1959 Kodiaks - the Rarest Model ???

[Wade Phillips]

Before 2010 the 56” Maple Sight Window (MSW) Kodiak had not been found by any of the active collectors of the time. Then a 56” MSW finally surfaced in early 2010 and was immediately considered by many serious collectors to be as rare as a bow could possibly be. The following year, a second one surfaced, and most recently a third was found.  

Now with three of the 56” 1959 MSW Kodiaks being found in the past five years, is it still the rarest Model 1959 Kodiak?

If you have a 1959 Kodiak that you think 3 or fewer of it may be known to collectors, post an image of the bow and let’s determine how many of these bows are known and just how rare they really are...

On this first post, we will record the rare 1959 Kodiaks that are reported and continue to keep the list updated as additional bows are posted...

Will will include 60" and 64" MSW Kodiaks so readers can get an idea of what the serial numbers were and how many are known to those on this forum.  

1959 Kodiak Maple Sight Window  
... 56" - AA105 - 18#@24" - Wade
... 56" - ????? - 35#@26" - Chuck (serial number gone and irrecoverable)
... 56" - AA118 - 26#@26" - John

... 60" - BA117 - 60# no coin - Charles
... 60" - BA259 - 48# - coin - Todd
... 60" - BA260 - 48#@28 - no coin - Bjorn
... 60" - BA276 - 45# - coin - Wade
... 60" - BA307 - 45# - no coin - Norm
... 60" - BA312 - 50# - no coin - Kenny
... 60" - BA365 - 55# - no coin - Wade
... 60" - BA979 - 47# - coin - Wade
... 60" - ????? - ??# - Chuck
... 60" - ????? - ??# - John
... 60" - BB032 - 50# - coin - Norm

... 64" - DA042 - 45#@28" - no coin - picapica
... 64" - DA338 - 50# - coin - Wade
... 64" - DA408 - 65#@30" - coin - Gary
... 64" - DA589 - 50#@28 - coin - Bjorn
... 64" - DA673 - 50# - coin - Craig
... 64" - ????? - 65# - coin - Wade (serial number removed by Glenn St. Charles)
... 64" - ????? - ??# - Chuck
... 64" - ????? - ??# - John


1959 Kodiak Dark Rosewood Sight Window
... 60" - BA037 - 44# - Wade
... 60" - BA067 - ??# - Craig
... 60" - BA075 - ??# - Craig
... 60" - BA269 - 40# - Chuck  

... 64" - DA020 - 45# - Papabear08
... 64" - DA093 - 44# - Wade
... 64" - EL963 - 42# - Chuck
... 64" - ????? - ??# - Craig

1959 Kodiak Bubinga Sight Window
... 60" - BC605 - 55# - Wade

... 64" - DC009 - 42# - Chuck
... 64" - DC842L - 60# - Wade


1959 Kodiak Wedge Sight Window
... 64” - DA721 - 97# - Jeff
... 64" - DE288 - 80# - Wade (signed by Glenn St. Charles)
... 64" - 22HX5R - 123# - John


The three known 56" Maple Sight Window Kodiaks in order as listed above...
                                                   

[Wade Phillips]

I’ll start it off with an early 60” Rosewood sight window 1959 Kodiak.

I have owned two of these 60" bows, Chuck now has the other one. Although I cannot recall seeing a third one, I’d bet that others exist… but how many one, two or more?

     

[alaskabowhunter]

I have the dark rosewood version in 2 different lengths, still looking for the 56"...... it's out there...
 

[papabear08]

I assume these are the "coinless" ones. I have a 64" of that one.

[Wade Phillips]

Chuck -

When you make the statement "it's out there...", do you know of any 56" Rosewood Sight Window 1959 Kodiaks that actually physically exist?

[papabear08]

I know it's dangerous but I've been thinking are there many EXP 59 Kodiaks around as I have never seen one .?? I do have a EXP Kodiak Magnum that of course looks like a baby 59'60'.

[alaskabowhunter]

Wade- Nope, I have not personally seen a 56 inch Rosewood site window '59 Kodiak.... I'm looking for RH Bubinga site window '59 Kodiaks in the 56 and 60 inch lengths as well.... to go with my 64 incher

[alaskabowhunter]

Speaking of rare bows.... how many 62" 1955 Kodiaks have you ever seen? I need to get some pics of mine.

[Wade Phillips]

Originally posted by papabear08:
I assume these are the "coinless" ones. I have a 64" of that one.

Gary -

What is the serial number and draw weight of your 64" Rosewood Sight Window Kodiak? I will record it on the above list.

The Rosewood Sight Window Bows I have are coinless. Coin or no coin isn't significant as that is a cosmetic item that could easily be put in or not be put in.

[Wade Phillips]

Originally posted by alaskabowhunter:
Wade- Nope, I have not personally seen a 56 inch Rosewood site window '59 Kodiak.... I'm looking for RH Bubinga site window '59 Kodiaks in the 56 and 60 inch lengths as well.... to go with my 64 incher

Chuck -

What is the serial number and draw weight of your 64" Bubinga Sight Window 1959 Kodiak? I just added the 60" and 64" Bubinga Sight Window to the list...

