My flea market find

[Hipshot]

Back in the late 1960's I bought a new Bear Alaskan from Bourquin's indoor archery range in Mt Ephriam NJ. I was 17 years old. I shot in an indoor target league back then and graduated to the Alaskan from a Bear Cub. I absoulutely loved that bow. Then it happened, on one cold winter night after shooting at the indoor range in our haste to get the car loaded up for the trip home my buddy shut the trunk lid on the limb of my bow case (soft case) and damaged it beyond repair   :mad:    O well     Anyway I went back to my Cub for a good while and eventually bought a Wing Presentation ll. But I always missed that bow. Well guess what, I was at the flea market last Saturday and a guy just setting up pulled this out of his van and I snagged it. Beautiful condition finish is like new with only two flaws, last owner installed an adjustable do-hickey on the riser and one small stress crack on the riser belly.

   

   

   

[Hipshot]

Some more photos.

 
 
do-hicky thingy
 

Stress crack (hard to see)
 

 

 

 

 

[Hipshot]

The bow is 38 lb. 66". Limbs are perfectly straight with the white glass turned mellow yellow     The case is like new and feels like leather? Dunno. No holes other than the adj do-hickey. Got the bow and case for $45.00. The guy said he has a Bear hip quiver and some aluminum arrows an accs. he's going to bring to the market next week (he forgot them) for $20.00.

   

   

 

[Bjorn]

That is a beauty! Too bad you paid so much!      

[Marc B.]

Sweet!

[2treks]

I need to start hitting the flea markets again.
Nice find, Congrats

[Larry m]

I have one just like it. They make nice shooting 3-D bows. Oh Yeah, I'll take that funky old Hip Quiver and those old aluminum arrows off your hands when you pick them up next week. That way you don't have to deal with putting out such a high price for such old worthless items. Yep, Right!!  

[Hipshot]

  have one just like it. They make nice shooting 3-D bows. Oh Yeah, I'll take that funky old Hip Quiver and those old aluminum arrows off your hands when you pick them up next week. That way you don't have to deal with putting out such a high price for such old worthless items.

I'm thinkin I need to get there early   :D  Oh and it came with a Bear wrist strap:

 

 

I sure would like to find an origonal sight and stablizer for it.

[oldbohntr]

Very nice bow.  The Do-hickey is an aluminum Berger button assembly, probably installed by Bear.  They also came in brass.

[Gila Mike]

That's a great find! It's terrific when you can  get some accessories along with the bow like you did. Enjoy it!    

The Premier sight system pieces show up online from time to time and are usually pretty expensive but they can be found at a good price if you're patient. Don't give up looking. It took me over a year to find the one I now have on my '67 Polar.

What's the serial # on your Alaskan? What year is it?

Mike

[Hipshot]

 The Do-hickey is an aluminum Berger button assembly, probably installed by Bear. They also came in brass.

Thanks Tom. Can you tell me more about the Berger Button? That name rings an old bell in my head. I've been away from target archery for many years. when you press against the button it is spring loaded. You say in could have been factory installed or possibly Bear dealer installed? The guy I bought the bow from said he bought it at a yard sale and did not know it's history. Bourquin was a large Bear dealer on the east coast at that time.

[ksbowman]

The Berger button is adjustable in and out and also has a little spring inside that is to forgive your arrow spine imperfection (and paradox). It came new with three different strength springs so you could select the one that worked best with your arrow spine. They worked real well and were used by many target shooters. I had a couple and really liked them.

[Hipshot]

Thanks Mike, I believe it's a 1967 model.

   

[Hipshot]

Thanks KS Bowman

[mossyoakpenn]

Wow did you ever get a steal of a deal!!!  Good job..

[warpedarrow]

Great deal.  Would you like to double your money?

I bought one and it came with the sight and the cover plate.  It too is a lightweight and I used it quite a bit while I was learning how to shoot a recurve.  Or I should say, trying to learn to shoot.

[Hipshot]

Well, I had to work Saturday and Sunday so no arrows or quiver    bummer. I've got some old micro-flite 28" number 7's. Think they would work with a 38lb. bow?

[KYArcher]

Great Find! ......KYArcher

[recurve_shooter]

Dang, all I ever see in flea markets/yard sales are old lamps, clothes, dishes, books, etc.