Bear archery experts question on manufacture date etc

[Monroe]

Bought a garage sale bow to check my interest level in trad archery.  It is a Bear glass powered kodiak hunter, manufactured by Bear archery co in Grayling Mich.  It lists 3 US Pat #s and says Canada 1953 under the US pat #s.  On the side it states 8T11421, AMO-60", 50#.  I'm wondering what the age of the bow is and what general observations are available ref that model and time frame.  Is the 8T11421 a serial number?  Is the Canada 1953 the date that pattern was patented in Canada?  Oh, and the garage sale bow has verified my trad bow interest level is extrememly high......probably too high.    THX.  Any info is of interest and appreciated.

[jeff w]

It will be a big help if you could describe the bow itself:  is it a combinination of two woods or is it green futurewood?

[Big Bird]

your kodiak hunter would be a 1968.

[Blackstick]

Big Bird is correct. The Grayling Bears from the mid-to-late sixties were the easiest of all to identify age wise. The serial numbers began with the year of manufacture.

[Monroe]

Thx much.  ANy feedback on how they are reputed to perform etc?  Or is that such a personal thing it's not really a question with an answer?

[d. ward]

excellllllent shooters and those were built just about bomb proof.You do not see many broken from normal use Kodiak Hunters from any of the years they were built.KH's were all pretty darn good bows and priced right.I should add just in case anyone was asking fairly good arrow speed too.As I recall in the 180 feet per second with correct arrow weight......but I might have to look that up.Great bows bd

[damascusdave]

Originally posted by Monroe:
Bought a garage sale bow to check my interest level in trad archery.  It is a Bear glass powered kodiak hunter, manufactured by Bear archery co in Grayling Mich.  It lists 3 US Pat #s and says Canada 1953 under the US pat #s.  On the side it states 8T11421, AMO-60", 50#.  I'm wondering what the age of the bow is and what general observations are available ref that model and time frame.  Is the 8T11421 a serial number?  Is the Canada 1953 the date that pattern was patented in Canada?  Oh, and the garage sale bow has verified my trad bow interest level is extrememly high......probably too high.       THX.  Any info is of interest and appreciated.

Sorry to tell you but your trad bow interest can never be too high. Now the cost of that interest, that is another thing entirely.

DDave

[Monroe]

Well said.  Thank you.

[vintage-bears]

Nice bow. Enjoy......

[damascusdave]

This is the sort of thing that can happen.

 

DDave