Nice Bear Western Quiver (LEFT HAND)

[450 marlin]

Mail man just came and I'm totally thrilled, picked this Left Hand Western quiver up off the auction sight. Maybe others didn't realize it was a lefty for it went pretty cheap. Looks like I'm in the market for a knife and file if anyone has extras.
 

 

[alaskabowhunter]

That's one of the nicer Westerns I have ever seen, nice score Roy.

[450 marlin]

Thanks, soon I will have my 50 yr anniversary hunting package all together for this fall..Roy

[d. ward]

Wow thats about as good as they get at 50 years old.that was a good hit...bd

[Mike Shaw]

Holy Cow that bad boy is in nice shape...Looks new
Good snag....   :eek:

[johnnyrazorhead]

SHAZAAAM!!! That is a beauty.Nice find.

[reddogge]

It's rare to see one in such good shape that old.  Stuff it full of arras and let;s see it on you.

[PaPaFrank]

MAN! that thing makes mine look like a shopping bag! Nice find Roy...

[PAPALAPIN]

Roy
If it went cheap, they probably knew it was a lefty.  That is one of the advantages you worong handed shooters have.  Lefty stuff goes cheaper.

Good for you.

To be correct, you need a Western 678 (?).   Good luck in finding one in the equivalent shape as that beauty

[450 marlin]

thanks, I'll write that in my note book and the hunt is on..Roy

[Shaun]

Great quiver! Lots of Westerns on 3bay and prices for most seem reasonable compared with some other makes. Did not see a 678 but there are some similar. Good luck with filling out the set and hunting with your 59 gear this fall.

[Wade Phillips]

Your Diamond Concho Western is one of Bear’s most popular quivers. It appeared in the Bear Catalogs from 1957 to 1960. Yours is truly a museum quality specimen. I have used this exact quiver (except RH) for a number of years and found it to function wonderfully.

Bear’s “Californian” with unborn calfskin pocket and trim is a version of the Western that was introduced in 1959. The Californian would be the ultimate 1959 Bear Leather Hunting Quiver. The two quivers, below left are both sizes of the Diamond Concho Western in two color variations. To the right are the two color combinations offered for the Californian black/white and brown/white. The brown/white is unused, when I acquired this quiver, it was still in its original package.  

   

Roy, your statement “Thanks, soon I will have my 50 yr anniversary hunting package all together for this fall..Roy”

You probably already know this, but if you are looking for a legitimate 50th anniversary hunting package, you will want to remove the Bear “Cutmaster” from the quiver pencil pouch as shown in your bottom photograph… I believe the Cutmaster is only on its 43rd anniversary… so you may have to wait another seven years to use it.

The knife you are looking for is a Western 648. They are very common and inexpensive when compared to the price of a good knife.  A few years ago they regularly sold in the $30-$35 range. My father bought me my first Western in 1959 and I still have it. I have owned dozens of Western’s over the past 50 years. I have many Western 648 knives, and have found all of them to be very poor quality steel. I use them for show in Bear quiver sheaths, and in knife, file and stone sets. When hunting, I leave the 648s at home and take a good knife along to use in the field.

Bear's plastic file handles usually sell for more than the 648. I've seen some sell for more than you probably paid for the quiver. There are still many of be found. They are a nice functional handle for a 6" file. Most original files are well used and need to be replaced. The handles tend to stick on the files. A little hot water usually persuades the handle to slide off the file and leaves the handle in the same condition.

[Tom I.]

Here's one I've been using for the past 3-4 yrs.
Found on 8bay....can't remember what I paid for it but $40-$50 sounds about right.  It's a far cry from the nice condition of yours.
 

A note to you right handers....I disagree that left handed stuff goes for less.  All it takes is 2 lefties to want the same hard to find item to raise the price.  And it's more likely to happen the rarer the item....at least that's been my experience.  I can't think of a single left handed item I've bought that I didn't pay
close to top dollar for....
Tom I.

[Wade Phillips]

Tom - Your Round Concho Western appeared in the Bear Catalogs from 1950 to 1956. From 1950 to 1953 it was offered with just the over the shoulder strap. From 1954 to 1956, Bear added an additional strap that snapped onto a ring attached to the over the shoulder strap. The additional strap was called the "Breast Strap" in the Bear Catalogs. The Round Concho Western was offered in two sizes. You have the longer size. The smaller size was shorter and intended for 25" and 26' arrows.

The advertised Round Concho Western lacked the knife and file sheaths that are found on the Diamond Concho Westerns. The Diamond Concho Westerns also have fancy stitching along the bottom of the cuff and vertically along both sides of the pocket.

[Tom I.]

Wade...thanks for the history....this one has a breast strap.  The straps are getting ready to let go and I'll have to replace them soon.  The hardware (D-rings, snaps, and buckles) are all
rusted but functional.  I really hate to tear it apart to replace the dry-rotted straps...the main strap has already broken and been repaired
(by me) but the rest of it's still pretty bad.
I bought to use....sooooo
Tom I.

[TRAP]

That is one Beautiful ____ing quiver!!!!!

Way to go Roy    

You sure you want to hunt with that?????

Some ol tree branches rubbed on that thing will make it look "grrrrrrrreat".  Just kidding, that's what it was made for.  I'd probably use it too, but I'm kinda sick that way.

Trap

[450 marlin]

Trap, didn't you have the leather top tape-on that you used the rubber straps on? I have one I may try that on, or I have a nice Bear Rover that works well for a lefty.