Bear supermag 48 history / changes to design ?

[dan d]

I have a late 60's supermag that I enjoy shooting, I picked up an early 70's supermag that appears to be the same (I have not shot that one as it's a wall hanger in excellent shape) now I bought a 2013 supermag 48 on the auction site (I dont have it yet) Are these 3 bows basically the same ? (as far as same constuction / jig / fixture used, handgrip & just overall design, will they all fit my hand the same)  

Will the 2013 have the same shooting characteristics as my 68 one ?  I thought I read somewhere the new ones are made using the same grayling jigs, but I don't remember where I read that.

All info from you Bear historians / experts is appreciated !
Dan

[Hobow]

Dan,

I was impressed by the new Super Mag 48 that I shot, it seemed smoother and faster than my '68 model although I didn't shoot them back to back.

I prefer the mass of the '68 although it didn't seem to affect the shooting, just personal preference.  

The two grips were different with the new one thinner but they can vary.

Give us a comparison when you can.


Thanks,
Brad

[Lucas K]

I am pretty sure that the supermag was a Bill Stewart project. There was a thread about Stewart prototypes a couple of years ago, there were some interesting  supermags there.

[sticknstring+]

The Super Mag was a Bill Stewart creation. It was advertised as the shortest hunting bow ever produced. If you search for the Bear-ied treasure thread that I posted a few years ago you can see some pics of the first Super Mag ever produced #5N1 and it's even smaller 46" prototype.

[Hit-or-Miss]

The 48" Super Magnum design is virtually unchanged from the original prototypes Bill Stewart (Bear Archery Bowyer), made in 1965. First offered for commercial sale to the public in early 1966, in Black Formica (advertised as a "High Compression material"), the riser has changed over the years, (mostly "Futurewood", resin impregnated hard rock maple with various colored stripes, etc.), but the dimensions, grip angle, etc. are pretty much the same. I have a new 2013 SM in reddish African Padauk. A classic hunting bow for brush & tree stands. It is a super slick and compact design, very light and responsive in the hand. I'm drawing over 29" and I have no issues with stacking or finger pinch, but I'm using a glove, not a tab. I sure wish Bear Archery would make another run off them in Black Formica!!!! ***HINT, HINT***!!!!!

[dan d]

I found my new red African Padauk supermag to be quite different from my 1969 / early 1970's bows. Mostly in the grip area, it is a lot larger !  The smallest part of the grip is a 1/2 inch larger then my 1970 supermag & that is just from front to back, I didn't measure width but you can noticeably see it is wider / thicker. I have small hands & it is really noticeable to me. I just gave the bow to my nephew, hopefully he will get the trad archery bug.

I just posted today a want to buy add on the classifieds for a grayling made supermag 48.

Dan

[dan d]

Before I gave that new supermag to my nephew I took a measurement using a string around the smallest part of the hand grip, I was surprised how much bigger the new supermag is.

The string measured 5.25 in length strung around the small of the grip on the 2013 supermag.

On my 1969 & 1970's supermags the string measures 4.625 around the exact same spot on the grip.

I also did not like the brass quiver inserts as I do not use a bow quiver & thought they looked too modern for my tastes.

But I know a lot of people like the new supermags so this is just my findings / opinions.

Dan