Bear Kodiak Specials 1955-1967 Identification Guide

[TimZeigler]

Thanks Doc, looking forward to seeing the pics.  

This is turning out to be a great thread.  Something like this might be done on a regular basis, where all the info can be combined for specific models.  I've thought about going back thru all the post in this forum and documenting all the information on discussed models.

[d. ward]

ok here's a 1956 Kodiak Special..R XM482 60" 36#@26"...bd  

[d. ward]

I was thinking we should add this stuff about the indentations to restoration 101.It will take up a lot of space on our KS thread.Let me know what you guy's think.bd    

[d. ward]

I've actually seen those same spots of broken fibers on almost every year and every make bow.Here's a 1968 Super Kodiak with them on both ends...bd

[d. ward]

another Special for our hunt..1962 lefthand..bd

[d. ward]

and another 1956 Kodiak Special..bd

[Wade Phillips]

Doc - Yes, you should add the broken fibers photographs and explanations to your restoration 101 thread. You want to be sure to include everything on BowDoc's Restoration 101. The local Seattle community College will probably title your restoration course, BDR 101.

Guess just an explanation and photograph would be enough for this thread,

Just looked at a few bows with these broken fiber bows under some magnification...

Doc - As you say, they appear to be broken fibers near the surface. Apparently there is a mini explosion when the fiber and resin break apart that separates/expands the materials and creates a partial void, which appears to the untrained eye as a bubble on the surface.

Rather than use past phrases like “those annoying little eye sores” or “bubbled finish”, we should standardize on a descriptive name for this broken fiber phenomenon.

[d. ward]

some guy's call them pull offs.Which most are caused by glue sticking to the limbs and when seperated from the form it pulls some fibers out of the glass or can also be cause by the removel of the tape used to protect the glass from the glue.bd

[Jeremy]

bd, have you even seen those in an area other than the deep curve?

I was thinking they were caused by the glass fibers popping up or kinking while under compression on the form.  On the opposite side of the curve I've seen what looks like the glass fibers snapping and pulling away from each other while under tension on the form.  Opposite sides of the limb, opposite effects, but similar cause.

Either way, they were there when the bow was made and don't cause any harm that I can see other than cosmetic.

[d. ward]

here's another Special for our list I say a 1958..bd  

[d. ward]

and another gbay 1959 KS WC554L 64" 50# 550.00 BIN...seems a bit high priced for me.Thats not that rare of a special..bd

[Wade Phillips]

Doc - Recorded the auction bow...

We now have 36 recorded 1959 Kodiak Specials... Things seem to have slowed down a lot so we might as well take a look at the data we have compiled even though some of our sample length is small.

First I'd like to ask Trap if he feels that his original question was answered with the data... It was something to the effect, are the 59 specials with underlays the earlier bows or the later bows....

1959 62", 42# - VA040 - underlays - Bjorn
1959 62", 59# - VA105 - underlays - BowDoc
1959 62", 46# - VA 228 - no underlays - Chuck
1959 62", 50# - VA467L - no underlays - Wade
1959 62", 50# - VA558L - no underlays - Trap
1959 62", 55# - VA612L - no underlays - Wade
1959 62", 40-45# - 17HX12 - no underlays - Chuck

1959 64", 52# - WA139 - underlays - Wade
1959 64", 52# - WA749 - underlays - BowDoc
1959 64", 48# - WB504 - underlays - Trap
1959 64", 28# - WB934 – no underlays - Bill (original)
1959 64", 45# - WC020 - underlays - Chuck
1959 64", 53# - WC061 - no underlays - Jeremy
1959 64", 47# - WC365L - no underlays – Wade
1959 64", 50# - WC554L - auction
1959 64", 50# - ?????? - no underlays – Wade
1959 64", 52# - WL197 - no underlays - Bjorn

