1956 Bear Kodiak Question

[Moots]

A 1956 Kodiak Special caught my eye.  I haven't purchased older bows.  Is this a good model year for a Bear?  What questions do I ask seller?  Holes in bow?  Stress lines?  Limbs straight?

Also, I saw an old thread that Don Ward, a TradGang member used to refinish old Bears.  Does anyone know how I might contact him, or know of others who restore these bows?  

This might be a fun project.

Thanks,
Rob Hansen
Colorado

[Blackhawk]

I've heard nothing negative about this one and think you are heading in the right direction with those questions to the seller.

Don is certainly one of the best and has been very generous in making available a lot of info on the refinishing process.  

You may find that you could even do this yourself, making the project very self-satisfying and money-saving.  

Good luck.

[eidsvolling]

You should check the   Trad History/Collecting forum  and then post any remaining questions there. You'll find an enormous amount of info there on all things Kodiak (and much more), including the  Kodiak Specials 1955-1967 Identification Guide  authored by expert collector Wade Phillips.

[Moots]

Wow, what a wealth of information on those sites.  Thank you.

Rob