Type 1 owners...

[Stixbowdrew]

Ok so I'm going to ask a question that many people will differ on and I want to know reasoning behind the answers, if you own a type 1 or rare bear bow do you actually use it like it was intended? Or do you let it hang on the wall and why? I'm often perplexed by the idea of one of the greatest hunting bows hanging dormant

[Bowwild]

I"ve owned a couple and didn't prefer hunting with them. They were worth so much to others that I couldn't afford to keep them.

I miss all of them though.

[Bill Kissner]

I killed my first deer with one in 1969 and still have it. Also have a Florida "A" model. The reason I don't hunt with them is I have other bows I like much better.

[alaskabowhunter]

In 1969 the "A" handles were made in Grayling, Michigan. First appeared in the 1970 catalog...Bear switched production to mag risers in 1972.

 Bear's "B" was reintroduced and manufactured  in Gainsville, Florida from 1980 till present...Gainsville A handles were brought back in 2001 till present.

Shoot 'em all... they were meant to be bent.

[alaskabowhunter]

[Bjorn]

Always a treat to see a few of your bows Chuck!      

[Stixbowdrew]

Dang that's one heck of a collection Alaska, do you use them?

[nineworlds9]

I say use em all and help keep em affordable, LOL.  I get sick when I see ads around for "mint condition, never strung, 1 of 200, blah blah blah $2200 or whatever" etc.  Never strung?  A bow never strung ain't a bow..it's a lump waiting to be a bow LOL

[nineworlds9]

BTW, that's one fine mess of Bears in that pic.  Wowza.

[Lucas K]

A pair of wood handle c risers!

[Stixbowdrew]

That fourth one in from the left would look real nice with a set of stahl limbs # 3 length about 60# with copperheads skins from mike yancy and a quiver of fmjs with greenies in my hand on October 1  :D

[TBinMN]

I hunt with several favorite classic Bear bows - I took this doe last year with my Type 1A. There is something truly special to me about being in the woods in the Fall with these Bear bows!

 

   

[HighTecRedNeck]

Now granted I am new to trad. That being said I have always loved old things and the pure beauty of the workman ship of something mostly hand made vs these days of someone putting something in a CNC machine and pushing a button and out pops whatever it is being made.

I say screw their " Worth " and use it for the purpose it was made.I think that is what would make those old craftsmen happy to see.

[cacciatore]

I use my Type 1 but with Rose Oak limbs!

[alaskabowhunter]

a few of my current shooters..

 

[alaskabowhunter]

early Gainsville factory camo outfit, signed by Fred...  

 

[Stixbowdrew]

Ok that one is by far the coolest! My buddy and ingot into an argument the other day on wether or not bear made a factory camo take down

[alaskabowhunter]

Thanks Drew, I've only seen one other factory camo takedown in all my years dabbling in Bear bows... they are rare...
 I like signed bows...some guy named Fred scribbled his name on these 3 ...
 

[Stixbowdrew]

Wow! You have one impressive collection, any luck ever finding one at a garage sale? Lol a guys got to have dreams right?

[alaskabowhunter]

I did acquire a type I B handle from a little ma an pa archery shop years ago... a true score.