BH Prefix 1960 Kodiaks

[damascusdave]

I now own 3 of these bows and know of two others.

The interesting part is that they were all purchased in immaculate condition.

Lets see how long a list we can actually generate of a single prefix of arguably the most collectable of the Kodiak series.

Pics would be nice, however, I would rather have the info without a pic rather than not have it.

DDave

[Wade Phillips]

Dave,

The 1960 serial numbers continued on from the 1959 numbering so the first letter B was also used for the 60" Kodiaks at the beginning of 1960.

Over the years, the serial numbering sequence changed over 12 times on the Kodiaks...

From 1959 into the first part of 1960 the new numbering was

BA (1959 60" maple or dark rosewood sight window Kodiaks)
BB (1959 60" mostly purple heart sight window Kodiaks)
BC (1959 60" Kodiaks)
BD (1959 60" Kodiaks)
BE (1959 60" Kodiaks)
BF( 1959 60" Kodiaks)
BG (1959 60" Kodiaks) - maybe some 1960s in these numbers
BH (1960 60" Kodiaks) - maybe some 1959s in these numbers
BI (1960 60" Kodiaks)
BJ (1960 60" Kodiaks)

I have three 1960s that are BJ which is about as far as that lettering went until it was changed to begin with two numbers.

[damascusdave]

Thanks, Wade. Nice to have probably the premier collector of 60 Kodiaks input so early in the thread.

DDave

[Wade Phillips]

Unquestionably, the two most collectible serial numbering sequences for Kodiaks that I have seen in my 53 years of involvement with Bear bows would be...

BA which is the 60" maple sight window Kodiaks and the 60" dark Rosewood sight window Kodiaks.

AA which is the 56" 1959 Kodiaks and later the 1960 Kodiaks.

Several of the AA and BA bows have sold for well over $1,000, some for over $1,500 and a few for over $2,000. Many of these bows with specific wood in the sight window are extremely rare, in one case only a single example has surfaced so far and only found as late as 2010. Other extremely rare Kodiaks may surface in the future. One thing I have learned, is that anything could have been made.

Although I have never seen a BH approach the high end sale price of the AA or BA Kodiaks, anything is possible.

[Wade Phillips]

Dave, Just checked a couple more racks...

The BH 1960 Kodiaks I have are

BH 059 - 55# - 60" - Medium Width Tips - Floyd Eccleston's Bow
BH 98  - 36# - 60" - Medium Width Tips - Al's Bow
BH 501 - 48# - 60" - Narrow Width Tips

[Wade Phillips]

Dave,

Also have three BJ 1960 Kodiaks

All three have narrow tips

[Jack Shanks]

These are the only two BH serial numbers I have. A 59 at 50# and a 60 at 31#

 

 

[NumPls]

Jack, your two bows raise a question based on the serial number of the 1959 being HIGHER than the one for the 1960. When did the serial number go on the bow; when it was made or when it was shipped?

Very puzzling!

Ray

[yeager]

Wade,

My 1959 Kodiak has rosewood in the sight window, but the serial number is BB341....I guess it must be one of the "mostly" bows.  Also, what color is the glass on the 1960 compared to the '59s brown and burnt orange?

Great info,  thanks

[bctgrad]

Wade:

Did the serial number change later in the year for the 60's?  Mine doesn't even start with a letter:

 

Brian

[NumPls]

Brian -

The last line of Wade's first post on this topic answers your question:

"I have three 1960s that are BJ which is about as far as that lettering went until it was changed to begin with two numbers.".

Nice grain in that sight window, by the way!

Ray

[bctgrad]

Thanks Ray, I totally missed that in Wade's post.  I was starting to wonder if something was wrong with mine.

Brian

[hayslope]

1960
BH 909
60"
50#

I have some photos somewhere, but not on PB.

Bob - I have one of the "others" in the "mostly" group as well from '59:
1959 Maple Sight Window
BB143
60"
60#

 http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=14;t=004489

[damascusdave]

Originally posted by bctgrad:
Wade:

Did the serial number change later in the year for the 60's?  Mine doesn't even start with a letter:

 

Brian

That is some beautiful rosewood grain in the i-beam.

What a lot of people fail to realize is that the wood of the i-beam, although it only shows up well in the sight window, really goes from fade to fade.

I will post a pic of my 61 KS where it is very obvious.

 

DDave

[damascusdave]

Wow, I think I started something a bit bigger here than I could even imagine. I will try to compile the total daily.

DDave

Thanks so much everyone for contributing.

[69RECURVE]

Mine is BH 668
60" & 52#

[ahandle70]

Wade, is an 11N41 serial # on a 56" model fairly rare?  What if the gold writing is gone but you can still read what was there?  It says 36 @ 26" below the serial # and 40 @ 28" above the serial number vert faintly.  I am not sure how or why the gold writing was removed.  Any info. would be greatly appreciated.  Thank you.

[Wade Phillips]

ahandle70 -

The serial # 11N41 would be a 1960 Kodiak in the scheme of Bear's numbering at the time, but remember there are always exceptions to nearly every rule, especially this one as hand written letters and numbers were put on by humans. And mistakes are made, we all make mistakes every day, some of us more than others.

I don't usually put much store in serial numbers, especially as an absolute for dating bows. As I have said many times, the form the bow was built on is the determining factor in dating a bow as everything else could have been changed either accidentally or on purpose.

The 56" 1960 Kodiak is a fairly rare bird and in my experience a damn good shooting bow.

Of the three 56" 1960 Kodiaks that I have, AA886, 56" 50# is the best shooting. Doc refinished it and it looks awesome. I named it "Speedy" for obvious reasons.

Some of the serial numbers and lettering on these old Kodiaks are hard to read because a coat of finish was not put over the letters and those with a lot of use are usually the hardest to read. Many 56" are weighted and lettered @26" because they were designed for 26" draw lengths as stated in the catalog.

I've only seen a couple of Bears that have two lengths and weights written on the bow. Doc has probably seen a lot more of that than I have.

[ahandle70]

Wade, thanks for the response.  I've strung the bow up but I have not shot it yet.  I have a 29-1/2" draw and like to stick to the 60" bows and longer.  My bother and I spoke to you at a shoot in Fremont years ago shortly after he came across a 56" 1959 model.  I believe you said you came across a really nice 59' that was hanging in a store window for 15 bucks if I remember correctly.  One of your friends let me shoot a 64" 1966 Kodiak that I think he got from you at that shoot.  I still dream about how good that bow shot.  Nice trio of Signature Takedowns too btw.  Dang!!!

[damascusdave]

Originally posted by 69RECURVE:
Mine is BH 668
60" & 52#

You realize that when you finally give up and sell that bow to me I will have two pairs of consecutive number bows.  

DDave