Super Grizzlies revisited

[jester]

Hi folks, I'm a traditional archer from Germany – usually one of them primitive guys with their simple wooden bows – well, you know the kind.
But after some bad experiences I wanted to have a glass-laminated recurve bow that I could shoot in any weather condition, transport more easily than my 69"-72" longbows etc. Didn't want to spend to much money though.
I'd rather buy a used one in good condition than a new one for the same price. So browsing through the bay I checked some offers, bidding here and there just to get an idea of acceptable prices for certain items – and well, before I could look twice, I had bought a lovely Super Grizzly for what I guess is an acceptable price alright.

I then tried to gather some information and found this wonderful forum. Browsing and using the search, I gathered the following – please correct me if I'm wrong:
- Super Grizzlies differ from Grizzlies in that red laminated stripe through the riser and red laminated tips.
– They were build in three different color designs (mine seems to be the green one, though it looks rather greyish, with black glass).
- They were only built from 1972-1976.
– Serial Nos. all begin with "K".
- They look very elegant!

Now, what I would like to know: is there any way to determine the exact year of production? I'd really love this one to be from 1974 just like myself …
The Serial-No. is KD 11626.

I'd also be grateful for any other information on these bows since I'm an absolute newbie to glass backed bows as well as to Bear history.

A bracing height of 8"-8,5" would be right?

Puh, long first posting. Thanks for your attention, thanks for any answers. Can't wait to hold that bow in my hands!

Greetings from Germany,
Jan

[d. ward]

Hello and good morning.Those are really great shooting bows.Would it be possible for you to post a couple pics when you get it ? or do you have the gbay number we could see the pics at ? bd

[mwmwmb]

welcome.

[jester]

I've downloaded the seller's pictures and would love to post them, if only I knew how …

The article no. is 230323228190, on the German bay of course (www.e***.de).

Condition does look really fine, that's wahy I gave it a try.

[Tom I.]

Jan,
That's a beautiful bow and at 41 lbs should be a joy to shoot.  Just by the pictures, I'd say the riser is Black....sometimes the dyes used in the process of making the futurwood for the risers, doesn't penetrate as darkly as it should.  
After recieving my LH Super Griz, I think that mine has a black riser also...
Nice Bow...Congrats...Enjoy.
Tom I.

[jester]

Thanks, Tom and the others.
With the primitive longbows I usually draw app. 50#@31" – we'll see how the Super Grizzly works.
By the way, is there a limitation of draw length? Wouldn't want to break it with my first shot, woul I?
As for color, I don't really care as long as it's dark and doesn't look like the visual equivalent to a loud scream …

Tom, have you shot yours already? How is it?

 
 
 
 

Edit: Ah, got it now. These are some of the pics that made me bid …

[jester]

Just bought another Bear bow, a Grizzly that was advertised as "Grissly Bear Anno 58 45#" – selller obiously misread the inscription. Not too many bidders therefore :-D

I would still appreciate information whether these bows can stand a 31" draw and which would be the correct bracing height.

Many thanks in advance,
Jan

[jester]

My Super Grizzly arrived today – it's really in great shape, I think. Will post pictures asap. And if this rain EVER ceases I will go out and shoot it for the first time …
Now, with the string supplied the brace height is exactly 6" from the end of the shelf. Is that normal?

Thanks for your answers,
Jan

[Tom I.]

Jan....what's the brace height measured from the deepest part of the grip.  6" sounds awfully low.
Most of the Bears like 7 1/2 - 8"....
Tom I.

[jester]

Sorry, bloody primitve archer, never shot a bow with a grip and shelf before ...

From the deepest part of the grip it's slightly more than 7". I think I'll try it like that (as soon as I can) and then twist the string and try again and so on.

Thanks Tom. How does your lefty perform?
Greetings, Jan

Oh, by the way: seller said the bow is from 1974. My birthyear ...

[Horney Toad]

I don't think there is any way to determine the exact year. If you actually draw the bow 31", I would look for a longer bow.

[jester]

Maybe the year he bought it? Dunno ...

Thing is, I've been shooting longer bows (68"-72") for years and wanted a change – not get stuck in the thicket all the time, and easier transport on my motorbike as well. I've been looking for a TD, but coulnd't find one in good condition at an affordable price.

Just to give you an idea: in Germany, Grizzlies are rarely sold for less than 250 Euros (314 USD), Super Grizzlies are between 250 and 300 Euros (314-377 USD), Kodiaks rather above 400 USD (not seen KS or KSDs for sale at all), cheapest Bear TD I saw went for 280 Euros (352 USD) – and were not even talking real collectibles here but ordinary shoooting bows from the past 20 to 30 years ...

See why my jaw in a constant drop when I see all those wonderful collections here?

[Horney Toad]

Just a fact of life, the shorter bows will stack more than the longer ones. A lot of bows from here are going to Germany and France and other countries. The big problem is shipping. You can't ship packages over 60".

[Tom I.]

Jan...it could be a '74...not really much of a way to tell.  No....haven't shot mine yet.  I will tomorrow night.  A bunch of us get together at club in Shippensburg, PA on Tues evenings to shoot and jaw at one another.  It's about a 50 mile drive for me, so I don't make it every Tuesday.
Tom I.