Flea market find today - Photo pg. 2- test drive finally

[Car54]

I'll give ya $47.50 for it...nice find!

[Whitetail Addict]

Originally posted by Car54:
I'll give ya $47.50 for it...nice find!

You beat me to it, lol. Nice bow ron, and a deal for sure.  

Bob

[ron w]

This is a Bear Alaskan, I'm told a 1970, the last year they were offered. I have to run a few arrows through her but I'm thinking it's goona be sweet.

[Amberjack]

Love it.

The Alaskan is one of my favorite Bears.  I have a '59 that's on my 'house is on fire' grab and go list.

Congrats!

[elkken]

Some times it's better to be lucky than good … nice find

[ron w]

Finally.......I got to go out and shoot my flea market find. I found some vintage cedars at the Baltimore shoot back in May and I thought they might fly well out of this 45 year old Bear Alaskan. I hobbled down to my back yard range and started to shoot. Just amazing.........to spend $45 on a bow that is 45 years old, then put about 4 1/2 hours into a refinish and a new string, and have it shoot as well a custom I could have had made last week........amazing. It's just proof that back in the day quality stuff came out of Grayling Mich. I would hunt with this bow in a heart beat.  

[Whitetail Addict]

I'm glad to hear it Ron. Enjoy your new bow.  

Bob

[Wheels2]

I am not a Bear fan, but for that money, I would have jumped on it.  Heck, I would have gone even higher.

[tomsm44]

That turned out beautifully.  I'm sure I can search and find more detail on some older threads, but what did you use to refinish it with, and what's the best way to remove the old finish?  I have an old Black Bear my son shoots that I would like to refinish.  

Matt

[ron w]

I had to scrape of the hard slim that was on it, wiped it down the lacquer thinner then OO steel wool. Then 3 coats of semi-gloss DEFT spray finish.

[Cavscout9753]

That's a great flea market find! Sometimes these types of things are funny. Most people now days, even bowhunters, think all stick bows are useless, especially older ones. Great job on the rehab too! It looks great!

[tomsm44]

Thanks.  Does the lacquer thinner take the screen print decals and hand written specs?  Just want to know what to expect if I dive in.

[ron w]

I didn't have to take the original finish off, so the decals and specs remain untouched. I just roughed the finish up a bit and then sprayed it.

[tomsm44]

Got you.  I'll have to look a little closer at mine and see if the original finish is good enough to finish over.

Thanks again,
Matt

[Longbow58]

Got a Alaskan 43#er black and orange. Shoots those GT 600's very well. Good friend gave her to me.

[Possum Head]

Nice find Mr. Ron you did good.

[BrownA5]

Nice find Ron.  Don't seem to to have much luck in my neck of the woods with those types of finds!