Bear composite bows

[Liquid Amber]

Need to validate some dates and information of early Bear Composites.

1. What year did Bear first advertise a composite bow and what models.

2. What was the make-up of he bows, backing, laminations, facing, etc.

[wadde]

I believe that the first composite bow sold by bear was the 1965 Tamerlane. All composite riser. I don't know what followed but am pretty sure the 1965 Tamerlane was the first advertised.

[Lucas K]

By composite, do you mean the early laminated Yew/Hickory/Osage models?

[PAPALAPIN]

I always thought that "composite" referred to limb construction.

Educate me.

[Liquid Amber]

Composite [two or more different materials] bows have been around for a long time; wood, bamboo, horn, baleen, sinew, etc.

In the context of my question, two or more "materials," one being man made or produced by processing various natural polymers.  The modern composite bow developed during the 1940s, laminated, generally of at least three laminations.

A fiberglas backed, maple cored, plastic faced bow would be a typical, modern composite from the late 1940s.

[warpedarrow]

1949 for sure under your definition of composite.  I have an early to mid forties that I do not believe is composite.  Maybe 46 to 48.  I don't own any in that range and have not studied up on them.

[TonyW]

 


Not the first, but a 1951 composite Grizzly.

[Pack animal]

The 1948- 49 catalog talks in depth of the Bear composite bow construction and the models offer; these were  the "Bear composite Bows: The Bush bow, Deerslayer, and Hunter" all three were offered with Hickory and Fortisan back Yew core and Osage face. These same bows could also be ordered with lemonwood core and face, instead of yew and osage.  Also offered were the "Bear Bows for every purpose":  The Field,(Hickory and Fortisan back, yew center and osage face), The Rover,( made of layers of lemonwood with Hickory and fibre back).  The Ranger is offered as a one piece bow with fiber back,(so I don't think it would fit the perimeters of your question).  I believe I read somewhere the 1947 Bush bow was linen or Fortisan backed...
hope this helps