60 will shoot and feel differently from a 59 model. I prefer the 1960 model myself.
From 1960 on, most "but not all" kodiaks and super kodiaks will share this Same recurved shape "mid limb to tip". The 1959 recurve end is not as sharp or severe and aids in its amazing smoothness only found on the 59 model.
If you lay the 2 together you will see what I'm saying.
But make no mistake, the 59 Kodiak is an amazing bow and has a great heritage.
I'm not a know it all, but I know a little......          
Your gonna love your bow! Enjoy

.....Philip

[HuronArcher]

Yes Philip, here's the other pic again. I'll search for a pic of a '60 to see what you've mention regarding grip and shelf. In the meantime, I would like to know what the letters mean. I'm assuming that DE 626 is the production run, and there is an F below the length and draw weight of which I haven't a clue     Thanks again.  Rudy

   

[vintage-bears]

The D simply denotes a 64" bow and the rest is sequence info.
B would denote a 60" bow .....ect..
I also have a 59 Kodiak with an F at the very bottom. Probably a shift code.

..... Philip

[seboomook]

Another distinct difference is the fatter grip on the 1960. Referred to as the "baseball" grip by Wade.