Bear Takedown Questions

[Owlgrowler]

OK, I've done the search thing here and elsewhere,(my feeble mind is boggled), what years did Bear make a wood "A" riser?

I have the itch bad to get a Bear TD to hunt with, which will be mostly out of treestands for whitetails. My draw is 29"+, so I'm thinking an A riser with #3 limbs in the 50lb range would be about perfect. I could just buy a new one and be done with it, but that would be too easy, ha. So my second question is; how do the magnesium risers "feel", perform, compared to say the Type1 A's, or the newer A's for that matter. If you were blindfolded, could you tell you were shooting a wood or mag handle? Thanks

[stagetek]

They made A risers in the 70's. And, are currently making them now. Both the Bubinga and the black handle are available in A or B. If you want one from the early 70's, be prepared to pay upwards of $2000.00, if you can find one.

[Danny Rowan]

Yep, $2000+ for a type 1 A ie, early 70's. Even the type 1 B risers are bringing high dollar right now. Thhe A riser bow with #2 limbs would make a 58" bow and is smooth as silk out to 29+" I draw 29" and my type 1 A shot like a dream with the #2 limbs. Cannot comment on the new ones as I have never shot one but you can get a new bubinga for around $800.

[Owlgrowler]

So they made A risers into the early 70's... did they make Type II A's? Then, after the move to Gainesville, they stopped making A's and only made B's? What year did they start making them again? Did they ever make mag risers in Gville? $2000 is a lot to pay for an old used bow that I might drop out of a tree!! That's why I'm leaning towards a mag handle, with maybe a pair of high performance limbs. Is there a book I could buy on the history of Bear bows?

[450 marlin]

I have hunted with the A-Mag riser and #3 limbs, drawing 29" also...they are a great bow,no stacking and feel great in the hand..you also have your choice of three different grips, your sure to find one you like...and you can pick a nice one up for under $500

[stagetek]

They did not make A risers in the 80's. Unless I'm badly mistaken, there is no such thing as an A green stripe riser. I'm fairly certain the brown riser T/D's in the ninties were all B. When the Supreme T/D was introduced I believe they made some A risers, but not sure how many. Now, both the Bubinga and the Black Dymondwood are made in A and B.

[Shane Reed]

I have bee. told 1 a green stripe was mAde by it's owner but yet to see it.

[Missaukee]

Here is a list of A handles available to the average guy, minus EXP's and Proto's:

1969-1970 Type I A handle Solid maple Futurewood Grayling serial # approx. A 1000 thru A 1999 $1500+ handle only

1971-1972+ Type II A handle Solid maple Futurewood Grayling serial # aprox. A 2000 thru A 2400 $900+ handle only

2002-about 2006 A handle in Black/brown actionwood
$300+ handle only

2011-2012 A handle Black diamondwood red stripe
300+ handle only

2013 A handle Black solid maple Futurewood red stripe New price handle $499

2012-2013 A handle bubinga red stripe
300+ handle only

Other than special editions, as far as I know, those are the only A handle variations for regular production. The Supreme T/D was made til 2010, but I do not know its first year, somewhere between 2006 and 2008 (catalogs anyone?) and this was B handle only.

No books on Bear Archery bows, etc. exist.

[Missaukee]

Magnesium handle A's were made from 1971 until 1977, or maybe 1978 also? Can't remember.

Magnesium handles are great, just factor in that they are lighter in weight, and though they shoot off the shelf fine, if you like a shelf low above knuckle, you will want to go with a wood handle, either type II Grayling, or modern ere (2002-present). NOt that Mag handles shelfs are necessarily high, just something to consider. Mag handles also have interchangeable grips, a Fred Bear patented concept, for low, medium, and high wrist grips.

When shopping for a Bear Takedown, always consider limbs and handle a separate purchase. If you see a handle with limbs and wrong draw wt, do not pass JUST because wrong limbs. It will be hard to find the combo of limbs and handle in exact stats you want. Good luck.

Best takedown system in the world, ever.

[Owlgrowler]

You guys are the best. One more quick question. How are the grips for the mag handles labeled? (something like 1R,2R...? I assume the 1 is low and 3 is high?)

Hard to believe Bear didn't make the A handle for 30years, what's up with that? I've read were the B was Fred's favorite, guess that's why!!ha

I do love late 60's era bears, but just can't see laying out that much cash...

Thanks Brothers

[alaskabowhunter]

In my humble and unbiased opinion, the 1971 Type II A handle is a much rarer piece than the 1970 Type I's... they weren't in production as long as the Type I's, there were problems with the handles cracking because of the routered out area of the site window where the adjustable plate was recessed... you don't see them very often anywhere... hence due to scarcity and availability, I place a higher dollar value on any remaining Type II's that are left out there.
 Are far as current prices are concerned, let's be real. Not much is actually selling on e8ay... sky high reserves are not being met, some listings get no bids at all, some listings never seem to go away... I haven't seen a lot of money actually exchange hands. We all want to think there is gold in these old pieces of wood but the market for archery collectibles, like the economy, is in the tank. There needs to be some new bow collectors to come on the scene to increase demand. Most of the Bear collectors that I know of have built or assembled fairly complete large collections and are not actively buying bows regularly like 5-10 years ago... eventually we all run out of space or money for more bows.. I'll never be able to shoot all the bows in my collection in my life time... that makes me sad sometimes..

[papabear08]

Amen, and well said. I also collect duck decoys and it's the same, stagnant or falling prices and not enough young people coming into the field. I guess you have to remember us older farts are trying to relive some of our youth and past. Most of these kids don't appreciate the history of it all.

[Owlgrowler]

Yeah. My mother used to torture me when I was a kid by making me go to stupid movies like Mary Poppins, musicals like Hello Dolly, The Sound of Music...it's almost a wonder I didn't turn out gay. She wanted to know what I wanted for my 14th birthday in 1970. Got her back, Fred Bears movie was playing at the local theater!!! YEEHAA

40 years from now Michael Waddells crap will be fetching a big price  :(

[Kelly]

There are many of us that do not like the very low cut shelf so we are forced to use the Mag Handles and with pleasure I might add. Just as effiecient, more rigid eliminating wood handle flex and less prone to breakage.

I would never characterize the shelf of a Mag handle shelf being high at all-just higher than the early and late wood handels. The Mag handles shelves are in fact lower than the comparable same year wood Bear one piece bows because there is more strength in magnesium than in wood.

Finally the best thing IMO about Mag handles is the price.

[Widow's Son]

I've had my eye on a couple of risers on the auction site. Niether sold the first time around and are still listed. I just can't make myself pull the trigger on either one at this time.

[Wolfkiss]

''2013 A handle Black solid maple Futurewood red stripe New price handle $499''

Missaukee,
          Is this out yet, pics anywhere?

Thanks.

[Owlgrowler]

Wolfkiss, I think 3Rivers has them.

[Wolfkiss]

Thanks Owlgrowler,
                   My mistake, thought there was a new one out, doh.

[jim g]

Il take the first $1500 for my type II A riser. LOL,