Author Topic: Bear Kodiak Specials 1955-1967 Identification Guide (Read 28171 times)

Wade Phillips · « **Reply #140 on:** August 12, 2009, 01:58:00 PM »

Bill -

The tip to tip measurement is probably the fastest way to determine what you might have.

Kodiak Special tip to tip lengths measured in a straight line...

1956, 60" just under 56"
1957, 62" just under 60"

This will help us determine if the bow may have been mis-marked.

A full length photograph will tell us what form the bow was built on. My guess is it was made on a form more like the 1957 Kodiak Special.

Wade Phillips · « **Reply #141 on:** August 12, 2009, 02:15:00 PM »

Bill -

The bottom bow is a 60" 1956 Kodiak Special, with continuously arcing limbs.

Top three are all 62" 1957 Kodiak Specials, three sight window variations. Top one is standard production model. All three have straight limbs with recurved ends.

TRAP · « **Reply #142 on:** August 12, 2009, 06:15:00 PM »

Wade, please add my 70 incher

Serial Number 5VX26 70" 50# No tip overlays

Trap

TimberlineX · « **Reply #143 on:** August 12, 2009, 06:30:00 PM »

Wade,

Your latest photo is a big help in clarifying the differences between the 1956 and 1957 standard models. The limb patterns and riser lengths are dramatically different between the two years.

I’ll measure and photograph my sample this evening and post the results in the morning. My recollection and feeling is that my bow is more like the 1957 models you’ve shown. We’ll see.

Bill

Wade Phillips · « **Reply #144 on:** August 12, 2009, 06:47:00 PM »

Bill,

Yes, there is a dramatic difference between the 60" 1956 and the 62" 1957 shown above. However, the 1956 in 64" and 68" are much closer to the limb design of the 1957.

In reality the 60" 1956 Kodiak Special became the 60" 1957 Kodiak by changing the the back to brown glass, the riser to solid maple and the tip overlays.

Wade Phillips · « **Reply #145 on:** August 12, 2009, 06:52:00 PM »

Mike - Added your 64" 1959 KS to the list.

Trap - Added your 70" 1959 KS to the list. How about you 66", did I miss getting it on the list? Still looking for a 68"? See that last one at auction sneaked by you, (or should that be "streaked" by you)?

TRAP · « **Reply #146 on:** August 12, 2009, 10:23:00 PM »

More like "streaked". I'm patient.

Yeah I guess my 66" is missing from the list.

Serial# XD119 66" 48# no overlays

Thanks for compiling the list, Cool stuff.

Trap

TimberlineX · « **Reply #147 on:** August 13, 2009, 11:12:00 AM »

Wade,

Last evening I measured six different Bear bows from tip to tip, including the Kodiak Special in question, and the results were as follows.

1954 Kodiak II (walnut) marked 60” and 49# ----- 55 ½ inches
1955 Kodiak marked 60” and 47# ----- 55 ½ inches
1956 Kodiak marked 60” and 48# ----- 56 ¼ inches
1957 Kodiak marked 60” and 48# ----- 56 3/8 inches
1958 Kodiak marked 60” and 49# ----- 56 3/8 inches

Kodiak Special marked 60” and 25# @ 25 inches ----- 57 1/8 inches

All measurements were made in this manner:

I also photographed five of the MAPLE-risered bows full length to show their limb configuration. The bows are (from top to bottom, and beginning below the 1964 Kodiak in the top photo) a 1955 Kodiak, a 1956 Kodiak, a 1957 Kodiak, a 1958 Kodiak and the bottom bow is the Kodiak Special we’ve been discussing.

Here then is a close-up of the top limbs:

And also a close-up of the riser sections.

Given all that, and the information in my previous posts (brown glass on both the back and the belly of the bow, etc.), what do you now make of this particular Kodiak Special?

Bill Krenz
Colorado

d. ward · « **Reply #148 on:** August 13, 2009, 11:34:00 AM »

No AMO standard until about june of 1968.bd

TimZeigler · « **Reply #149 on:** August 13, 2009, 12:57:00 PM »

Well I had a bitter sweet vacation. Made it home for my grandfathers estate sale. Almost 80 years of trapping, hunting, and family memories sold at rock bottom prices. Fortunately I came away with one of his bows that the family decided to auction.

56 Kodiak Special 64" RH, grey back glass, and brown on the belly. Leather handle, XJ812.

Put it up beside my 68" 56 KS and noticed two distinct differences, one being that the 64 didn't have the accessory insert on the offside handle area. The second is that my 68" has the Kodiak Special water transfer on the belly of the top limb and not the back of the limb like the 64". The 68" bow has a National Field Archers Association water transfer where the Kodiak Special would be. Did Bear produce bows specifically for NFAA that they would have modified the markings locations to accomodate the organizational markings, or is this common with the 68" 56's?

(L)68" (R)64"

Wades response to the mismarking of the limbs.

