We have a lot of discussion about the Kodiak and which ones were the best. But what about the Grizzly? Has there been a thread to discuss the merits of this bow as to what year and or length combination were perhaps considered to be the best?
In my opinion, '59-62 are the best shooters, and their style really appeals to me.
I like the 62" Grizzlys as well.
Yep. something special about that plain old looking 1962. Hard to get also. Jim
I like the 64 and 65 models. Pretty quick bow and you just gotta love tha Zebra wood riser.
It's always fun to see the transition in bow design over the years. The 58, second from the left is still a very nice shooting bow. (http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll292/toxo-collector/archery156.jpg) (http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll292/toxo-collector/archery155.jpg)
I think the GRizzlys before they shortened them down to 58" are the best. I have had a few Grizzly's. The one that has shot best for me is a 1960 with major limb stress that I picked up at Denton Hill for $40. I have since had the limbs snake-skinned with Western Diamondback skins to cover up the limb stress.
The '59 thru '62 are the one's that appeal to me the most and I shot the best.
I like my 59 grizz the best then my 62 and then my 67.
Larry, that 1962 is sharp! Nice little bunch of Grizzlies. I haven't seen too many with wide zebrawood like that, but I do have a similar one in the basement.
Will get some pic's of mine up soon. I am going to be different and go with 1959 - 1964. The 62" models are fabulous, but I will say that first year at 58" in 1964 saw some real thumpers.
If I had to pick one it would be my 1962. However, my 1963 needs a new tip and I have only shot it a couple of times a few months ago. I hear those are faster than the 1962 models. I look forward to comparing one day this spring.
There are two 1962's in this group.
Pic1 left to right: 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1962
(//%5Burl=http://images.imagelinky.com/1295402663.jpg%5D%20%5Bimg%5Dhttp://images.imagelinky.com/1295402663.jpg)[/url] [/IMG]
Pic 2:
1962 (over again), 1963, 1964, 1971, 1972
(//%5Burl=http://images.imagelinky.com/1295402717.jpg%5D%20%5Bimg%5Dhttp://images.imagelinky.com/1295402717.jpg)[/url] [/IMG]
My favorite shooter out of the group is the narrow grained 1962. I just like the grip. The 1964 is a smooth nail driver at 51#'s.
The '59's are junk. If you have any send them to me for proper disposal. :bigsmyl: :bigsmyl:
Ceme
Nice collection of Grizzly's. I would like to find me a nice dogleg. Thanks for the pics!!
Thank you Larry. I am kind of fond of them.
That 1963 I have has a nice riser but has a broken tip. It is waiting repair. It will be shootable one day soon. It has very nice limbs. No crazing, just a little yellowing.
I would like to have one of the green Super Grizzlies. I haven't been at this long but have only seen one. Not sure how they shoot but they are an interesting find.
LarryM, that bow in the middle is a beautiful looking bow.
I haven't shot all the years of Grizzly's but in my refinishing at least 75 various ones, I like the '58, '62 and '63 most. They are all different too. The '58 has good manners in all aspects. The '62 draws like butter and does not stack at all. The '63 doglegs have almost a straight-line feel to the force-draw curve but have killer cast. For me the '58 and '63 shoot most accurately. The '63's are very cool looking with their dogleg riser shape and '50's honeydew color limbs.
I haven't shot them all but I like the 50s through 60s best. I've only been collecting them for about a year so I'm missing a couple years still.
(http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k267/bowjack/IMG_8857.jpg)
Left to right 50,53,55,57,57,58,59,59
(http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k267/bowjack/IMG_8859.jpg)
Left to right 61,61,62,63,64,65,66,67,68,69,70
Jack Shanks
You the MAN! That's a KILLER transitional group of Grizzly's you have there! Very Nice......
Thanks for the Pics
Very Nice Pics Jack!
Jack,
I see were you don't have a 1956 grizzly. I have been looking for one for about a year now. Do you know if these were rare or not? Nice collection by the way.
Mike Strobel
Jack, that dark riser on the 1959 looks tremendous. Very nice group of bows!
Larry and Nick,
Thanks, I have quite a few duplicates and have had a number of newer Grizzlies but my favorites are from the early years until 1970.
I hope to fill in the 50s models I'm missing at some point but I'm in no big hurry.
Colin,
That bow is in super original condition. I didn't have it the last time you were here. Actually, I probably didn't have a lot of these bows when you were here.
Mike,
I really don't know about the 56 Grizzlies. I somehow ended up with four 56 Kodiaks but don't see many 55 Kodiaks. Although I do have two of those now. I guess when you are looking for something they are nowhere to be found.