Also what are the serial number and draw weights of your Dark Rosewood Sight Window 1959 Kodiaks that you reported?

[papabear08]

Wade,
the bow is what I would call dainty- thin in the grip and narrow limbs.
64" > 45# > DA020 gold script.

[Wade Phillips]

Gary -

Thanks for so quickly posting the specs on the 64" Dark Rosewood Sight Window and for emailing me the image.

Yes, like yours, the Dark Rosewood and other early 1959 Kodiaks that I have are small in the grip and have thin limbs. I prefer the thin grip much more than the fat grip of the later 1960 Kodiaks that feels like a tennis ball in the hand.  

   

Chuck -

     

Originally posted by alaskabowhunter:
Speaking of rare bows.... how many 62" 1955 Kodiaks have you ever seen? I need to get some pics of mine.

Although we want to try to keep this thread about 1959 Kodiaks, you should post a photograph (or possibly two), of your 1955 Kodiak with the 62" inscription.

A riser only photograph of it fade out to fade out, with it shown between a 60" and 64" 1955 Kodiak should show if the bow was made on a different form than the 60" and 64".

A second photograph of it, full length, between a 60" and 64" should show if the limb length is different than the 60" and 64".

The only odd length reference that I am familiar with in 1959 Bear Bows is a Grizzly, that is marked 64" rather than 62" like all other 1959 Grizzlies. The riser of the 64" is identical to the 62", the only difference in the 64" is the fact that the limbs were cut a little long, and thus the 64" marking.

Given the reference in the above paragraph, one might conclude that your bow inscribed 62", could be a 60" with the limbs cut a little long.

However, going back to the 1955-56 era, I do have one Kodiak Special that was made on an entirely different form than the standard production models.

[Wade Phillips]

Originally posted by papabear08:
I know it's dangerous but I've been thinking are there many EXP 59 Kodiaks around as I have never seen one .?? I do have a EXP Kodiak Magnum that of course looks like a baby 59'60'.

Gary -

I do remember seeing a photograph of a 1959 Kodiak that was marked EXP, but can not remember the details about the bow. Never did see it in person, but hopefully someone reading this thread owns the bow and can enlighten us and post photographs.

When you said "...EXP Kodiak Magnum that of course looks like a baby 59'60'." , do you mean a 52" bow, marked EXP, with the same glass and same wood as a 1959 or 1969 Kodiak?

What color are the tip overlays of the 52" EXP? Does it have overlays on the riser?

[Wade Phillips]

Just added the Wedge Sight Window 1959 Kodiak to the list in the first post of this thread as it is a legitimately rare sight window variation... I believe that John also has 1959 or 1960, think that one is 123# if memory is still working. Will look that up and post it on the list. Jeff also a photo of another 1959 wedge sight window that was posted on another thread some time back. Will record that one too.    

       

[papabear08]

Wade, EXP has no riser overlays, tips are black glass like '60 Kodaik, glass colors the same as 59'60s and silk screen just says Kodiak.
Will send you pics. Window Bubinga - Walnut???

[Wade Phillips]

Gary -

You have a nice 52" EXP with 59-60 glass colors. Yes, the riser slabs are Bubinga, but not sure about the sight window wood, it may be walnut as you suggest.

Your bow is a near twin to mine, also 52" with 59-60 glass colors, no riser overlays, Bubinga slabs, walnut? sight window, and marked EXP and 68#, shown below on burgundy carpet. I labeled mine a 1960 because of the black and white tip overlays and more importantly the fat, "tennis ball in the hand", grip.

         

Gary's twin brother below with much nicer looking grain in the sight window...

               

               

               

[alaskabowhunter]

Wade-
 64" Rosewood '59. EL963 64" 40#
 60" Rosewood '59 BA269 60" 40#
 56" Maple '59 no serial number , 56", 35#@26"
 64" Bubinga '59 DC009 64" 42#

as far as my 62" 1955, I'll have to take some pics and load them in photobucket....be patient nothing happens fast in my world... I'll post pics in a new thread...

[Wade Phillips]

Chuck -

Thanks for posting the specs on your rare 1959 Kodiaks. Got them recorded.

This list of rare 59 Kodiaks is beginning to take shape.

[Wade Phillips]

Judging from this image that johnnyrazorhead posted on another thread, it looks like he may also have a Dark Rosewood Sight Window Kodiak shown at the bottom of the image... John, is that a 60" Rosewood Sight Window Kodiak that is nearest to your toes? I'm guessing that it is and will temporally record it on the list on the first post of this thread. What is the serial number & weight of the bottom bow?

             

[johnnyrazorhead]

Wade,that bottom bow closest to my toes is my 56",1959 Kodiak that I got along with some other unique,experimental bows. I was looking at it earlier tonight after reading your post and wondered if it might be a rosewood sight window. How can I tell for certain? It's very dark but not sure if it's rosewood or purple heart.Serial number is AA039,48#,56".