Bear Kodiak Hunter questions?

[Biathlonman]

Came back to Dayton for my high school reunion and stopped into one of the old gun shops I used to hang out in.  He's about out of business now, but I noticed two old bear recurves sitting on the shelf.  Any info someone could give me about them, year, recommend brace height, where to get new strings, etc. would be awesome.  They of course already came home with me, but I would like to confirm that I got a good deal on them.

1. Bear Kodiak Hunter, AMO 60" 50#  SN: KT25333  
This bow is in awesome shape with only one small superficial scratch on the top limb.  No extra holes, no nicks, and has the inlayed gold Bear coin.  Has the two tone brown wood riser, green glass on the limbs, and the white micarta on the front.

2. Bear Kodiak Hunter, AMO 60" 55# SN:KT26332
This bow isn't in nearly as good of shape as the other.  Has the same two tone brown wood riser, green glass on the limbs, and the white micarta on the front.  Also has the inlayed gold Bear coin.  Has had 3 small holes drilled into the front of the bow, two right next to each other right below the arrow shelf, and one at the top of the sight window.  I'm guessing this was for a sight at some point.  Also came with a Thunderhorn strap on quiver, their cheaper model with the plastic hood.

Thanks for any help you can give me.

Brad

[frassettor]

What a great find! Dont know about prices that much, im sure someone will be along to let you know. Have any pics?

[Biathlonman]

Not yet, I'm still out of town.  Should have them the first part of the week.  Of course I'm not computer savy enough to post pictures, but I can e-mail them.

[DBerrard]

Google "how to determine age of fred bear bows"

Should be the second website listed. Bookmark the review since it'll come in handy down the road also.

Regards,
  Dave

[woodchucker]

The KT designates the 1970's series bows. The exact date will probly be very hard to narrow down because they changed wood colors coins etc. almost at random. If ithey have a "flush" inlayed coin as you say,my best guess is that they are both early 70's.

Recommended brace height should be about 7 1/2" to 8"

As for strings, There are many fine string makers here on TradGang who can help you out,and I would be hard pressed to recommend any particular "one" LOL.

As for value.....Many here do not see "eye to eye" with me on this,but I believe in "reasonable" value prices. I would say $100 to $150 depending on condition. After all,It is a 30+ year old bow. You could shoot it without fail for the next 20 years.....or it could delaminate tomorrow.

Congratulations on your find!!!!! Go ahead and shoot them. After all,they were meant to be bent!!!!!    

[WidowEater]

there becoming more valuable everyday

[George D. Stout]

Both of those bows are 1970 models.  

1971 and 72 had silver color coins, in 73 they went to raised coins and green risers.  68/69 were one piece risers.

[Shawn Leonard]

$200 each would be steep, I would say more in the $125 range unless they are in real good to excellent shape. Shawn

[Biathlonman]

I paid $107 out the door for both of them, including the Thunderhorn quiver...guess I did pretty well.

[Dick in Seattle]

you did indeed.    I was visiting Bowdoc earlier this week, dropping off a Super K for his treatment.  I took along a 40# K Hunter I'm shooting, and he was more impressed with it than the Super K.    While not as fancy a bow, According to him, the Hunter was a "bomb proof" model on which they cleared up a few issues that they had had on previous models, and it came out as a bow that had few or no problem tendencies for the future.   Sure made me feel good about mine, which shoots like a dream.

Dick in Seattle

[woodchucker]

Now there you go!!!!! "Reasonable" value prices.....  

[d. ward]

Great buy there on two darn good bows,both are most likely 1970-1971-1972-or possibly very early 1973.All 3 years are the same bows.The only difference is 70 has no stabilizer bushing,71 came standard with stabilizer bushing,and 72 came with bushing standard but the silk screens were both on the belly or shooters side of the bow.Early 73 same bow and had a flat coin.But around march or april of 1973 they went to the raised plastic button.Value right now may be a little low,cause things are slow,but at least 150-200 each maybe...you got a great buy on them.......bowdoc

[Tom I.]

I bought a KH 45lb @ 28", a 1972 model, I think, for my son-in-law at STAR the end of June.
It is a fairly pristine bow, but had two sight holes in the riser.....paid $100.00 for it. It shoots like a dream and he's happier than a pig in slop...I thought THAT was a good buy.  You
dern near stole those bows.... ;^)
Tom I.

[Biathlonman]

Neither of my bows has satablizer bushings, so it would appear that they are 1970 bows.  I'll be heading for the house this afternoon, and you can count on my flinging a couple of arrows by Monday night.     I know better then to take my bow stringer and arrows out of the car, but I didn't figure I would need them for the trip.

My dad was giving me grief this morning saying I could have maybe saved a couple of bucks on them if I bartered.  I just laughed, I told him I was aready so stunned by the price I couldn't think about anything but getting that little plastic card out of my pocket and getting out the front door before the fella changed his mind!  

[George D. Stout]

1970 still used the brass coin...they are 1970's.