Could Use Some Help with marking on older Bear Kodiak

[Black Hills Archer]

I recently acquired an older Bear Kodiak with a marking I've never seen on a Bear riser. From the Catalog CD I have, it appears to be a 1960. It reads as follows;

DE 455
64"
60#
F.

I've never seen the "F." on a Bear riser. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

John

[Bjorn]

That is the first letter of the last name of the person who was scaling the bows that day. May have been up to the individual as most bows do not have that.

[d. ward]

how's about a couple pics ? bd

[Black Hills Archer]

Thanks for the input Bjorn, and BD, I'll try to get a pic or two up later today.

John

[Black Hills Archer]

Below should be 2 pics. Bjorn, I had an ol timer tell me pretty much the same thing, but he went on to say that if Fred personally scaled a bow, he simply put "F.". Have you ever heard that? Thanks in advance.

John

   
   

[Bjorn]

The bowdoc will have an idea about the 'F' and this bit of historical folk lore. I have at least 1 bow with a 'B'  I want that to stand for 'Bear' so you may be outta' luck my friend! LOL!        

[Bjorn]

The weights and sometimes notes, were written under the leather wrap; or in the case of no leather the number was written under the sidewall. I suspect when an initial appears by the spec writing it would include some kind of 'quality control' inspection, but bowdoc would know.

[Black Hills Archer]

Thanks Bjorn, I really appreciate the wealth of knowledge some of you have. I realize you have to take what you hear regarding the "folk lore" with a grain of salt, unless it can be substantiated somehow.

[damascusdave]

This one is a much lighter draw weight.

[Bjorn]

45#@26 is pretty uncommon-very nice wood too.

[damascusdave]

The other one I bought is 38 at 26 and is a consecutive serial number. The serial numbers are BH376 and BH377. How is that for uncommon?

It is in even better shape, hardly used.

DDave

[damascusdave]

The ladie's late husband was an archery coach from Quebec who spent a lot of time in the Toronto area. I would guess that these bows were a custom order and he went down to Grayling to pick them up.

I gave her a thousand dollars for the two of them, a small price to pay for a bit of Canadian archery history. She is going to give me a written summary of her husband's life.

DDave

[damascusdave]

Sorry not meaning to highjack the thread.

DDave

[Black Hills Archer]

No worries Dave. Nice bows you scored there.

[damascusdave]

For a while I thought I had died and gone to heaven. There is still a lot of other stuff I would like to buy later.
It all started with me bringing my Kodiak Special in to show a young fellow in the local gun shop. The ladies husband approached me about getting a bow string and the next thing I knew I was following them home. I just had that gut feeling they would be some very nice Bears.
DDave

[damascusdave]

You know the gentleman that had these bows also had guns. Notice any significance with 38 and 45?
DDave

[damascusdave]

Just need one of the kids bows that are also there to scale 22.
DDave

[d. ward]

45# @ 26" is actualy 52# at me draw length Dave my shipping addie is ???? just kidding.Thats a dandy looker right there and I bet is shoots even better.
On those odd single letters on the riser the same letter is under the leather grips with the correct scale weight of the bow and some other info.I was told by a former Bear bowyer that was the inspecter aka the scale man and yes there are several different letters that were used.Your 64" 60# is gonna be a great shooter I'll bet bd

[Black Hills Archer]

Thanks Bowdoc, but I'm already in a committed relationship with my Widow. This one'll go to the auction site, since I don't have enough posts to sell on here yet. (took me awhile to accept the newer classified policy, since I was a member long ago, and have drifted in and out of Tradgang over the years, but I understand they do it to protect the integrity of the transactions.) Thanks for the help!

John