1961- 1966 Bear Kodiak question

[JDinPA]

Does anybody know if the majority of the 1961-1966 Kodiaks were a light draw weight?
I see a few come up for sale from time to time, but they are always light - around 40#.

Thanks,
JD

[d. ward]

Hi JD yes plenty were over 45#...but I think most of the guy's who have them are kinda holding on to the hunting weight bows...bowdoc

[Blackhawk]

I read somewhere    that almost 75% of Bear bows were 45# or less,  and when you consider what bowdoc says, you have a recipe for a bow that is rare.

OH, by the way, anyone have a 1964 Kodiak in 52# they want to get rid of?    ....sorry

[alaskabowhunter]

the guys that own the heavier hunting weight kodiaks don't part with easily or cheaply.... watch the auction site, they come around once in a while... be prepared to pay a premium. I   just watched a 65# 1959 Kodiak sell for a over $1,100 ....they were meant to be bent.  good luck.

[One eye]

Originally posted by alaskabowhunter:
the guys that own the heavier hunting weight kodiaks don't part with easily or cheaply.... watch the auction site, they come around once in a while... be prepared to pay a premium. I   just watched a 65# 1959 Kodiak sell for a over $1,100 ....they were meant to be bent.  good luck.

Yep, I was in on the bidding on that one for awhile but I knew it was going to go high.
Dan

[d. ward]

Life span of those heavy weight bows (65 +) may also be a little shorter then...oh lets say a 50#er but thats what it was built for..On any 1959 or 1960 Bear Kodiak you want to buy....if it has those little tiny cracks in the corewood just at or just above the fade-outs??? you may want to let that one slide if it's over 50 or so.....One thought on marketing for Bear Archery back then,was about 99% of hunters..Only had deer sized game to hunt.Like Pa.has 450,000 two season hunters.Bear sold tons and tons of 45# draw weight and less...East of the Mississippi or you know what I mean??? But here in Washington we have elk sized game to hunt,and some of use figured we needed a bit heavy bow,ie 45#'s and up..But we only got 15,000 to 20,000 bowhunters(small peace of the market for Bear Archery).You can see where this ones headed...One heck of a lot more whitetail hunters out there then elk hunters here at that time.Look at poor old ABH,he's the only real true to life bowhunter in Alaska.With Moose size game,he will need more then 45#'s.......bowdoc

[centaur]

I have a 1961 50#er, and it still shoots great, but it is pretty much a wall hanger since I have gone to longbows. Cool older bow, though. I had no idea people were paying those high prices for them.

[JDinPA]

Thanks guys. I'll keep looking.