1963 Dog Leg Kodiak did not....

[d. ward]

..I just got an email from a friend...It was showing and telling the history of collecting Kodiaks ?? not sure where it came from or whom wrote it.it's says the 63 K has a shiney brass coin...But the 1963 Kodiak did not have a brass coin...it may look brass in color.But thats actually the yellowing finish and not the coin at all...The 1963 Kodiak Dog Leg has the rare nickel or german silver type coin,which was used until very early 1966...They do look brass with the yellow fuller finish on them but they are for sure not brass...and if they are then they been chanced at some point in time....bowdoc

[d. ward]

Here is a pic of an original coin in a 1963 K with all of the original finish removed.You can clearly see the coin is silver in color once the yellow finish is removed.....bowdoc

[Jeremy]

Next you're going to tell me my '58 Kodiak didn't have yellow glass, right?  Sheesh!  :D

[TonyW]

"You'll wonder where the yellow went, when you brush your bow with Pepsodent."

[PAPALAPIN]

Dang Tony, you're  showin' your age... mine too since I know what you're referrin' to.

[d. ward]

1963 1964 1965 and a few early 1966 all had the german or nickel silver coins....I went back and read the rest of the clipping the guy sent me...sad that one of the well known web sights just post that stuff about collecting Bear bows and are not sure if the info is accurite or not.....bowdoc

[wadde]

Glad to see you guys are catching on.

[Yule08]

What's the best way to remove the finish on the coin to check to see if it's an original?  Hopefully my 64 & 65 K coins are original......LOL.  Thanks.

Yule

[TonyW]

Don-
This was from Al Reader, probably what the email referred to:

 
The first year for the "coin" medallion (flush with bow surface) was 1959. It was copper metal that year, 1960-61 was aluminum, 1962 pewter. These all have a "Flat Bear" logo. In 1963 a brass coin with a new stamping of a "Rounded Bear" logo appears. Also in 1963 a "Rounded Bear" coin in aluminum begins in the lower class bows like the Polar and Cub. This same aluminum coin reappears in the Grizzly model in 1970 to 1972. Also in 1970 and 1971 a few nickel silver coin medallions appear in top model bows. These are scattered and are identical in appearance to the aluminum. As with "all years" these coins all overlap, so precise dating could be difficult.

[alaskabowhunter]

I still like the copper coins the best...