'63 Kodiak Dogleg breaking?

[wasapt]

I recently read online that the 1963 Kodiak had a design flaw resulting inseveral of them breaking thus the 1964 design was quiteabit different.... Having a 1963 in my shooting arsenal, I wondered if this breaking was founded. I love shooting my '63 but am wondering now if there is a risk that is greater with this bow than the other classics I have?

[reddogge]

I understand it was the '63 Kodiak Magnum and only the first version of it.  The Kodiaks were solid bows.

[Larry m]

Here is type 1. You don't want to shoot this puppie if you happen to have one. From an earlier posting they apparently are hard to come by.

[johnnyrazorhead]

Bryce,
 I believe the problems were apparently with both the type I and type II Kodiak Magnum s of 1963.Supposedley the type III Magnum and the Kodiak are o.k. to shoot.

[Migra Bill]

63 Kodiaks are great! And people tend to stay away from theme because of the Magnums blowing up - people always assume the Kodiaks had issues too. But they didn't.
I think they are one of Bears best shooting bows.

[OldSkoolArcher]

I have put more than a few arrows though my '63 Kodiak. No Probs here.
I have also shot the Type III K-Mags. I haven't shot my Type II K-Mag though...

Larry m, if you EVER consider letting go of that K-Mag let me know!!!

[macclare]

Please do not shoot the Type1 or 2. The Kodiak Magnum type 3 is ok to shoot. Gary

[wasapt]

great news, thanks guys!

[oldbohntr]

Just one more voice in agreement.  My '63 Kodiaks are both in the mid-50s and have shot a lot of arrows and I think they outperform the '64s!  One of mine came from a guy who'd been shooting it for 15-20 years.  He took good care of it, but that gave me confidence to use it, back when all conventional wisdom seemed to be leave the doglegs on the rack!  IMO, it's the best year after 1960.

[d. ward]

99% of the problem in 1963ish was not the bow but the nut on the handle.Step thru stringing was the problemo.You got a guy 6'4" 280 pounds stepping thru a mag to sring it guess what happens ?????? bang broken at the arrow rest strike plate from twisting not from shooting them bd

[PAPALAPIN]

I agree that the 60" '63 Kodiaks are rock solid.

I would like te reimpazize one point.  It is both the Type I and Type II '63 Kodiak Magnums that should not be shot.   There was a reason that Bear came out with the Type III.  The other two were exploders.  Some Type II Magnums can probably be shot, but why take the chance.

[Blackhawk]

It looks like two theories at play here.  

Some say,  "Do not shoot the Type 1 or 2", while some say it's ok to shoot, but use a stringer to string, not the step-thru method.

What's the real truth?

Any first hand experience with either happening?

As for the 63 Kodiak, my first hand experience is positive...it's a shooter!