Bear Take-Down Supreme...thoughts?

[Dave Bowers]

Hello all,
I have an opportunity to get one of these bows at a really good price. But it would be sight unseen. I understand that Bear isn't the company of the past, but they still make some decent bows IMO. Does anyone have any opinions on this bow?

Thanks

[hs6181]

they sure are pretty, not any    but true.

[Robhood23]

I know a guy who has sent his supreme back twice!

[Abel]

You'd be better off with somethin' else. Take the money and put it on something that is known to stand up to what we are doing with these bows. Bear isn't even the name of the company anymore. They are not in the business of making bows, they're in the business of making money. Imagine a group of young suits sittin' around a board room callin' the shots on a huntin' bow. Not exactly a great recipe for craftsmanship.

[barebow62]

much better bows out there

[d. ward]

With-out a dout the best take down system ever...bar non...About 90% of Bear take downs are still in service after 39 years in the field.Pretty good track record there...bowdoc

[wapitimike1]

I have a take down and it shoots great. With that said, if your going to spend the $1300.00 they want new, I'd look into a true custom. The bows speed isn't up to snuff and the grip is rather long and generic. Like bowdoc said it's a tuff son of a gun and for not changing in forty years it had to be the cream of the crop back then.

[Trooper]

If I had $1300 to spend on a bow I would get two of the older Bear t/d's.  I see them every now and then for sale for $500 to $700 used but still in great shape.  I have 2 wooden B handles made in the 80's, a B and an A handle made in 2001 and an A & B magnesium handle along with 7 sets of limbs varying from the old green tips to the modern FF limbs.  I love those bows; I shoot them all and hunt with one in particular.  I am very rough on my bows and have never had any problems with any of those bows. So my sugestion is to stay away from the Supremes and get a couple of Bear t/d's that were made by Bear Archery not made by "a group of young suits sittin' around a board room callin' the shots on a huntin' bow." (Abel, that is a great description! Sad but true!!)

[john1271]

yep they are pretty but for that much money i would get a morrison or acadian with all the bells and whistles custom made to my specs  ... just my thought

[jeff w]

I would agree with Bowdoc, best td system ever designed and the bows shoot great.

If the price is right I don't think you would ever loose money on it if you wanted to resale it.

As far as Bear being in the business to make money(as opposed to bows?), that how business works.   I don't think you'll find too many bowyers remaining in business unless they are making money on their product.  "young suits" calling the shots?   Fact or imaginary?

[d. ward]

Personal choice would come into play also.Myself I like all Bear take downs,and if I had the dough I would buy a Supreme today.Shoot if I had the dough I would buy two of them...but thats just my choice.One other thought on Bear take downs...is the bowyer that worked at Bear Archery and also did personal work for Fred on most all of his bows for well over 30 years.....Is the same guy who runs the take down department today.So please insult him nicely...A rose of any other color is still a rose..................bowdoc

[longbowman]

My Bear T.D. is 25 years old and I love it.  I wouldn't pay $1000.00 for any bow made by anybody even if they gave me somebody to follow me around and shoot it for me.  Since we're all giving personal opinions here I have to say that once the bows hit $400.00 they lost me as a customer.  I know the guys that build them work hard but I own a business and I work hard too but I had to find better ways to be more efficient and lower my prices over the years to stay competitive and I just think other businesses should follow suit.

[Grant Young]

I've been shooting Bear TDs since the 70s and hunt w/ a '69 B and a '71 B. I'm considering a Supreme cause it is made with probably the nicest wood of any model, barring the Signature. I just am reluctant to buy a high dollar bow that I would probably not hunt with as long as my older ones are holding up and they're just getting broke in real good.

[Dave Bowers]

Wow...great info fellas I really appreciate it. I am torn right now between a true custom and the bear. Basically, its gonna come down to money i think. I know I'll get the bear for a good price, since I am a dealer. However I contacted a bowyer and he gave me a really great price on a custom TD...dang!!!!!!

I guess I got some more research to do  

[nutmeg]

They're not the Bears of old. IMHO, they're overpriced and for the money you can buy a really good custom bow. (nut)

[TonyW]

The latch system's elegant design is hard to beat. Since Frank Scott autographed a commemorative Super K manufactured in Gainesville for me in 2000, I don't think that the suits had much to do with the bowyers.
Remember when the venerable name of "Harley-Davidson" was mocked as "Hardly Ableson", "Hardly Driveable," "Hogly Ferguson" and the nickname "Hog" became pejorative? That was AMF(American Machine and Foundry, the bowling company), the same AMF that bought Wing Archery in 1968.  Wing Archery- a division of AMF went out of business in early 1990's.
Bear didn't sell to AMF, it moved to Florida.

[Snakeeater]

The design is still good. I guess the real question is how well is it built and how good are the materials they use. Even with the same guy running the shop he may have to work under different constraints than he did before the ownership changed.

If you like the looks of it and the price is right, then go for it. Personally, I wouldn't spend that much just for the pretty woods when I can get a used plainer looking one with the same design and quality of craftsmanship for less.

Snakeeater

[d. ward]

Well no they are not the bears of old...but Black Widows are not the widows of old eather.None of them are...And as for being over priced..You get what you pay for right or should anyhow....You guy's are telling me some plywood peace of whatever is worth 1,200.00-1,400.00.... come on at least Bear used real wood...bowdoc

[George D. Stout]

The Bear bashers on any of these forums usually have no clue what they're talking about.  Bowdoc has the knowledge to speak for the Bear bows.  The Bear Takedown, still will shoot with any other bow out there.  I've used them for about twenty eight years and have not had any trouble with them.  Without question...the best takedown system ever devised...durable and effective.

Oh....I don't need bells and whistles with my bows....they are distracting 8^).

[d. ward]

If you all want to see what a real custom bow is...Check out this pic...it's a true custom...I cumtomized it myself....Ya gotta love em huh???