Matching serial numbers

[johnnyrazorhead]

Hello feloow Tradgangers.Haven't posted anything here in awhile,things have been a bit slow.But recently I was fortunate to acquire a set of very early Bear limbs with the serial number of 1-1008.Missed out on these along with an early B-riser on the big auction site,but the winner was kind enough to let me get just the limbs which is all I initially wanted anyhow.Reason being,I have an early Bear B-riser with the same serial number of B-1008.All the years I've been collecting and have seen very few risers with limbs matching the serial number.Evidently Bear didn't make the risers with limbs that matched them when they initially sold them.So many combinations of limbs and risers I imagine it wasn't worth the effort.But I've always found it interesting to find a matched set.I've personally never had a matched set until now.The closest I had prior to this is my early signed A-riser,serial number A-1202 and near matching limbs,serial number 1-1201.
 Anyhow,very happy to put this matched set together and thought I would share them here for those interested.Seems the Fred Bear take-down bows are popular with so many of us  Bear Archery fans,and having such an early pre-production riser with matching limbs is really one of the highlights of my collection.I also have another pre-production riser,serial number B-1007.Anyone know where I might find a matching set of limbs for that one too?
 And finally,does anyone else have any matching risers and limbs that we don't know about.Would love to see some pictures.Maybe this could open up some trading amongst the collectors here who might be able to do some horse trading and more matched sets could be put together.We have the thread of the known serial numbers of the risers,what about some limbs? Would be interesting.
 Also included some pics of some other early,odd serial numbered limbs for you to enjoy.Number 2 limbs,serial #00025.Anyhow,enjoy the pics.

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

[cmh]

Congrats !!!! That's a beautiful bow. I wish Bear would revisit that wood combo again  

[TonyW]

John - Sharp eyes!

I'm lucky to find matching socks.

[shick]

John, that is amazing.  Good for you.  I guess we'll have to start looking!!
Shick

[zepnut]

Nice John. Will have to take a closer look at my stuff.

[johnnyrazorhead]

Tony-That is too funny. I usually can't find a matching sock either.

 Shick- Ya,I thought it was a cool find too. That's what got me wondering if there are any other matches sets out there.

 Norm-If anybody would have matching limbs it would be you! You never know. Hopefully some pics start showing up.

[Abear]

I do have an A and a B with same serial# and an A and a C with the same and i know where the limbs are and will soon have them, just wish i could get the B handle to go with it. Or the C with the first set

[johnnyrazorhead]

Chris(ABear) Sounds like even a better package than mine with matching riser and limbs.Having all three size risers with the same serial number is even better.Awesome job,good luck finding the missing links.

[OldSkoolArcher]

Nice Score John!

[johnnyrazorhead]

Thanks Nick.It is an awesome set for sure.I just noticed your email address with XJ in the name.Are you an old Jeep Cherokee fan? I've got a 60th Anniversary Edition Cherokee and I just love that thing.

[Wade Phillips]

Originally posted by johnnyrazorhead:
 

…and having such an early pre-production riser with matching limbs is really one of the highlights of my collection. I also have another pre-production riser,…

 

John -

Nice looking riser with matching numbered limbs.

For the sake of clarity, you might want to briefly explain your definition of the differences between a "production" riser and the risers that you describe in your first post on this thread as...

"early pre-production"
"pre-production"

In my very limited experience, the term "pre-production" describes the risers that were made before production of the serial numbered Futurewood risers which would include those riser shown in the patents...

3,415,240 - filed Dec 14, 1965 (shotgun latch)
3,502,063 - filed May 20, 1968 (various clamp latches & release clips)

The 1000 and 2000 serial number Futurewood risers actually have serial numbers, isn't that a clear indication that they are truly production bows?

I mention this because the terms "early" and "pre-production" can be more than confusing for newer collectors because these terms do not describe any specific characteristic.

An example of a specific characteristic would be "dimpled" limbs, if used to describe your 1008 limbs.

[johnnyrazorhead]

Wade,
 It is confusing I will admit. I call them "pre-production" only because even though these risers have serial numbers,I do not believe that they were ever offered for sale to the public,unlike the "production" risers that were. And being that the two styles look quite different from each other,at least the B-risers do,I wasn't quite sure what the correct term would be to describe them. I did show the difference in style between the two on another trad sight in response to a question as to what the difference was between the two. Perhaps I will post the same pictures here for anyone not familiar with the differences. I mostly started this thread to show the early "dimpled" limbs with the same serial number as the early "brass bear" riser as I thought this was a pretty unique combination. There,another name to make it even more confusing.Got me to wondering how many other matched sets are in collections that we haven't seen.

[Wade Phillips]

John,

Yes, "brass bear" is a fourth term used in your posts to go along with "early", "pre-production, and "early pre-production".

Actually "brass bear" should probably be the plural, "brass bears". This would more accurately describe the two bear logos.

Would be nice, (actually sensible), to come up with one accurate description and be consistent, (that of course is just the annal-retentive collector side of a life long of collecting).  

Perhaps an accurate description of what makes the two, (as you say), "...styles look quite different from each other..", would be the least confusing for the average person to understand.

In any case, it looks like you are presently 1/3 of the way to the ultimate matching numbered set, that is all six possible riser & limb components with matching numbers...

A-1008
B-1008
C-1008
1-1008
2-1008
3-1008

Then the crowning jewel could be added, the Signature Bow, B 008

Of course, the Signature Bows have matching number limbs (as least the ones I've owned & seen), so you would have the 7th & 8th components of a matching number set.

Over the years, I have seen matching serial number Bear Take-Downs and Bear Signature Bows.

Guess even that might not be the ultimate matching set, as a collector might find all of the matching serial number components signed by Fred Bear himself.

Who knows, you may even even find a set signed by Fred to you, such as...

     


Yes, all of us collectors are crazy...