John - Are the S-435 identical to the 1962 Kodiak Strike Plate Color?
Trap - Yes, the 1959 Bear Catalog page 5 does show the Kodiak with the top of the feather rest slanted toward the SW. On the facing page (4) the Kodiak Special is shown with the top of the feather rest being completely horizontal.
It is logical to consider either design as legitimate. Your slanted rests obviously aid in keeping the arrow on the shelf, especially for those bowmen who do not cant the bow.
In 1959 we switched to feather rests on our old bows and of course feather rests were on the new Bear Bows we bought in 1959. During 1959 and 1960 we went through many rests. They never seemed to last very long as we shot every day. Being the kid in our group I saved all the discarded rests, (early signs of collecting tendencies), separated the best feathers from the base and re-glued the best feathers to make a near new rest.
Now 50 years later, I find myself doing exactly the same thing with the old original feather rests, but for much different reasons. I save original rests with some good and some damaged feathers, and when I get enough feathers of the same color, I glue them up and put them on a display bow in the collection.
Yes the 3/8" x 1 1/8" x 1/4" size was stated in the Bear Catalogs from 1959 on. I'm certain there was some variation in the actual length of the rest that were produced. And some slight variation in the feather size or shape as all feathers do not lay exactly the same.
Some of the completely original 1959 Kodiaks that I have acquired still have original feather rests on them that measure 1.04" to 1.10" for the length of the base. However some are larger. The slightly smaller size is the size that I remember from 50 years ago, but sure don't have any of those originals anymore to measure.
In 1959 and 1960, I don't remember seeing a multi-colored feather rest, like your 1520, unless of course it was one of those re-cycled creations.
John - Which of your two Display Card designs do you think is earlier? I was guessing the feather rests simply because that card does not have the S-400 Catalog number on it.
Topic: Bear Archery – Strike Plates & Rests – Original Dealer Display Cards (Read 992 times)
