Bear Bow Markings

[USBP_1969]

Howdy.

I have three vintage Bear recurves.  Each has the pull at 28" marked on the riser below the grip.  Two of the three, however, have a different number under the strike plate.

For example, a Super Kodiak has 41# inscribed on the riser below the grip and 43# under the strike plate.  To me, it feels more like 45#.  One Kodiak Magnum, however, has the same number in both locations.  Sort of a mystery...

Thanks,
USBP

[JRY309]

I'm no expert but I know that sometimes a Bear marked XX45# would be like 43# marked under the strike plate or like 45#XX would be like 47#under the strike plate.But I guess also it would depend on what year the bow was made.
you might ask this question under Bow Collecting to see if some one there knows more about they way the bows were marked.

[Danny Rowan]

Bear would mark the actual draw weight under the strike plate, normally it was within 1 or two pounds of what was marked on the riser. To my knowledge,Bear never marked the riser with XX before or after the number. That was Pearson.

Same as today when you order a custom bow, most bowyers will tell you than can get your bow within + or - 2#.

Danny

[USBP_1969]

I just rechecked the riser on the SK and it says 40X#. (Not 41# as I had thought)

In the sight window it says "43".  The prior owner did say that he thought it was 41#, but apparently had not removed the rest.

Thanks,
USBP

[Earl E. Nov...mber]

There was a point in time they decided to mark bows to the nearest 5 lbs. After a year or two the "X's" crept in as some secret code for lbs above or below the marked. The pencil mark under the  plate is actual at finish.