The heavier classic Bears and such

[False Cast]

Being a short drawing young man who spends some time in the gym, I've always had an affinity for the heavier bows. I shoot and hunt with a 67# @ my 26" draw American Longbow by John Schulz and I absolutely love it.

How common were the heavier (Grayling era) Bear bows - say, 60# and higher? I've been keeping an eye out for a heavier Kmag and although a 55# bow pops up every now and then, I don't think I've seen very many heavier than that. I believe one gentleman here had a 70# posted a few months back but I think that's the only heavyweight I've seen pics of.

Are they more desirable and thus guys hang onto them or did Bear just put out A LOT more 45# and 50# bows?

Post pics if you've got some heavy old bows. I'd love to see them!

[Horney Toad]

I always heard 75% of the earlier Bear bows were around 45#. The heavier bows are out there, just not as many. Thus generally more collectable.

[Shane Reed]

I have a 73# grizzly signed by Fred and given to Ben Lee. Like you I have a short draw of 25.5"

[TonyW]

Wow - those 100# bows must be as easy to draw as pulling Excalibur out of the stone! I guess we get a new King when these get shot.

I have a 70# '64 Kodiak and a few 60 year old heavyweight Bears.

The 1964 Kodiaks are respectfully described as "thunkers" by some of us. Seventy pounds makes quite a THUNK!

I bought it in a fit of hubris a few years ago, since even Fred was usually quite happy using a 65# bow. I read that Fred figured he would just draw back a tad more if he needed a couple extra pounds of stopping power.

[kstout]

I have a 1966 Kodiak that is 72# @ 28".

[Blackhawk]

My goodness...I do love looking at old heavy bows, however, looking at them is all I could do these days.  

I've had a few over 60# and think I only had one (Kodiak Hunter) that was 75#.  I have sent them all down the road, but do like seeing posts about them.

Most bows being built, sold, traded today are in the 45-50# class, so I expect Bear built bows in the early days that reflected the same.

[damascusdave]

I think I remember reading somewhere that in the Grayling days anything past 65 pounds was special order only..still I love the stout construction of those triple digit Kodiaks...even the sight window changed considerably to make the riser stronger

DDave

[Bjorn]

just stringing them would blow my hernias again!          

[TonyW]

Take a look at John Kabisa's 123# Kodiak on page 1 of "Some Interesting Bear Bows and Misc that I dredged up right below this thread ....

[Abear]

I shot that 90 #er it was sweet, It was a real nice bow dave, Chris

[buck50]

X2 on the great bows. I put those in the Toad Smith class of draw weight.

[damascusdave]

Just noticed the serial number on the 60 Kodiak...apparently the 64 inchers went away from the two letter prefixes just like the 60 inchers...I would have thought that with the limited production of 64 inchers Bear would have simply stayed with the D_ prefix...just another part of the big puzzle

DDave

[Horney Toad]

121147844816

Here is an old heavy one that popped up.

[marlon]

My 1954 bear polar

[marlon]

94# pound bow! Very easy to pull!

[marlon]

[Shane Reed]

There is a 100# 56 Kodiak 64" on the auction site right now. Steep price

item
121147844816

[Shane Reed]

Bow sold. Hope someone here got it