A couple nice Bear's my FIL gave me and how he got them.

[TCBowhunter]

So like many of you Trad Gangers, my father-in-law was a pretty serious bowhunter back in the day. We live in Traverse City which is 50 miles due west of Grayling on Lake Michigan. My father in law, or dad I should say, owned an Asphalt Company and one of his clients was Bear Archery! Now dad never dealt with Fred Bear personally when he would do work for Bear but his bid for the work always included a new bow as part of the payment. He did have lunch with Fred one day at a local hangout named Charlie Brown's? I believe it was Charlie Brown's, if not Charlie Brown might have been the owner of the establishment. He said Fred ate there often and so did dad and his hunting bud's. One day Fred noticed they were bowhunters and invited them to join him for lunch.

Sorry for the rant... back to the bows. The first one is a Kodiak Magnum- 9U7513. 52" & 40#. It has a gold Bear coin on it.

The second one is a Super Magnum- KX14835. 48" & 45X#. It has a silver Bear coin on it.

Any idea how old these bows are? I am guessing 70's since that is when dad did work for Bear Archery. I will post pictures when I get home tonight.

Thanks,Kurt

[Jack Shanks]

Your Magnum is a 1969. Would need to see a picture of the Super Magnum but it is a 1970 or later.

[TCBowhunter]

Thanks Jack. I will post pictures tonight. Does the X after the poundage on the Super Magnum mean you add 1 pound? So would it be a 46#?

[Jack Shanks]

Bear only put a single X before or after the weight on the handle to indicate more or less than marked. It is usually a pound or two. The true weight will be marked on the riser under the strike plate or arrow rest.

[Ray Lyon]

Hi Kurt (neighbor),
 
I'm from TC too and Jack's in the know with the Bear's and his advice above is pretty spot on.

Ray

[TCBowhunter]

Hi Ray, I think we have meet at Gauthier's in the past.