1951 or 1952 Polar

[damascusdave]

Anyone on here sharp about how to tell the difference between a 51 and 52 Bear Polar. The only reason it is important to me is that I was born in 1951.

Then again I was born in December of 1951 so that is awfully close to 1952.

[Blackhawk]

Thanks to Jeremy, we have this great guide on Polars.  This should help...

 http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=14;t=003321

[2treks]

Cool,Thanks to Jeremy's thread, I just found out that my polar is a 1959. I bought it from John Rook at denton a few years ago. I plan to spruce it up, does anybody know if decals are available?
Dave, what did you find out about yours?
Thanks.
Chuck

[damascusdave]

Thanks, Blackhawk (and of course Jeremy). People who are not Tradgang members do not know what they are missing.

I do not have my bow yet and will not have it for a while as my payment first needs to clear, it has to be shipped, Canadian customs has to hold on to it for a while to make themselves feel important and then it has to make its way to me.

According to the pics I have it is more than likely a late 1952 or an early 1953. It has the smaller bear decal with what appears to be red finished limbs. It is not a 1951 which is bad in a way cause it is not from my year of birth, but good in another way in that it ought to be safe to shoot (no aluminum lamination). Plus it is 64 and not 62 inches. Anyway I paid a more than fair price for it so I am pleased.

Still looking for a 1951 wallhanger then.

DDave

[damascusdave]

Just looked at the pics again and I bet I can shoot this bow left handed off my knuckle like a Howard Hill style long bow.

That means one less bow to buy since I have been looking for a left hander I can shoot instinctively.

These days I shoot left handed mostly to keep my muscles balance out from right to left.

DDave

[Jeremy]

Show us pics when you get it!
I like the old Polars, but you really had to hunt to find info on them.  I figured someone had to collect it all together and put it up... it was a great excuse to buy a bunch of them!  

[Larry m]

Jeremy
I have your Polar ID bookmarked. I'm sure you'll be able to help this guy out. Good Stuff there. I think I have somewhere around 5 Polars and found your posted info useful. Thanks

[damascusdave]

Bow should be on its way soon. How long it takes will mostly depend on how Canada customs handles it.

DDave

[Larry m]

Here are the four I have. It's always fun to put them side by side and see the transition in bow design.

[damascusdave]

Thanks, Larry. Those bows all seem to be in pretty fine condition.

Mine would certainly look very much like the one on the left. What year do you believe it to be?

DDave

[Larry m]

Hi Dave
I believe it to be from 1953. It is single shelf . The catalog speaks to the bow being offered in 64" but mine is 66".

[damascusdave]

Take a second look at Jeremy's pictures and you will see that the decal does not appear correct for 1953. The 53 he shows does not have the "running bear" decal.

Still I am inclined to agree that this bow, like the one I have coming, is either a late 1952 or an early 1953.

If you are interested in selling the newest one, which I am guessing is a 66, let me know.

DDave

[Larry m]

Dave
The small Running Bear decal was used by Bear from 1948 until 1953 with the larger Bear decal replacing in the mid-1953 and lasting until the 1955-56 model years.

[damascusdave]

I was at some friends place today and both the husband and wife drew my 42 pound Kodiak Special. He had trouble drawing it and she, on the other hand could easily draw it back past her ear. This could very well be the first time either of them picked up a bow. You could tell that she in particular was very interested.

Now the 53 Polar I have coming is a 32 pounder and I think that I will just give it to her to shoot on their farm (after I satisfy myself that it is going to be safe to shoot). The teacher spirit in me just loves to get someone new interested in the things I love to do.

DDave

[Jeremy]

Yup, that one on the left is definitely a '53.  It doesn't look to be marked '66"' and where the tips are in relation to your '55 it certainly looks like it's a 64".  What length string do you have on it?  Brace height?

I've seen on 68" '53, but that's presumably just an early '54 where someone just cut in a single shelf.  I didn't have it in my hands to compare the profiles though.

[Larry m]

Hi Jeremy
No marking as far as length. Only #'s and what appears to be a serial no. The string is 62" with a brace height of a little over 6". If I measure the curvature of the back of the bow it comes out 66" tip to tip. I don't shoot this bow and I have owned it for some time. Perhaps I'm measuring it wrong.... Any thoughts...

[damascusdave]

Still waiting for the bow to get to me through the mail. Consider yourself lucky if you live without a major border between you and Michigan, which is where a lot of Bears hand out.
DDave

[damascusdave]

Fortunately not all of the nice Bears are in Michigan, these came from just around the corner from my house.
DDave

[damascusdave]

They came from the same general area where the Koberstein buck was shot for those of you who follow such things.
DDave