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- These bows should not be used! Every model Bear bow made from 1953 to mid 1972 have the 1953 Canadian patent for the working recurve design on the lower limb. This is a patent date only, not the year of the bow! Also all model Bear Bows have leather wrapped grips from the late 1930's up to 1959.
Bear Kodiak Recurve Bow Serial Numbers
The markings (serial) the coin itself is a potential identifier. There's a lot to it, and there's been a lot done online demystifying the years they were made. Just saying its a Kodiak is a misnomer of value. Without more info, you could have a gem, or just a good bow on hand!
Either way without this info there is no telling what the value of that bow is. This will get your feet wet, but its not enough from the your post to figure out anything. The Serial Number: These bows usually have, what appears to be a hand inscription on one of the limbs that gives a serial number along with the length and pull weight of the bow. This serial number works very well for dating Bear Bows from 1965-1969 when the first digit of the serial number is the year of manufacture.
The Bear Grizzly recurve is a legendary bow, it’s been around since the 1950’s as part of the Bear Archery product line.The last design change to the bow was made way way back in 1964 by Mr Bear himself and (although the manufacturing process may have changed) the design has been untouched since. That makes the Grizzly bow something that has truly stood the test of time.
For example, a serial number of 5L212 would be a 1965 Bow. Prior to 1965, the serial numbers for all Bear bows were started over every month, making these bows almost impossible to date by serial number alone. The 'K' series of serial numbers (for example KZ9672) were started in 1970. Patent Mark: Most of the BEAR Bows we have sold have the logo and the US Patents printed on it along with the date of CANADA 1953.
This date that is printed on all bows made between 1953 and 1972 is simply the date of the patent for a working recurve limb and has nothing to do with the actual model year. Decals & Silkscreening: In 1948 the small Running Bear decal was first and then was replaced by the large Standing Bear decal in mid-1953.
The large Standing Bear decal also has the words 'Glass Powered Bow' under the Standing Bear. The large Standing Bear decal was used until 1955 when it was replaced with silk-screening the identification on the bows. By 1956 the silk-screening appeared on all bows. All Wood vs Laminate: If your bow is ALL wood (no laminations of any kind) then your bow had to be made before the mass productions beginning in 1949. If the ALL wood bow has a stamp that reads 'Bear Products' in some form it would have been made before the early to mid 40's. If it is stamped 'Bear Archery' it would have been made AFTER the early-mid 40's and BEFORE 1949.
Also wooden bows with a small 'Running Bear' decal can be dated to 1948 5. The Leather Grip: ALL Bear bows had leather grips until 1959. In 1959, the Kodiak Special removed the leather grip and in 1961 the Kodiak did the same, as well as the Grizzly in 1964. The Coin Medallion: Beginning in 1959 all Bear bows had a coin medallion of one type of metal or another. Below are the approx date ranges for the type of coin used. Copper Coin – 1959 Aluminum - 1960-1961 Pewter – 1962 Brass - 1963 – 1970 Nickel-Silver - 1971-1972 ALL coins were flush with the wood until 1972. In late 1972 the coin was raised above the surface of the bow and came in both gold and chrome covered plastic and are still used in Bear bows today.
Manufacturer Location: in 1978 Bear moved all manufacturing and offices to Gainesville, Florida. If your bow shows Gainesville on it then it was made after 1978 8. Model Of The Bow: Check the Model of the bow. Below is a yearly production chart for the most popular Bear Bows.
Its a buyers market beav! Bows are going cheap. Collectibles (the right ones) likely wont. Unfortunatly theirs just a lot of gear being circulated.
The joy with bear gear is a quick search will find the info you likely need. I collect old photos books and mags, i am by no means a bow expert on value. I have to dig like next guy for specs. Most stores are clueless to value. Take in a high doller riser that can easily fetch 4k you might get offered 100 bucks. So watch yourselves.
We live in the information age. Finding a quality trad shop, bowyer or trsd addict eho wants to do dome digging is where id start. Ebay most bow shops or cl is not the place to try and hang a $ sign on one before doing the home work. #5033675 - 05/01/15 07:29 PM Re: Bear Kodiak recurve VALUE??? trapper Registered: 12/05/13 Posts: 1293 Loc: Orange, Texas.
Dings depend on if you're going after collectors.or shooters. Collectors I wouldn't touch it! Shooters I wouldn't hesitate if the bow is in shooting condition. (no delams/cracks or major twists, though twists and be tweaked out, you can ruin a bow getting a bad one out). Shooters, or high production bows like most herters, wings, and brownings etc. Though some are extremely nice, most are not sought after or there's a zillion of them in garages and ebay the price is low low low. They don't fetch the high prices of say an early bear A/b riser.
