Ben Pearson Cougar, the mysterious #37

[shamus]

I refinished a Pearson Cougar last year and noticed that the number #37 was stenciled on the bow's riser. It was under the finish , so I'm pretty sure it was put there by the factory. Anyone know what this #37 means?

 

   Restoring the Cougar

[PAPALAPIN]

Bow makers stamp the true weight of the bow, or maybe the first weight of the bow at that location, and thencover it with the arrow plate after it is finished.

It is not uncommon to see one weight there and another weight written in the bow specs along with the seriel number and AMO length.

That is pretty wood for a Cougar.  Did you stain it before you finished it?

[Elmer Keith]

Just the same as on my old Bear bows on which I removed the side plate. Bear Bruin II and Kodiak Hunter both have it. On the lower part of the receiver it's offically stated 45/50 # on the Bruin II and 35 # on the Kodiak Hunter.
Below the removed sideplate there is 48 respectively 39.

By the way, does anyone have some catalog pictures showing the Bear Bruin II. I have the CD with the catalogs from 1948 - 1978 but there is no Bear Bruin II pictured.

[shamus]

ah, that explains it.

PAPALAPIN, no stain. Just a light sanding and gloss urethane finish.