Need some help with Bear '59 Kodiak

[desertrat49]

I have a 1959 Kodiak that has only some cosmetic issues, i.e., no scary longitudinal cracks, limb warpage, delaminations. The whole bow has a cloudy coat of what may be the original finish, much of which can be scraped off with my thumbnail. I don't want to refinish it at this point, but would like some suggestions on: 1) what I can do to make the old gal look better while preserving her wood. paper lams, and fiberglass and 2) what recommendations anyone has on what to use to apply to her grip which I have saddle soaped.
Thanks in advance!
(Am having trouble getting images to post, but clicking on the empty frames seems to get you there. Any help here also appreciated!)
         

[desertrat49]

Crud.That didn't work after all. Anybody got suggestions? Trying to get images I have on imgur to post.

[desertrat49]

Crud.That didn't work after all. Anybody got suggestions? Trying to get images I have on imgur to post.

[D.Sheppard]

Here ya go DR49, I use the IMG code on Photobucket

 

 

 

[D.Sheppard]

If that's the original strike plate and feather rest there hasn't been to many arrows thru that bow.

[Larry m]

True Oil and some rubbing would clean that up a bit.
Nice bow!
Can you post the spec's on it.......

[desertrat49]

Thanks for the help!Naw, plate and rest are 3R. Original plate replaced by a hand-cut piece of rug when I got it and the strike plate was in tatters. This bow is a  64" drawing 50# @ 28". My draw is 29-30" and I measured that out at around 54#. SD, I'll look into Photobucket... but it's a bit of a mystery how you accessed my pictures using it. Let me try to get a picture of the grip and, SD, if you could open it, maybe LM might have feedback on what to rub into it. I've thought of clear Kiwi, it being appropriate to the period. I don't like mink oil. Straight beeswax might be the ticket.  

[warpedarrow]

I am pretty sure that the feather rest and strike plate are replacements.

The finish on that bow is dead.  It won't take much to get it off and putting anything on top of it will just make a mess.  I suggest taking some 150 grit and doing a light sanding on the riser.  Try just the shelf side of the bow for starters.  Dust it off good and wipe on a thin coat of some polyurethane or TruOil.  Let it dry and put on another coat. Repeat that a few times then decide if you want to do the coin side.  Once you see how easy it is, my bet is that you will be back on here asking questions about how to pull the coin and finish the rest of the bow.  It is not hard to do and you can turn that old bow into a beauty for less than fifty dollars in supplies and a few hours work.

[desertrat49]

[desertrat49]

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All right! Here we go!

[D.Sheppard]

I didn't do anything special. Just opened the pics you posted, copied them to my computer then loaded them to my Photobucket to post.

[desertrat49]

WA: Oh, yeah. As I posted a little earlier, I replaced those with 3R items when I got the bow several years ago. I've been shooting it off and on since then, more regularly now as health improves. Good to hear from a fellow Tejano! Thanks for the input. SD: I got Photobucket figured out; thanks for the tip!

[desertrat49]

Thanks to D.Sheppard, Larry M, and warpedarrow for your input and patience! I decided that I'm not ready to jump into a refurb right now, but wanted to get the bow (now named "Frieda") cleaned up and minimally protected against our single-digit relative humidities. Saddle-soaped the grip and greased it with Obenauf's. Applied several light coats of Tru-Oil, which I immediately wiped off and buffed up.  
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[Larry m]

Yeah! Cleaned up real nice considering it's previous appearance......
64" and 50# must be a sweet shooter.  

[mangonboat]

"64" and 50# must be a sweet shooter.  [Smile]"

I was thinking the same thing, exactly.

[desertrat49]

Thanks! I draw to 29.5" and figure that's about 55#. She sure can flang an arrer!
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[Bjorn]

That is a black ink bow. Very early production and quite rare the gold lettering came along shortly after. Coin or no coin?

[desertrat49]

My. I didn't know of that distinction, Bjorn! Yes, she's intact with coin, no delam, minimal vertical cracks which have not changed with having shot her recreationally for 3 years.

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Frieda's copper coin.

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Her black lettering of which you speak.

Any other insights about these earlier bows? Thanks for getting in touch!

[TRAP]

"And ny other insights about these earlier bows? Thanks for getting in touch!"

Yeah I have some insight....be careful or you'll look around one day and have a whole rack full of them.

[Larry m]

     
Many coats of True Oil on this one with a new grip!
Posted many times before but since the subject is here!