Grayling Super Kodiak

[AK Dan]

I'm going through my archery stuff and found this gem. I bought it years ago and I don't believe it's been used at all, I know I haven't strung it. I even have the original string.Are there any Bear experts who can perhaps date the bow?
Thanks,
Dan

[restless]

1976ish

[J. Holden]

I can't help with the date, but I can't believe you forgot about it either!  I'm not sure I'd be able to set a new bow aside and not shoot it the moment I received it    It looks beautiful, nice bow.

-Jeremy

[Wudstix]

I've found arrows and broadheads, but never a bow.
 

[AK Dan]

Well, I didn't actually forget about it (almost though). It was in a storage unit that I haven't gone through in about ten years. I found a bunch of old Bear razor heads as well. It was a good day! And thanks for dating it for me, 1976 would put me in seventh grade.

[Blackstick]

1975 if it has white plastic overlays, or 1976 if it has Futurewood overlays on the handle.

[AK Dan]

Thanks, I would have preferred the white overlays. I thought the look was cleaner. I had a couple Kodiak Hunters from way back that were nice bows as well. I don't know if I should string this bow up or not. Maybe string it and slowly exercise it?

[McDave]

Your bow is fiberglass backed, and should shoot just fine.  The only question is the type of string, which in the case of your bow should be dacron and not fast flight.  Whether fast flight or dacron, string loses structural integrity with age, and should be replaced before the bow is shot if it is the original string.  It never hurts to exercise a bow before shooting it, particularly if it has a dacron string, because drawing the bow without shooting it at increasing draw lengths 4-5 times will give a dacron string the pre-stretch it needs.