Green Bear Kodiak hunter. How old???

[Wengerd Bowyer]

Yesterday I was in the shop when my wife called me from a yard sale, and said "there's a old green Bear recurve for sale for 10 bucks. Do you want it?" Without asking anything I just told her to buy it. When she came home I didn't know what to expect (twisted limbs, stress cracks, ect) but it looks like it's in good shape for how old it is. I strung it and shot it a few times, and it shoots real nice. The bow has dark green limbs, green riser with a blue and tan accent strip and a silver bear metal on the side, and green tips made of wood. No holes drilled anywhere. Serial number is kt90491, and it's 58" and 45#. Just wondering how old it is, and what it's worth. Pretty cool little bow for 10 bucks. I like the way it shoots better then my dads old bear grizzly my grandpa got him in the 60s. I took some pics of it but don't know how to post them. I can email them to someone. Thanks for looking.

[Wengerd Bowyer]

It has a layered black and white overlay on the back of the grip. Would that make it a 1976 bow? I just figured with the green wood tip overlays it would be older then that. But I don't know how to age these things.

[Wengerd Bowyer]

Thanks for the help guys. My bow would fit into the '76 category except it has AMO 58" written on it.

[Wengerd Bowyer]

Pics sent.

[Blackhawk]

You may really have a collector if it's a 58".  I also thought they were all 60" in those years.  My guess it was mis-marked...and is a 60".  Still would be a collector piece with that error.

[Migra Bill]

black and white overlays make it a 74-75. When he says "colored" for 76 - it's a greenish shade.

[D.Sheppard]

I have a Kodiak Hunter the same as yours marked KT79606/AMO60"/45X#.
  Measuring straight across the tips it's 55 3/8" and around the curve of the limbs it's 61".
  How do these measurements compare to the one you have with the 58" AMO marking.
                           Thanx, Shep
 

[Migra Bill]

That's not factory handwriting. look at the "T" in KT. Just my guess here-
That bow has been "re-labled" and they got it wrong.

[D.Sheppard]

[Wengerd Bowyer]

I measured it and it's a 60" bow. It looks like the same handwriting as D.Sheppards bow. What do you guys think?

[salukijim]

I have the exact same bow (1975) but it's 60" AMO for sure.  If nothing else, 10 bucks was a steal.  I paid 100.

[D.Sheppard]

100.00 for me also.

[Blackhawk]

Yes, I believe it is original factory writing.    

It was a Friday, the printer went out to lunch with a couple buddies, had a couple cool ones,      and the bow looked like a 58"'er to him when he got back to work.   :rolleyes:    

My guess is all the bows made that afternoon is marked as 58".    

[Wengerd Bowyer]

Is it somthing collectible or do I just use it like any other old bow.

[Blackhawk]

I believe mis-marked bows like yours are just "odd ducks" as the bowdoc calls them. Some folks may collect them, but the value is just about the same as a common product.  Shoot it and enjoy it and make it a conversation piece.

[Wengerd Bowyer]

I'm going to let one of my friends use it till he can buy his own bow. So it'll get put to use instead of just hanging on the wall. Thanks for all the help guys.