66' prototype has found a home

[cacciatore]

Philip,I am sooo glad you get your special 66/67!
It is a beauty indeed.

[vintage-bears]

Thanks guy's.
Their no fun if you can't share them.
I can't seem to put this bow down. The all black riser is unbelievable and with the brown glass it looks amazing.
I gotta put the bow on a scale. I bet it weighs a lb or more than a standard 66' Kodiak. You gotta feel this thing!

I am more confident then ever that this bow was a test for the upcoming 1967 Super Kodiak. Obviously Fred Bear wanted some more refinements for it, "trim stripes" being first on the list.

Fred was'nt about to throw away a perfectly good bow.
So being built on the 66' Kodiak form allowed this bow to be simply camo covered and sold as such.
I wonder what's still out there under factory camo?
And yes,Bowdoc outdid himself.........Bravo Donnie!

Thanks again fella's...............Philip

[Hoof]

That is cool...the way is was before Bears decision was made to move on... Absolutely gorgeous. Great job Philip and Bowdoc!

[Larry m]

Very Nice Philip
Always appreciate your insight and personal perspective on Bear Archery. What a unique beauty that one is. I'm glad you exposed it. The history is there in the before and after pictures and the story it tells us. Doc did a beautiful job of bringing it out!!!

[PAPALAPIN]

Phil

Glad I passed it on to you.  I know it will get more exposure in your collection than it did in mine.

I was one of those that felt you should leaqve the camo on, but you made the right decision.  It is beautiful.

I want to remind everyone that this gem was descovered by Tom Troy.  He bought it off E8AY as a camo model '66 Kodiak.  If he had not decided to see what was under the paint, it may never have been discovered.

Goes to show you that we have no idea of what other hidden gems are still ot there just waiting to be discovered.

Glad you got her Phil.

[sticknstring+]

Philip   In your comparison pics with the lefty it looks like there is a difference in the length of the handle section between the two. Do they seem to have been built on the same or different forms?

[vintage-bears]

Originally posted by Larry m:
Very Nice Philip
Always appreciate your insight and personal perspective on Bear Archery. What a unique beauty that one is. I'm glad you exposed it. The history is there in the before and after pictures and the story it tells us. Doc did a beautiful job of bringing it out!!!

Thanks very much Larry. Once again, your bow looks amazing!

........Philip

[vintage-bears]

Originally posted by sticknstring+:
Philip   In your comparison pics with the lefty it looks like there is a difference in the length of the handle section between the two. Do they seem to have been built on the same or different forms?

Code: [Select]

 Greg,
The lh super k riser is a bit longer. Im sure all will be.
I'm gonna do some more comparisons with other super kodiaks and take some more pics.
The limbs and recurve appear to be the same when side by side.

Thanks again everyone.........Philip

[East Coast archer]

The bow looks even better in person.  Thanks Phil for showing it to me at Whittingham.  By the way, what did Jim say about the Takedown you refinished?

[vintage-bears]

Thanks Vinny. I had such a good time with you and the gang.
Was a real pleasure to meet you all. Jim was impressed with the handle and happy to hold it once again.
The swap meet was a lot of fun too. I picked up a 62 polar for my daughter. She loves it!!!!

Thanks also to Mike Shaw and his lovely wife. Great people.
And Mike makes some of the nicest arrows you will find.

.......Philip

[vintage-bears]

This unique and very special bow has been on a nationwide journey it seems and has been an honor
of mine to possess even if only for a little while.
This bow deserves to be seen and not tucked away.
A trade was made and now Johnnyrazorhead "John Kabisa" has her in his amazing Collection.
The bow has come full circle and now she's back home in Michigan.

As for the trade, let's just say it was "A" mazing!
Pictures as soon as I can.

.....Philip

[vintage-bears]

As I wrote in my previous post.
John Kabisa and I had made a trade for the 66/67 Prototype Kodiak.
I made a decision to pass it on to a collector who not only appreciates the bows and their history but shares these wonderful weapons of Fred Bear with others to see in their displays.

John was kind enough to trade this very special signed Fred Bear take down.
Thank you John.

Serial # A-1945
Signed by PapaBear 1982 with
50# original white tip limbs.

 

 

 

 

[johnnyrazorhead]

Phil,
 I'm    for you for enjoying that very special A-riser,and I'm very  

[Shane Reed]

Very nice handle Phillip! Yes John, I know all to well ;o)

[vintage-bears]

Hey John,
How about that bow in which it's "historical value" has been erased according to some person?
Let's see that altered "Mona Lisa" among your other magnificent specimens.
TG is boring without you!

.....Philip

[johnnyrazorhead]

Phil,
  I'm not sure what bow you are referring to. Is it one I own or one I may have owned at one time. I'm drawing a blank right now, but that's normal for me after working all the hours I've been working lately. My mind is on overdrive on top of lack of sleep. Help me out here.If it's a bow I still have I would love to post up some pics as I agree,things have gotten a little stale lately here in the collecting world.

[Kelly]

I have a factory camo 1967 Super Kodiak-definitley black handle underneath-doesn't look or feel like any overlays on back of handle though.

[vintage-bears]

check under the strike plate Kelly.

.......Philip