50-year-old turkey hunt or turkey still hunting for 50-year-old Polar?

[CrookedStick]

I should probably direct this to Jeremy since he has one: did I find a '59 Polar here, or am I still on the lookout?  I'd get a kick out of hunting turkeys within an hour of where the bow was born 50 years ago.

I hope it is - at least I can afford a Polar!

Whatever the year, it looks like I'll have to learn how to replace those tips. It needs a little work, but nothing serious except the tips I think.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[KYArcher]

Good lookn old Polar!
                             .....Scott

[CrookedStick]

Thanks KYArcher.  I'm trying to figure out if it's a '59 or '60.  I found a catalog shot of a '60 with the Polar decal/screen on the belly and mine is on the back.

Jeremy's pic of his in another thread makes me think this is a '59.  In reality, the two years may be the same...Low end bow that it is, I don't think it has the documentation available like the more popular bows from that time.

[Shaun]

Nice looking bow. Those tips might clean up if they are not loose. Good find!

[Jeremy]

Nice looking Polar!  
The paper tips look a little crushed, so replacing them is the best idea.
I've yet to see a '60 Polar with glass tip overlays, so I'm not sure if Bear switched the Polar over to glass when the switched the Grizz, Kodiak, and KS over.  I have seen paper-tipped Polars with the fatty '60 grip though.
I'd call it a '59  

[Jeremy]

Originally posted by CrookedStick:
at least I can afford a Polar!

And now you know why I collect 'em  :D

[d. ward]

yap I think thats a 1959 also.bowdoc

[BobT]

That is a good looking bow, I don't know what the significance of the silkscreen location is, if any, but I have 2 '58 Kodiaks one has the silkscreen on the belly the other is on the back. The only other difference between the 2 bows is the length.

[Novaln1975]

Anybody know if all the 59s had red fiberglass?

-Simon

[Gray Wolf]

What is the brace height on the Polar's?

[CrookedStick]

Thanks for the input folks.

This may be a stupid question, but what is the importance of the tip overlays?  Are they cosmetic or structural?

I mean can I file/sand/shape those smooth (only the bottom one is messy), glue up the tiny gap between the bow and the overlay in one of them and hunt with this bow?

I went through the bow rebuild thread (thanks Bowdoc!) but that part is still confusing to me.  I get the removal part and the cleanup-and-glue-on-right part.  But it's not clear to me the importance other than cosmetic or even what I use to replace them.

Could I make a nice antler or wood overlay for a replacement or do I need to track down specific materials to do this project?  And what would I need to find to keep it original--or as close as possible if I go that route?

[Jeremy]

Simon, all the '55-60 Polars had the red glass.  It blends in real well in the Fall woods  

The tip overlays allow for more rounded string grooves, which reduces stress risers and prolongs string (and bow) life.  The alternative to overlays is to round into the fiberglass more, which reduced the tip strength.

To keep it close to original, use paper micarta.  There were instructions on how to make some here a few weeks ago.  You can also use glass, or just wood.  I replaced tip overlays on a '59 Polar with maple and rosewood (gasp).