Several years ago I "liberated" a 1956 Bear Kodiak Special from a guy at work. He told me he had a bow but "every time I pull it back,the string pops off". Well, Of coarse we all know he had it strung backwards :rolleyes: I looked it over.....It was in rough shape and needed a tip overlay replaced. I told him it was an old bow and shouldn't be shot (because of the missing overlay) I explained that the sharp edge where the overlay was missing would cut the string. I told him if he wanted a bow to shoot,I had one I would trade him. I swapped him a Futurewood Grizzly with a bad refinish and a camo-paint cover-up.....He was happy as a clam!!!!!
Over the years I have considered getting it repaired and refinished but I've never gotten around to it. Last year I won the JLMBH bow at Shawn Leonard's Bunny Hunt.This is a 1956 Kodiak Special that the "winner" gets to use for a year then bring back to the next years Bunny Hunt to be raffled off again. I had alot of fun with the JLMBH bow.....I just never could hit anything with it LOL.
Over in Trad.History/Collecting our beloved Shell had started a thread about '56 Kodiak Specials,and how she just loved the gracefull lines and looks of the old '56 K-Special.....and I had an idea!!!!!
I sent Shell a PM explaining what I had (and that it needed repair/refinishing) and I told her that it was her's if she wanted it.....Free of charge (figureing it would cost enough already to get the repair/refinish done) I called Shell on the phone and we had a wonderful LONG conversation!!!!! Shell is the SWEETEST EASY TO TALK TO PERSON you could ever imagine!!!!! We talked about bows(and Frank)and knives(and Frank)and dogs(and Frank,but he's not a dog)and cars(Yup,Frank again LOL) Anyway, I told her I would pack the K-Special up and send it to her ASAP. I put the bow in a heavy cardboard carpet tube that I had used several times before to ship my own personal bows in without any problems. I didn't have any "bubble-wrap" handy but when I put the K-Special in the tube the static tips kept the bow in place and it fit very snug and secure without any movement at all.I put the wooden end cap in,screwed it in place,wrapped it with tape,and shipped it off.....
A couple weeks ago I got a message from Shell.....It seems the USPS managed to crush the tube and damage the limb.To say I'm angry is expected.....But I am more hurt and unhappy than anything!!!!! I should have wrapped the bow in "bubble-wrap" but I'm not sure it would have helped. I didn't want any "delivery confirmation" because I knew very well that Shell would "confirm" when it got there LOL. HOWEVER!!!!! I have been kicking myself EVERY DAY for not getting the package insured!!!!! For the few dollars it would have cost to get $1000 insurance,That thousand dollars would have paid for the repairs,and refinishing,and it would have "insured" that a very SPECIAL Lady had the bow of her dreams.
Lessons Learned.....
1) Always,ALWAYS,Pack a bow like you EXPECT it to be broken!!!!!
2) Always,Always,ALWAYS BUY INSURANCE!!!!!!!!!!
Topic: Lessons Learned..... (Read 551 times)
