I posted this over on ******* too,just wondered if anyone else has seen a bow like this.I picked it up awhile ago in a trade and after taking a closer look at it today I noticed a few things different about it than a "normal" aluminum laminated Grizzly from this era.It is known that Nels Grumley left Bear Archery in 1948 and Bear started mass production on their bows in 1949 starting with the Grizzly model.The Polar and Kodiak soon followed in 1950.Somewhere in that time period you had the "transition" bows made after Nels left and before mass production began.Bows like the Rover,Ranger,and also the Hunter,Bush,and Deerslayer models.This bow seems to fall into that grey area whereas it is a mass produced bow but has many features of the transition era bows.I personally have never seen another one quite like it and wondered if anyone else has.
First thing I noticed is the name Grizzly is written in black ink under the grip as opposed to the usual yellow decal found on the upper limb.Second,there are no limb tip overlays as I've seen on most all other aluminum lam Grizzly's.Third,the only decal on this bow is just above the grip.I had seen this decal on another bow at the Bear Museum in Gainesville many years ago but haven't seen it on too many other bows although I'm sure there are more around.The "patent applied for" decal is separate and located on the back(glass) side of most Grizzly's from this era,just below the grip.I have included some other bows in the photos from my collection for comparison,one is a transition era "Hunter" model and the other showing the pat.applied for decal,limb tip overlays and the small running bear decal is a 1949-50 Grizzly.Just wondered what others thoughts were on this bow and if anyone else has seen one similar to it.
Limb tip:
Usual limb tip(1949-50):
Belly wood(featured Grizzly on top):
Patent applied for decals:
Grizzly name in black ink:
Topic: Grizzly-Ever seen one of these? (Read 954 times)