But that doesn't mean they're bad shooters. I've had my hands on a few brownings that shot extremely well, wings as well!
If its a shooter bow, ie low value. Refinishing will not hurt anything, IF refinishing is an option. You may loose the nostalgic value of said bow but have a fine serviceable bow to run through the ringer. Just be certain its not rare.
I don't know if that post was done tounge in cheek but its obviously near impossible to tell what you have Chick by that post. The only guess I could give you is the fact is a recurve without the sharper curves, I'd venture to guess its an earlier bow than a later bow. But that's only a guess. I don't know herters history, and anymore I'm not interested in shooting one let alone buying one.If you're shipping for free that's a different story!
One thing about the herters I've owned over the years, every one of the blasted things were loud and had more vibration than a kangaroo on crack. I think a refinish by the bow doctor would be in order.maybe he could get the timing down and curb some of that crap. The last was a heavy riser recurve I found in the dump in mint shape. Guy wanted it for 100 bucks he took it.
There's too many good bows for me to jack with it. #5034111 - 05/02/15 08:06 AM Re: Bear Kodiak recurve VALUE??? trapper Registered: 12/23/06 Posts: 5505 Loc: 10714 Apple road Carthage,Mo6.
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I have an older friend who things are financially tight for right now. He has had two Bear Archery recurve bows in his closet for at least 20 years. He asked me to look online and see if I could find out where he could sell them and what they were worth. One of the bows says 'Bear glass powered Alaskan' and below the leather grip 'NH 507 62' 35# '.
The face is dark like walnut, the sides oak, and the back a reddish orange. It looks like it is designed to be shot either handed and has a flat copper or brass coin embedded. The second bow says ' White Bear AMO 62' 'and serial # 'WB01533 25/30# '. The face and back are both off-white and the side a blonde wood. It is a left handed bow, and has a chrome domed coin on it.
Any info would be appreciated. The Serial Number: These bows usually have, what appears to be a hand inscription on one of the limbs that gives a serial number along with the length and pull weight of the bow. This serial number works very well for dating Bear Bows from 1965-1969 when the first digit of the serial number is the year of manufacture. For example, a serial number of 5L212 would be a 1965 Bow. Prior to 1965, the serial numbers for all Bear bows were started over every month, making these bows almost impossible to date by serial number alone.
The 'K' series of serial numbers (for example KZ9672) were started in 1970. Patent Mark: Most of the BEAR Bows we have sold have the logo and the US Patents printed on it along with the date of CANADA 1953. This date that is printed on all bows made between 1953 and 1972 is simply the date of the patent for a working recurve limb and has nothing to do with the actual model year. Decals & Silkscreening: In 1948 the small Running Bear decal was first and then was replaced by the large Standing Bear decal in mid-1953.
The large Standing Bear decal also has the words 'Glass Powered Bow' under the Standing Bear. The large Standing Bear decal was used until 1955 when it was replaced with silk-screening the identification on the bows. By 1956 the silk-screening appeared on all bows. All Wood vs Laminate: If your bow is ALL wood (no laminations of any kind) then your bow had to be made before the mass productions beginning in 1949. If the ALL wood bow has a stamp that reads 'Bear Products' in some form it would have been made before the early to mid 40's. If it is stamped 'Bear Archery' it would have been made AFTER the early-mid 40's and BEFORE 1949. Also wooden bows with a small 'Running Bear' decal can be dated to 1948 5.
The Leather Grip: ALL Bear bows had leather grips until 1959. In 1959, the Kodiak Special removed the leather grip and in 1961 the Kodiak did the same, as well as the Grizzly in 1964. The Coin Medallion: Beginning in 1959 all Bear bows had a coin medallion of one type of metal or another. Below are the approx date ranges for the type of coin used. Copper Coin – 1959 Aluminum - 1960-1961 Pewter – 1962 Brass - 1963 – 1970 Nickel-Silver - 1971-1972 ALL coins were flush with the wood until 1972. In late 1972 the coin was raised above the surface of the bow and came in both gold and chrome covered plastic and are still used in Bear bows today.
Manufacturer Location: in 1978 Bear moved all manufacturing and offices to Gainesville, Florida. If your bow shows Gainesville on it then it was made after 1978 8. Model Of The Bow: Check the Model of the bow. Below is a yearly production chart for the most popular Bear Bows. You Alaskan is a 1959 or 1960.
