Author Topic: 1961 Kodiak Special Rises From Dead! (Read 744 times)

NumPls · « **on:** March 03, 2010, 12:24:00 PM »

Here is the short story and some photos. Unfortunately, I do not have a photo of the "before".

A while ago, KurtBel5 (of the Bear Coins fame) asked for broken Bear bows that he planned to convert to bow racks. I sent Kurt a 1961 Kodiak Special that I bought about 10 years ago that had a broken limb. After Kurt saw the bow, he suggested that I send it to Mike Mecredy at Maddog Archery to have it re-limbed. So, that is what I did. I chose black glass to go with the zebrawood highlights and yellow Bear Kodiak Special dry transfers from Al Harford.

I received the finished product a couple of weeks ago. The limb lams are bamboo. Mike also used zebrawood for the limb-tip overlays and overlays on the back of the riser.

The bow was originally marked 46# @ 28"; reborn, it is 48# @ 28". I put a Bear rug-rest & side plate on it and have had a couple of opportunities to launch arrows with it. I am delighted with the way this bow shoots! I have not been able to pick its favorite arrow, yet, but it seems to be quite happy with the 2216s and 2315s (30" long, 145 screw-in points) that I had available.

If you have a bow that is now dead (in need of new limbs), I highly recommend that you check with Mike at Maddog Archery - and, his cost was VERY reasonable!

Ray

Limb profile photos first, others to follow.

Upper Limb:

Lower Limb:

Limb End, Strung:

Upper riser back, with dry transfer from Al Harford:

Lower riser back:

MR BILL SHORTY · « **Reply #1 on:** March 03, 2010, 12:45:00 PM »

WOW! NICE. VERY NICE!

Jeremy · « **Reply #2 on:** March 03, 2010, 01:49:00 PM »

His website says $75 plus actual materials and shipping!!

Bjorn · « **Reply #3 on:** March 03, 2010, 01:58:00 PM »

Quite remarkable! Never woulda' thought that would work so well! Bring it to the meeting.

Jack Shanks · « **Reply #4 on:** March 03, 2010, 02:19:00 PM »

Wow! Really nice job! I just got a 61 Kodiak Special in the mail today that I bought off the auction site last week. That Zebrawood really makes for a nice looking bow.

ishi1archer · « **Reply #5 on:** March 03, 2010, 02:24:00 PM »

Thats one sweet looking bow and it's great it was saved from the scrap pile.

4runr · « **Reply #6 on:** March 03, 2010, 03:18:00 PM »

Beautiful,beautiful and beautiful!!!

myshootinstinks · « **Reply #7 on:** March 03, 2010, 03:21:00 PM »

Wow, I'd-a never thunk it. Looks great.

cacciatore · « **Reply #8 on:** March 03, 2010, 04:07:00 PM »

I wanna a broken bow.

yellow bow · « **Reply #9 on:** March 03, 2010, 05:07:00 PM »

sweet.

reddogge · « **Reply #10 on:** March 04, 2010, 09:44:00 AM »

I got a quote from Mike for my '65 Kodiak and it was $220 for the complete job.

OldSkoolArcher · « **Reply #11 on:** March 04, 2010, 11:10:00 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by reddogge:
I got a quote from Mike for my '65 Kodiak and it was $220 for the complete job.

That seems like a deal to me! Wow.

Bjorn · « **Reply #12 on:** March 04, 2010, 12:04:00 PM »

Until this thread got started to me limb replacement was as believable as cow tipping.
Well last night I got to see NumPls bow and the pics don't even come close to the real thing!
What an awesome job!
Can't wait to shoot it and I have just the candidate for this resurrection too!

Mike Mecredy · « **Reply #13 on:** March 05, 2010, 10:15:00 AM »

Thanks for posting that. That bow was quite a challenge with the shape of the riser. But it came out pretty good. It's quite long, if you measure along the curve I think it was 66" if I rememer right. It helped me appriciate how it is to shoot long recurves again. I'd almost forgoten how smooth they are and accurate to shoot. Quiet too.

When I take a project like that the and I quote a price the total price includes everything; labor the shipping back, the plywood to build the form, the glue, sandpaper, a string, finish, lams, and fiber glass. I don't make much at these undertakings they are more or less a service to get old bows back in working condition.

(Plus I've read people's posts saying "the bow's history, it's a wall hanger, make a lamp from it, or, no it can't be fixed." and I take those as a challenge)

ckruse · « **Reply #14 on:** March 05, 2010, 10:42:00 AM »

I'm thinking clear glass and Zebrawood veneers! I have two 1960 Kodiak Special Deluxe down in the basement that are not shooters due to limb problems. Think of the beautiful resurrection that could be done with those! CKruse

Jeremy · « **Reply #15 on:** March 05, 2010, 10:47:00 AM »

Mike, seems to me you're going to end up with a bunch of the forms for some real Classic bows... any thoughts to offering some replicas for sale??

Mike Mecredy · « **Reply #16 on:** March 05, 2010, 05:10:00 PM »

No, I never really considered selling replicas. That could really be a can of worms.

-mike

reddogge · « **Reply #17 on:** March 05, 2010, 06:09:00 PM »

Mike,
I'll contact you again on my '65 Kodiak to work out some fine details. It's something I want to do.

Big horn1 · « **Reply #18 on:** March 08, 2010, 09:46:00 AM »

Wow some nice work!

NumPls · « **Reply #19 on:** June 10, 2010, 04:46:00 PM »

Has anyone else received a resurrected bow from Mike yet?

Ray

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Author Topic: 1961 Kodiak Special Rises From Dead! (Read 744 times)

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