advice needed on bear bow

[hill boy]

I am in the process of cleaning up and restoring a 1969 bear super kodiak,for an inlaw that wasn't aware of what he had because the bow had been spray painted black.I guess the paint protected it because it is cleaning up really nice.Question.What is the recommended brace hight?And can this bow use a modern day string.The bow is 48# and he draws I would guess 29in.Which would make him shooting about 50lb.Thanks for any info.

[George D. Stout]

The brace for most of those Super Kodiaks is about 8".  Anywhere from 7 3/4 to 8 1/2 will work, depending on the shooter.

I would be hesitant to use the newer strings, as you are dealing with one of the nicest Super K's ever made.  It's a personal choice at this point since there isn't enough studies to prove yea or nay on new strings.

I'm using a 450+ on an old 1967 Shakespeare and it is working fine....over 1500 shots so far.

Get a new B-50....12 strand for that one. Order, or make it in 57", then twist it to brace.  If you do that you will have a string that doesn't stretch as much as one that doesn't need the extra twists.  At least that has been my experience.

[TonyW]

Be careful - the 1969 Kodiak riser is half wood and half black phenolic. The black phenolic often shows stress cracks and if somebody over-sprayed the "Black Beauty" with black paint, it may have been to hide the cracks.

[hill boy]

George,this is a 60in bow.Do you still recomend the 57in string?Tony,this bow has cleaned up exceptionally well.Very small and very few stress cracks in the finish. Thanks gentlmen, Mike

[George D. Stout]

All Super Kodiaks are 60" bows.  Yes, get the 57", flemish twist.  I've found that once you twist it to proper brace, it stretches less than one that is made shorter and not twisted as much.

I've owned quite a few of thos Supre K's over the years.

[hill boy]

Thanks George.I wish I would have taken a before and after picture.This thing is really pretty.He deosn't know I have it.Boy is he going to be surprised.  

[George D. Stout]

TonyW, actually the riser is nearly all micarta, with rosewood caps put on after the stripes.  The 68 and 69 were the epitome of the classic bow with that micarta/rosewood.