Double shelf with black glass on the back and orange on the belly. The coin is probably aluminum.
Typically.typically the double shelf bows do not sell as well as a single shelf bow. The bow market is terrble right now with the economy and your friend may not do too well selling the bow. I have seen them back in the day sell for $175 on eBay but that what for one that was 55 lbs and mint.
That bow depending on how much stress it has(they have been known for stress)May only be worth $35 or $40 or may be worth $100. Your friend will have to decide what to sell it for. The White Bear is a early to mid 70's bow and it if it nice and clean with no holes it will be worth more than the the Alaskan even though the Alaskan is older.
End result without pics I say the Alaskan is $45 to $85 and the White Bear is $75 to $125. With no pics and no other info that is the range that I can come up with.
Thanks for all the info, it has been a great help. I've been able to determine the Alaskan is a '59, and it is well thought of among the Trad group. The White Bear must be between a '72 and a '76 due to the coin and the fact that is a pre-Gainesville bow. While the White Bear is newer it seems to be much more rare.
I haven't found a single one listed or sold anywhere I've looked or even a reference to one in anyones collection. I suppose Bear probably made far fewer of them. This one has a small (less than 1/16') spot 2' above the shelf where it looks like an arrow point might have penetrated the finish. Otherwise it looks very clean. Speaking of clean, the Alaskan seems to be oxidized but I wasn't sure if it should be wiped down with something. The leather has come off the shelf on the left side. Neither of them have any cracks and the tips look good on both.
Ironically, I guy came by my house today to look at something else, saw the bows and offered $150 for both. The offer was turned down until we could find out more about the White Bear but he took the info off of them to call a buddy who is a bow hunter and he thought would pay $200 for them.
Thanks for all the info, it has been a great help. I've been able to determine the Alaskan is a '59, and it is well thought of among the Trad group. The White Bear must be between a '72 and a '76 due to the coin and the fact that is a pre-Gainesville bow. While the White Bear is newer it seems to be much more rare.
I haven't found a single one listed or sold anywhere I've looked or even a reference to one in anyones collection. I suppose Bear probably made far fewer of them. This one has a small (less than 1/16') spot 2' above the shelf where it looks like an arrow point might have penetrated the finish. Otherwise it looks very clean. Speaking of clean, the Alaskan seems to be oxidized but I wasn't sure if it should be wiped down with something.
The leather has come off the shelf on the left side. Neither of them have any cracks and the tips look good on both. Ironically, I guy came by my house today to look at something else, saw the bows and offered $150 for both. The offer was turned down until we could find out more about the White Bear but he took the info off of them to call a buddy who is a bow hunter and he thought would pay $200 for them.
Hi, I'm interesting on the white bear 60' and are willing to pay $150.00 today. Let me know if ok. Thanks/ Rosie. First off, I'm new here so be gentle!!! Thanks Neo for all the Bear dating info!! I have3 older recurves & was able to dat 2 of them. One is more of a straight bow (kinda like the ones they used to let you shoot in school.
Blonde wood with very thin leather wrapped grip. No arrow shelf. It has no markings of any kind on it that I can find.
I have to think it's from the same era due to all 3 of these coming from my Grandfather. The other 2 are Bears. One is an early Grizzly. Has a small running Bear on top limb & a small 'patent applied for' decal on bottom limb. It's numbered 24617 & 62#.
No other markings. Beautiful bow with blonde & red layers. No condition issues that I can see other than a few minor scratches.
The other Bear bow has a Standing Bear, Glass Powered Bow, Grayling, Mich Decal. Also has a small Cub decal on the inside of upper limb. Numbered 62' - SE797 - 47#. The patent decal is nearly gone but you can see some of the number & the end of 'Canada'. It has a light colored (greenish hue) inside & dark gray on other side.
This bow appears to have some checking & lots of varnish flaking. Now the question.any significant value on any of these? I'm a vintage lure collector how also hoards most anything to do with the outdoors.
Any & all help appreciated. I cna probably return the favor if any of you have vintage fishing tackle questions.Thanks again! I think mine is a bearcat from 1971: serial no. KM21034, 60', #45, black laminate front and back, oak wood - I presume - on the sides and around the middle section, what I assume is a 'nickel-silver' coin that would seem to be intended to be flush, although I am not certain, and a leather arrow rest, the arrow shoots from left side. Mine also says Canada 1953 and the Michigan manufacturing location. What is the value, assuming it is what I think it to be?
(The bow is in good condition.).