Older production Bear Grizzly ID Please help.

[Bill Turner]

Just received a Bear Grizzly from a friend. Never been shot but painted many years ago. Serial # is KR79126. Has a brass coin flush with finish. Looks like green glass with white tips.Bow is 58" long and 45#. Any help would be appreciated.Still busy removing paint. Thank you.  

[ron w]

The KR in front is 70-78, that's from a Chart in the book by Coppen on the History of Bear bows.

[Captain*Kirk]

The brass coin dates it 1963-1970, and the fact it is flush confirms it.

      Copper Coin – 1959
      Aluminum - 1960-1961
      Pewter – 1962
      Brass - 1963 – 1970
      Nickel-Silver - 1971-1972

All Bear bows manufactured after '72 had a plastic coin mounted proud of the surface.

Part of this URL:
   http://www.****.com/gds/How-To-Date-Your-Fred-Bear-Bow-/10000000001896218/g.html

Stupid filters. Where the asterisks are in the URL, insert the four letters of the largest auction site in the world.  

[Whip]

Starting in 1973 the Grizzlys had a 2 tone green/black riser.  I think that '73 was the year that Bear transitioned from the flat metal coin to the raised plastic.  If I remember correctly, the beginning of the year were flat, and later production was the raised coin, but not positive of that.  If your bow is the 2 tone riser, my guess is early 1973.

[59Alaskan]

I agree with Whip.  I have heard some folks assert Bear started with the Green/black riser in late 1972.  It definitely sounds like early 1973 or very late 1972.  

In the catalog they switched to green/black officially with the 1973 model.  1972 was a shedua riser with black limbs.

What is throwing me is the white tips.  The 1973's didnt have white tips I don't think.  Hard to tell without seeing the bow.  It may not have original tips

[Bill Turner]

Thanks for the info. I was thinking 1970. I have not cleaned paint off the tips. Will know more tomorrow. Get back with you when I have cleaned more of the bow.

[59Alaskan]

1970 would be 56" AMO and have a light maple accent strip in the riser

[Bud B.]

Originally posted by ceme24:
1970 would be 56" AMO and have a light maple accent strip in the riser

Yep. Would love to find an affordable lefty, but like another hole in the head, I need it not. Just wishful thinking. I really need another doz GT trads from Big Jim  

[Whip]

The KR serial # says '70's.  '70 - '72 risers were Shedua, although Colin may very well be correct that the change to green Futurewood started later in 1972.

[Bill Turner]

Thanks for the input. Finished taking off all the paint. The bow has what appears to be a Burbinga riser but in deference to "Whip" it could be "Shedua". The limbs are either a very dark green or black glass. I'm leaning toward black. Tips are white. Pretty sure, from input here, that the bow was built in 1970. All decals and writings on the bow survived the paint removal. Definitely a Grayling, Mich. bow and, by the way, it shoots like a dream.

[SELFBOW19953]

If it is 58", it's not a 70 Grizzly, they were 56".  In 71 they went back to 58" with a shedua riser, black glass and white tip overlays.

[Whip]

Phil is right on the length, so that should tell you what you have.  1970 also listed it as having Glade Green glass, and 1971 was black.  If you'd like, I'd be happy to send you a copy of the page from the catalogs.  Just send me a PM with your email address.