Bear and Pearson Bow Experts?

[Kingstaken]

Who here are the experts on older Fred Bear and Ben Pearson Bows?
I have a few questions.
Please email or PM me.
Thanks

[Blackhawk]

I think your best bet is to pose your questions right here.      There are many "experts" lurking around who would be most happy to provide an answer.  

Who knows?  You may find one "expert" not as informed as another.    

...and besides, we novices would like to learn too.  

[TRAP]

These guys are humble and may be reluctant to contact you as self proclaimed experts. They usually let some of us understudies stumble around a little and then come in with the facts.

Daryl

[Kingstaken]

Thanks fellas.
I aquired a couple nice old bows. Not really intrested in selling as yet.
I'll make two posts here one for each and would greatly appreciate any input from the pros and their honored understudies.

I'll start with e Pearson Cougar 962-64".
62_1780
40# @ 28"
I'm lQQking to confirm the year built and what it's worth. This bow was purchased from the son whose Father passed on. His Father bought two of everything in life. As with this bow. This bow I'm told and from the lQQks was the one never shot and came with it's original suede case when purchased. I added the string.

 

 

 

Thanks,
Jim

[Kingstaken]

Tomorrow I'll post pictures of what I'm told is a The second is a 1958 (from what I'm told)  Bear Kodiak Special Recurve which is:
        A
Model XZ991
70"
46# @ 30"
Limbs are in brand new condition. There are two holes which were filled in in the riser. The original leather handles a good.

 
 
 
 
 
Thanks Jim

[alaskabowhunter]

your Kodiak Special is a 1957, same as the Little Delta bow...  I have a 35# that I love to shoot. Good luck!

[Kingstaken]

Chuck thanks.
Knowing that you know your bear bows how would I know it's a 57 and not a 58. I was told 58 had the white colored limbs and 57 dark?
And I've seen your post with the sowbelly for a 58. This is a sowbelly from what I see.

[alaskabowhunter]

here is 1958 Kodiak Specials

 

[Kingstaken]

Not to prolong this but I was told the 57 had a straight belly face. Except for the riser color being lighter I color I see no difference. Is it possible this being a 30" draw which I assume was not standard, it was made to someone specs? Thanks. Jim

[d. ward]

X = 1957   Y = 1958..I wonder what Z was ????? I love the Special,those are some really great shooting bows.I also believe your Pearson is around 1957-1958.But I did not answer yesterday when you posted,because I always thought an expert was a guy looking for a JOB.....bowdoc

[Kingstaken]

RBD,,, LOL
I was told that this is a 1958 and that Bear did not start making bows of a certain year with a new color as in this case until the woods from the prior were used up. So the color of the riser is a 1957 in a 1958 bow.

[d. ward]

I do'nt think Bear Archery ever ran out of any types of wood or ever stopped using them until they could not purchase it anymore.Our the price simply got to high.I have always refenced those two model with the serial number or well the letter.X-57 Y-58 Z-was some 59 and 60....bowdoc

[hotfootTG]

Geeez Chuck, now we know where all these old Bear bows go .... Alaska .... no wonder we can't find any of good ones any more - you got 'em all. LOL. Beautiful collection my friend.

Al (Als Decals)

[Kingstaken]

Al, he does have the most impressive collection of bow's I've ever seen.

I didn't mean run out, but I'm told and most likely wrong is they did not run a new design which in this case would have been the rose color riser until they finish the stock they had which is the lighter color riser I have.
The guy I got the bow from just emailed me and told me he had it appraised by soemone who is a bear expect and believes the order was taken in 57 but the build was in 58 because the stickers on the limbs are 58. Due to the draw length of 30" was diffinetly a custom build.
I guess if I can find out who the bow was built for it would solve this mystery.     :D  
Thanks all.
Jim

[d. ward]

...1958 Bear Archery producted and delivered around 12,500 total bows...Lots of Kodiaks and Kodiak Specials.Lots of different lookers too...Both years 1957 and 1958 KS also can be found with a butcher block or laminated ibaen,rangeing from brazilian rosewood to stained maple and even walnut...as for the silk screens?? they came in light yellow,dark yellow,red to almost a very bright red or crimson in color...bowdoc

[alaskabowhunter]

Hey Al.... I don't have them all, that's for sure. Your bowling buddy has me beat hands down. I would like to see his collection someday. There are also large Kodiak collections in NE, MI,WV,  PA (used to be in NJ) and New England that I know of... but thanks for the compliments anyways.

[Kingstaken]

So how I'm coming away from this one is:
This is a 70" 46# @ 30" 1958 KS cusotm made for someone with a 30" draw length in great condition.  
Al is missing a 70" but is lQQking for one that matches his rosewood collection.

So now I'll have to be added as a new Bear & Pearson Bow collector and drive the prices up.    

Gentlemen again thanks for all your patience and replies.
Jim

[wadde]

In 1960 the Cougar #962 had cream color glass and was 64". There was also a #964 in 1960 that was the same bow with two shelfs. In 1958 only the two shelf#964 was offered. In 1959 the Cougar #962 had tan glass and again there was the #964 with two shelfs. In 1961 and 62 the Cougar was 54 inches long, had white glass under 40 pounds and red glass over 40 pounds. Also most had leather grips in 58, 59, or 60. Yours is a 59 or 60 depending on glass color. They sold new for 29.50.

[Kingstaken]

Wadde,
The difference is whether cream or tan? Could they have not made to colors light tan and red?  LOL
Gezz a bow 50 yrs old is faded, I will lQQk very closely tonite and see if I can tell the difference.
Thanks.

[Kingstaken]

Just realized I did a typo for the serial # it should have been XY, not XZ.  oops..