1955 Bear Kodiak double shelf bow????

[Dave Bulla]

Found one for sale for $199.  It's in good condition with some possible VERY slight twist in the lower limb and some small scuffs and nicks you would expect.  No holes drilled and leather wrap and shelf strike plates in very good condition.

Is that a fair price?  The condition and the twist (if it's really there) don't concern me at all as I can take care of that stuff myself.  I have not seen the bow in person but have seen numerous good pictures.  I'm just not up on prices of old Bear bows so I thought I'd check in with you all.

[Grant Young]

Dave, Its tough to tell someone what an item might be worth to them but if the twist is very slight and you can work it out (it should be easy to correct) I would call it a safe investment at worst. Check for excessive stressing and if its only slight or cleaner and if you want/like the bow go for it. These bows shoot pretty well with the slim tapered limbs and deep semi-static recurves. I've shot several that I thought were quicker than the '59s and '60s I've shot. A buddy of mine owns a '56 that he's asking five hundred for and I've actually considered buying it because its so clean and shoots so hard. I'd certainly give $300.00 for it.                    Grant

[Shaun]

I picked one up on the auction site for $50 that was missing a tip overlay - which I guess damaged its collector value. I put new fiberglass overlays on it and it is one of my very favorite bows. Smooth and fast for 46#. I am using it for in-town deer hunting this week with old Bear arrows and green heads also off the auction.

I would guess the higher draw weights 50+ would have more collector value. You won't be sorry if it is a weight you like and you plan to use it.

[Bjorn]

Dave that price is up there....the '55 shootem' right/shootem' left is one of my fav vintage Bears. In this economy that is a high price, but then again if it is the bow you are looking for.............do it!
Try posting this in the collecting section and see what the nerds say about the bow.

[Jeremy]

That's pretty high, but not outrageously so if it's the right weight and length for you...

I have a 64" 46#er - a little lighter than I'd like, but it'll be hunting hard  

[Rigs]

Is this a longbow, or recurve...One of the guys at the fire department told me his girlfriends family just gave him a bear longbow with a shelf on both sides of the riser...

Happy hunting,
Jason

[Jeremy]

Jason, most of the earlier Bears had the double shelves.  The Kodiak was Bear's high end recurve.  The longbows - Cub, Polar, Alaskan (sort of) - typically go for much less.

Dave, I meant to add that if the limb is actually twisted it's going to be harder to fix than you think.  The narrow deep limbs are a bear to work with (pun intended)  

[Tom Phillips]

Dave,
 The Double Shelf BEAR static tipped bows are very cool in my book.As I type I am looking at the same bow in 60# which I hope to arrow a critter this fall with, along with old style Bear Leather cap quiver maybe even with 1956'  Bear razorhead (dubbed the BUBBLEHEAD).1955' was the LAST year Bear used water Transfer DECALS,1956' started SILKSCREEN logos.Check the fade outs on the bow and check the tip overlays,not uncommon for them to come off due to age and I believe they were some sort of Micarta (Paper ?) Good Luck with it.

[Tom Phillips]

Forgot to mention mine is a GRIZZLY 62",the KODIAK was shorter and a more expensive bow.Either one that is clean and in good shape is a good fine especially in hunting weight.

[Shawn Leonard]

Dave as said above if the bow is in good shape and ya would be happy with it, buy it. I know Jeremy knows his stuff but have to disagree about getting the twist out. I have had some old bears that were real bad and after working them a few times a day for a week or so, I got them out and they stayed straight. Shawn

[Jeremy]

Tom, the '55 Kodiak came in two lengths: 60" and 64", and was a working recurve.  Mine is a 64"

Shawn, with most of the Bears I completely agree with you, but the real early recurves are narrower and deeper than many of today's longbows.  Real hard to get twisted in the first place  

[Dave Bulla]

It's 60" and 50# pull.  Appears to be "semi" stitic recurve.  No visible brush nocks like a static but just a slight heaviness in the curves that make me suspect it's not quite a "working" recurve like later bows.

Of course, I have a gorrilla draw of 31-32 inches...  A 60 inch bow should be ok if it was a working curve but I'm a little cautious of this style.  Even so, as an investment for my kids down the road it would still be a nice bow.  Condition of tips, wrap shelf plates etc is excellent for a bow this age.  Finish looks about as you would expect.

And lastly, I'm currently in the market for a guitar.... can't have both.

If anyone is interested in the bow, pm me and if I decide against it I'll forward the link to ya on the last day.  Sooner if I get the guitar.  There's 3 days left.  

p.s.  It's NOT on the "E-place"

[Jeremy]

Dave, with that long of a draw I'd shy away from the old Bears that are under 62".  I got that advice from a few collectors when I started collecting (I have a 30" draw).
The '55 Kodiak is a full working recurve, it just has very narrow limbs that are deeper than we're used to seeing today.  The Grizzly was a static 'curve until '59, but lost the brush nocks early.  I love 'em all