Started shooting Bears and still do 54 years later. My first when I was 15, a Kodiak Magnum, was just a real fine looking bow and I would just look at it as a prize because I had used my own money made working in a golf shop to buy it new. My first target bow was a Tamerlane bought with my own money a year later (1963). It was the best looking bow of anybody I saw at the field archery ranges, period. Made me a few inches taller when I shot it.
Still enjoying the beautiful brzilian rosewood and bubinga and craftsmanship of three K Specials from '59 to '62, and two Kodiaks, '61 and '62. Was thinking of buying another '62 I have seen but realistically, it is a draw weight I don't know if I will be shooting for a long time. As old age is knocking at my door small ailments are haunting me even now. Hope I get to see someone using that bow and it does not wind up sitting on some rack.
Don't let my Bears sit around too long without some attention and shoot them as much as I can. We all have to appreciate the fellows who were around and made those bows as most the bows Bear made in those early days in the 50's and 60's were absolute works of art.
Thank goodness for old Bears so us fellows, young and old, who have a fire lit for traditional archery, can afford to do so with beautiful equipment that still works very well at a cost we can afford. Bet some of those craftsmen who made those bows would really be smiling and proud their beautiful bows are still being actively used.
But, might go modern sometime in the next year or two and buy a custom bow. However, those old Bears will not go without away....U'll see me at those 3-D's shooting them too.