Jack, don't if know but the shelves on your bows are on the wrong side.
doug77
The best shooting grizzly I ever owned was born in 1958. Very fast and very smooth. Plain looking as any bow I ever owned but a shooter nonetheless. I love the looks and feel of a 59 Grizzly and I hope my collection is never without one. 59's are a real pleasure to take for a walk in the woods or pound targets in the back yard.
Trap
Doug,
I didn't show them but I have a few lefties too.
I really love my 64 zebrawood
(http://i55.tinypic.com/15g33ih.jpg)
(http://i52.tinypic.com/10fc2m8.jpg)
Legois,
I'm kind of partial to those 64s and 65s too.
(http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k267/bowjack/img_8944.jpg)
(http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k267/bowjack/img_8945.jpg)
QuoteOriginally posted by Jack Shanks:
Legois,
I'm kind of partial to those 64s and 65s too.
(http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k267/bowjack/img_8945.jpg)
That's just mean!! :o :clapper:
Really Jack, what are you doing hogging all those :)
Just picked up a 1967. I will say I am pleasantly surprised with the grip and speed at it's weight. It's a nice bow
Love the character in that Zebrawood. It makes a very good looking Riser.
Nice lineup Jack!!
Very cool group Jack.
Actually, I'm thinning the herd some. Had a couple others I let go and probably will reduce these by one or two.
Need to free up some space and funds for other years and models.
one year I kind of like in the none working static tip Grizzly is the early maybe 53-54-ish with the kind of amber or honey color fiberglass on both sides ? somewhat the same color as a 1954 K-2 ? thats a super cool looking real good shooting year Grizzly bd
Very nice
excuse that i dont begin to have enough knowledge to know which grizzly is the best. but i had the opportunity to pick up a '62(thanks for help dating)grizzly the other day. got some pix taken last night
http://s878.photobucket.com/albums/ab346/sadiejane9/trad%20bows/
and plan on tossing some arrows with it this afternoon. its a sweet little bow and im sure will shoot well, even tho its a tad light for me(all my other shooters are 40-45#)
really enjoy what ive learned on this site so far. thanks ya'll
1962's are fabulous bows. Congrats on the buy!
Was wondering if this overlay on the front of the bow is common. Have not seen it before.
(http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss259/zepnut/DSCF0873.jpg)
(http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss259/zepnut/DSCF0878.jpg)
ZN my guess would be it may have been added after manufacture.Someone may have used it to cover a couple sight holes ? bd
That looks pretty sharp!!
I also like the zebrawood bows finished in satin like that one. I have a zebra tigercat in satin and it really makes them look nice.
From all appearences bd he did one nice job who ever did the work. It would have been nice to see one below the grip as well. Certainly looks interesting on picture......
Craziest thing. I just purchased a 63 Grizzly from a Tradgang member (Christian C.) and started looking up posts regarding the 63 Grizzly - and came across this thread. Was looking at pictures on p.1 of this thread - and lo and behold i just purchased the 63 Grizzly in the photo of 'Ceme24' collection!!!
Seems crazy to me - but i bet this happens a lot here. heh.
Serial 19B?36. 62". 48#. with star stamp over 4th digit of serial... can't read it from photo and I am at work.
Beautiful bow. Funky light green glass.
Thanks Xavier for returning a nice Grizzly thread to the top.
I have only owned a few, but cannot recall a "dud" among them.
The '62 is frequently mentioned, and for good reason. I am also a fan of zebrawood, so the '64 and '65 are special too.
I love my 65 and 68. I also enjoy my 58 and have enjoyed 67 and 71.
I am somewhat of a grizz enthusiast though.
I have not shot the 59-62 but am sure I would like them also.
Their all great bows.
The best grizzly I ever shot is the 59 and 60 models.
They are 62" and as smooth as silk with amazing cast. I have found that they are absolutely quiet too. Never needed silencers on any I shot.
I would even say they outshoot the Kodiak model of same years with same weight specs and further say they can keep up with ANY bow made today.
Yea, their that good!
......Philip
I love my 69 I have, it's smooth and quiet and it's a 56 incher.
Like others, I think the 62" 'ers from 1958-62 are among the best. The sleeper on my racks is the 1955, at least the one I have. Mine has a bit bigger shelf that I've seen on others, is whisper quiet, shoots exactly where you look and to the naked eye, smokes an arrow better than the other 62" Grizzly's I have.
A lot of great bows making me jealous. I am late to the collecting game but I did just pick up a 65 grizzly.
What is your guys opinion on the super grizzlys?
When did they come about?
QuoteOriginally posted by jmc5799:
A lot of great bows making me jealous. I am late to the collecting game but I did just pick up a 65 grizzly.
What is your guys opinion on the super grizzlys?
When did they come about?
The 65's are Great, Yours is very nice. The super Grizzlies are very good performing bows.
Really like the 63 Doglegs, I have this one to sell.
(http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j457/kruegerroad/IMG_2050.jpg)