Wade Phillips · « **Reply #150 on:** August 13, 2009, 01:31:00 PM »

Bill -

I do NOT believe the bow is mis-marked.

I would say that the 60" Kodiak Special is just that, a 60" Kodiak Special that was made with the straight limbs. Perhaps late in 1956 when they were working on the forms for the 1957 Kodiak Special, they made this bow.

In 1956 Specials were advertised in the catalog in 60", 64" and 68" lengths.

In 1957 Specials were advertised in the catalog in 62", 64", 66" and 70" lengths, but not 60" or 68".

Although the 68" was not advertised, it was made. I got one from Bjorn a few years ago and since have seen two others.

My guess is that Bear also made at least a limited number of 60" Specials like yours, as they made 60" Specials the two previous years in 1955 and 1956.

Your 60" Special has the multi-layered "I" beam that was used in 1955 and 1956 Kodiak Specials. It has from 5 to 8 thin laminations in the center of the "I" beam. I have a few very early 1957 Kodiak Specials that also have that 1955-56 multi-layered "I" Beam.

Logically, your 60" Kodiak Special fits right into the scheme of things with its multi-layered "I" beam, 60" length, straight limb design of the 1957 form, and helps tell the story of the evolution of the Kodiak Specials.

I would call your bow, a 60" 1957 Kodiak Special with a multi-layered "I" beam and brown glass.

Do you want me to just send you a blank check for the bow

Or do you have a trade in mind?

kurtbel5 · « **Reply #151 on:** August 13, 2009, 01:33:00 PM »

Glad you got a "Big Mojo" bow Tim

For me my loss was great grandpa's matched set of BP dueling pistols, sold by the family In-laws or should I say out-laws?

Wade Phillips · « **Reply #152 on:** August 16, 2009, 08:17:00 PM »

Last night I saw one of my old 1959 Kodiak Specials, a real looker. No camera with me...

Wrote down the number, boy it is really an odd number ...

1959 64", 41# - 30HX1R, no underlays,

Just added her to the list and notice it has nearly the same sequence as Chuck’s 62”…

TimberlineX · « **Reply #153 on:** August 27, 2009, 11:52:00 AM »

Here's yet another classic Kodiak Special to add to the list. This one is a 1962 Kodiak Special with a striking Brazilian Rosewood riser.

The serial number is 26AJ201 and the specifications are 66" and 48#. This is a bow I just recently picked up in trade and its already proven to be a fine shooter. Those long 66-inch limbs draw smooth as silk and shoot surprisingly fast.

The soft green Bearglass facing and backing compliment the tropical hardwood riser.

Gosh it’s fun to find and shoot these early target bows!

Bill Krenz
Colorado

Wade Phillips · « **Reply #154 on:** August 30, 2009, 06:32:00 PM »

Bill - Nice 1962 Kodiak Special. Haven't recorded any serial numbers except for the 1959 Kodiak Specials...

Just added these three to the 1959 List

1959 64", 40# - WC839 - no underlays - Auction 8-30-09
1959 66", 40# - XB626 - Auction 8-30-2009
1959 66", 40# - XA591 - no underlays - Auction 8-22-09

alaskabowhunter · « **Reply #155 on:** August 30, 2009, 06:42:00 PM »

Wade- correct the listing for my 62 incher, VA228 does have underlays, sorry for the error. The 60" brown glass '57 Kodiak Special is a rare bow, only one I have ever seen or heard of. That may be a one of a kind example there, very collectible.

Wade Phillips · « **Reply #156 on:** August 30, 2009, 10:29:00 PM »

Chuck - Made the correction for your 62", VA228 with underlays.

That 60" straight limb Special is the only one I have heard of, but been at it long enough not be be surprised to see more turn up. We have seen that happen time and again in the past. First one turns up, then a second, then more.

Continuing to discover and learn new things keeps collecting interesting.

The unknown and unlocking the mysteries are part of what makes collecting these old bows so much fun.

Wade Phillips · « **Reply #157 on:** September 01, 2009, 05:03:00 PM »

Bill,

The 60" 1956/57 Kodiak Special arrived an hour ago. What a little sweetheart. Cleaned her up a bit, but need some renovation. Made on a much smaller riser than the 62" 1957 Kodiak Specials.

Shown below with three other Kodiak Specials...

Top to Bottom
62" 1956/1957 Transition Bow
62" 1956/1957 Transition Bow
60" 1956/1957 Different Frame
60" 1956 Standard Bow

450 marlin · « **Reply #158 on:** September 19, 2009, 01:25:00 PM »

1961 KS 66" 40# STAR stamped with no serial number

TRAP · « **Reply #159 on:** October 01, 2009, 10:32:00 PM »

Here's one to add Wade

59 KS YC039 68" 39# No underlays

Trap

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Author Topic: Bear Kodiak Specials 1955-1967 Identification Guide (Read 28171 times)

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