1959 66", 28# - XA844 - underlays - Wade
1959 66", 43# - XA969 - underlay - Bjorn
1959 66", 37# - XB05 - underlays - Dennis
1959 66", 42# - XC 412 - no underlays - Chris
1959 66", 44# - XD049 - no underlays - Scott
1959 66", 49# - XD178 - no underlays - Bjorn
1959 66", 40# - XE403L - no underlays - seboomook
1959 66", 47# - XE685 – no underlays Dennis
1959 66", 39# - XF090 – no underlays - Chuck
1959 66", 40# - XF877R - no underlays - Chuck

1959 68", 45#@29" - YA349 - underlays  - Dennis
1959 68", 45# - YA367 - underlays - Wade
1959 68", 39# - YA456 - underlays - 2-26-08 Auction
1959 68”, 32# - YB499A - no underlays – Chuck
1959 68", 47# - YB626L - no underlays - Jeff
1959 68", 38# - YB965 - no underlays - Wade
1959 68", 55# - 9YX29 - no underlays - Bjorn

1959 70", 40# - ZA110 - underlays - Chuck
1959 70", 38# - ?????? - underlays removed - Wade

On 1959 Kodiak Specials, factory underlays are a layer of black marcata that was added to the belly side of the last 4" of the limb tips of some bows as shown below. The term, "underlays", is collector jargon to describe this cosmetic feature in a single word. The purpose of this list is to determine the order and frequency of this cosmetic feature.

                   

[TRAP]

Wade, Yes, I think the data reaffirms what I had been told by Bjorn and Bowdoc some time ago, that the underlays appeared on the earliest 59 Kodiak Specials.  

I would have assumed that the 62" was less common than any other length, but it appears the 70" bow has at least been less available to the few collectors represented here.  

Of course, the larger group of 62" bows could just mean they were recognized as great shooters and  therefore hoarded by the collectors here. They are sweet.

Neat data set, way to go Wade

Trap

[Wade Phillips]

Trap - Good observations.

I have always thought from the number and lengths of 59 KS that I have seen over the years, that the 70" was the rarest, 62" was second rarest and that the 66" was the most common. The data seems to support my thoughts that were based on the I've bows seen ...

That is if you use the serial numbers as opposed to the total number of each length that we have recorded...

Note the highest 62" serial number is VA612.. (disregarding Chuck no letter #)

The 64" goes WA, WB, WC,...

The 66" goes XA, XB, XC, XD, XE, XF

The 68" goes YA, YB...

Yes, I believe this group of collectors is hording the 62" length.

It's nice to have some real data to use for comparisons rather than simply making statements based on recollections.

Thanks to everyone who contributed.

Any other observations about the data???

I still believe our sample size is way too small especially given that only two 70" bows are recorded.

[sticknstring+]

Great thread Wade!

Been gone for a few days and missed alot of good stuff.

I dont have a 59 for the list(Yet!), but here's the one's I do have....
  two 61's, a 63 and a 66.
 
 

[Wade Phillips]

Greg - Great photographs!!! Do you realize that you are making some collectors drool and others scratch there balding scalps ??? Very interesting bows indeed.

Wonder how many of the "Dating Bear Bows by Coin Experts" have seen a 1961 Kodiak Special with NO COIN... Not sure how they date that 1961 bow...

We haven't started a list for 1961-1967 Kodiak Specials yet... but when we do, your 1963 will be at the top of the list for GRAIN & LOOKS !!!

Thanks so much for sharing a very professional photograph of some very "Special" Kodiak Specials.

[d. ward]

this is an odd color tip underlay...bd

[Wade Phillips]

Doc - Is that the tip underlay that you just put on?

[d. ward]

Yes one side of the string groove was cracked and raised.So I glued the original glass back down and then added the red underlays to make sure.Thats red canvas underlay which is pretty flexable its the same material used in the middle laminations on black widow bows.I was going to add the pic to res.101.bd

[seboomook]

Rich
my '58 is YG895 62" @ 49#