1960 kodiak & 1961 kodiak special !! Refinish ???

[Tyler C. Moore]

I have never had a bow refinished, and don't know anything about time frame/price/how it affects the value of a bow ? I have heard of bowdoc and the bow hospital, but don't know enough.

I just received a 1960 kodiak that is in great shape physically, but cosmetically it is a little rough.

   

   

   

And I was just lucky enough to buy what looks to be an absolutely stunning '61 kodiak special. I haven't seen one quite like it, although I am sure they are out there. When I have it I'm hand I'll know better, b stress lines are visible front and belly of limbs, and the clear coat looks to be in rough shape.

Any advise on if I should have these refinished would be appreciated. I will hunt and shoot both of them regularly!!


   


   

   

[Horney Toad]

a good topic for debate. It is costly for a new finish and doesn't help the value much. In some cases may even hurt the value.

[Blackhawk]

    sorry, but pics do not show up for me.

oops...there they are.

And I think good candidates for a refinish for a couple of Bear's top bows.

[Tyler C. Moore]

That's odd Lon, I did them as usual

[warpedarrow]

That '60 should clean up very well.  The glass appears to be in good shape.

Not so much on the other bow.  I can't see the glass but the wood has been marred by one of those crude quivers.  A lot of bows were disfigured by those things.

If you have any inclination to do a restore yourself the 61 is a good one to learn on.  I would do it first and then make a decision on paying to have the 60 restored or doing it yourself.

[damascusdave]

I would have made an offer on the KS but I already have one...you are right about that one being extra special...typical zebrawood is gold with brown striping like the i beam you can see in the sight window...that one is more brown with some gold striping according to the pictures

DDave

[damascusdave]

If you are going to sell either of those bows I will buy them in whatever condition they are in...what I will pay you for them will depend on my mood of the day and how much disposable cash I have on hand...resale value only matters if you intend to resell them which in the case of those two bows would be rather foolish...they will be eye poppers once refinished, you can trust me on that...phone a few custom bowyers and ask them how much Brazilian rosewood they have on hand

DDave

[Blackhawk]

On that 1960 I think a refinish would enhance value and not hurt.  I also like the idea of doing the '61 yourself since it can be very satisfying.

[Tyler C. Moore]

I appreciate the advice, and think that I will follow the refinishing threads on here and try to clean up the KS first, and wait on the 60 kodiak. I only have a junky old string for the kodiak as of now since it is my first 64" bow, but I am still impressed so how it shoots.

[59Alaskan]

We are all just opinions in the wind...but since you asked, I would fill the holes and hunt them as they are.  However, they both would be stunning if refinished.  

That said, when I look at a bow I see history.  I wonder what that bow has done and been through that I will never know.  Did those dings come from tracking a deer through heavy brush?  Did it fall from a stand?  What woods has it been in that I will never see?  What shots did it take that I will never know...or was it just banged around in someone's basement for 50 years?

Refinishing doesn't remove that history, but it makes it harder for me to think about.

[tippit]

Tyler,
If you want to see a Bowdoc refinish job just stop by.  They look better than new.  Only problem, they are very hard to hunt after that...too shinny & pretty  

[TonyW]

Take a look here:

 http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=14;t=006473

(I am always amazed at how many websites have "borrowed" this free advice from Don Ward.)