At Denton Hill last week I had the pleasure of meeting an 81 year old Gentleman named Francis Dehner. Mr. Dehner was a Bear Rep back in the 60's and 70's. Mr. Dehner showed me a bow that he had cased up in his car. When he opened the case I was blown away.
It was an A handle with serial number 1111. This bow was signed by Glenn St. Charles and Fred Bear. As if that wasn't enough Fred had also signed the "Stickbow Man" figure on it. The late great Al Reader says that Fred signed anywhere from 20-30 bows in his lifetime with the stickbow man. The vast majority of these were done for close personal friends and Bear Reps.
After some hearfelt discussion, Mr. Dehner and I agreed on a price and the feeling that came over me when I realised this bow was going home with me is undescribeable.
After purchasing the bow I took it to Rich Tiberio; stickbow man himself to confirm it's legitimacy. Rick and another fella named Tom Taylor looked it over, shook my hand, and congratulated me, saying that it was in fact an actual stickbowman Fred signed handle. Rich siad that Al Reader had told him that finding a stickbow man bow was like finding gold at the end of a rainbow.
Rich says he first saw the figure about 20 years ago in Al Readers collection, About 3 years ago Al went to Compton and saw 2 more in his collection. These 2 were drawn on B handles and are kind of sloppy. So that makes 3. Rich also said that he was told by Wade Philips that he saw one in the first Pope and Young book with the figure on it as well and said is was drawn in about 1940. (Thats 4) Joe St Charles has one in his museum in Washington State (5), Tom Taylors, who was with Rich at Denton showed me his Green Stripe Handle signed by Glenn St Charles and Fred with the stickbow man (6).Rich says that Bow Doc knows of 2 others. 1 on a Kodiak Magnum and the other on a Kodiak (8). So Rich says he knows of 8 for sure (mine being 9). He says that George Johnson claims he has 4 or 5 but has not seen them. Joe St. Charles says that he saw Fred sign about 10 that way at a signing.
Rich took a ton of pictures of the handle and got my permission to use them in publications and on his website.
Tom Taylor asked me if I was interested in selling mine and I , of course, told him that I was not. With this bow being a type 1 A Handle with serial number 1111, it may be the best bow that Fred ever signed the stickbowman on.
I am still numb that this bow resides in my collection.
Topic: The find of a lifetime (Read 1096 times)
