Rare Bear Find

[hayslope]

First off.....I have to thank and give credit where due...to Alex Beer (Alex B)....one of our new cadet members.  Alex found an ad on "CL" for an estate vintage archery collection and contacted me about helping with valuation on some items.  After looking at the photos posted on the ad, I thought I recognized one of the bows, so I told Alex that I would like to go along to check things out.

The collection ranged from recurves to compounds with lots of accessories and arrows and shafts.  The bows were all in pretty bad condition, but the bow that I was interested in pretty much made me look aside, from a condition perspective.  We made an offer, but had to wait until other interested parties had the chance to check everything out and possibly offer what they were asking for the lot.

Well, Alex and I were successful; since we were the "first" to look at the collection and make an offer, the owners allowed us to meet their highest offer.  We jumped on it!  Alex ended up with a huge collection of arrows, shafts, broadheads and accessories.  I ended up with the bows.......including this one:

 

1959 Bear Kodiak - Maple Sight Window
BB143
60"
60#

Since it had a rather large amount of masking tape applied (probably from back in the 60s given that the tape appeared to have become "one" with the riser!), I knew I was taking a chance that it may be a cracked riser...or maybe just tape.

 
 
 

[Jack Shanks]

Finding a 59' is always nice but one with a maple sight window to boot! Great!

[cacciatore]

Good find.For sure you offered Alex a beer.

[hayslope]

To say the "initial" cleanup was a challenge is maybe an understatement.  Getting that ancient tape off the riser and grip really tested my patience!  I would occasionally take a break to relieve my frustration and watch the football game.  There was masking tape going up the opposite side of the riser....all the way up to the bottom of the coin!

Eventually, the tape was removed without marking the riser, the three small initial decals and their industrial grade adhesive were removed and I wiped the entire bow down.  The next step will be to do a more thorough clean up.  I will eventually do my best to find an original strike plate.  I've got to place an order with Trap for feather rests for other bows, so I'll just order another for this bow.  The dry rotted leather grip is in bad shape, although I really don't want to put a "new" grip on the bow.  Anyhow, it looks a good bit better now than when I brought it home.....although it has a long way to go:

 
 
 

I've missed out on several MSWs in the past, so I'm really glad to add this one to the collection.  And the higher poundage is just icing on the cake for me!

Thanks again Alex!

 

[hayslope]

Originally posted by cacciatore:
Good find.For sure you offered Alex a beer.

Felix,

Great idea.....with one problem......young Alex is not quite to the legal drinking age in this state!!!!!

Guess I'll just have to buy him lunch or dinner!

 

[hayslope]

Beyond the '59 MSW, the other most interesting item (beyond the huge arrow collection that Alex got) a little fiberglass Locksley bow (with a cracked limb) that had a very unusual contraption attached via a wood block and tape.

It's called an Air-Bow made by Indoor Archery Company. It is approximately 30+" long and it allows you to draw an arrow, then release.....indoors......without actually shooting the arrow. The device has the arrow "captured" in a tube and appears to slow it down and stop its forward motion by air pressure. I'll take some photographs of that later this week.  I have never seen one before.  Since the bow that it is mounted on has a cracked limb, I have only done a very careful partial draw.......but the device works like a charm!

Anyone else know anything about an Air-Bow?

 

[Bjorn]

Nice MSW        

[4runr]

Heck of a find Tony!!

Nice job on the cleanup.

[2treks]

HEY! thats my daughters bow, Jessica M. Deshler.
Shoot!,I didn't think you would buy it. That is a great bow and it is great that somebody got it that will care for it well. I am happy for you and Alex.Nice find.
Chuck

[yellow bow]

gtear find  

[seboomook]

Very nice! It's cleaning up well.
You've got some nice grain going there.

[LONGSTYKES]

Great find, I love those old Kodiaks they have such style. You and Alex made a great score. Good shooting Don

[d. ward]

holy smokes I wonder if that was one of Jim's bows bd

[vintage-bears]

You certainly did find a sweet 59'.
good for you.......

[copicasso]

What a beautiful bow.

[hayslope]

I was suprised to see this tread back up.

Thanks guys for all the compliments.

I'm really sitting on the fence on this bow.  I know I should leave it in as close to original condition as I can....besides replacing the strike plate and feather rest.

However, I am really chomping at the bit to string it up and fling some arrows.  I will probably avoid that for the time being given that I'm aware of the potential for those tips to give up the ghost.  Now, under a loope and scrutinized to the nth degree....they actually look great.  But....I know it has been many a moon since this bow was actually strung, drawn and shot.  So, I have to admit that I have given some thought to sending it to Rich or Don for a refinish. It's a coin toss right now.  I'd love to shoot and hunt with this bow, but I also know and appreciate its rarity.

If it was in your hands.........what would you do with it?  Put a strike plate and feather rest on it and put it on a rack as is..........or have it brought back to shooting life by having it refinished.......then hunt with it.

[Ronyag]

What good is a bow you can't shoot? Use it as it was intended by it's maker I say! The bow gods will smile upon you!

[Easy for me to say]