Digging around in an old trunk I have in the basement full of old Bear Archery stuff & found this belt buckle. I got it from Howie Hatfield quite a few years ago.Question is has anyone seen this buckle in a Bear archery catalog.
(http://i680.photobucket.com/albums/vv166/renos53/100_3234.jpg) (http://s680.photobucket.com/user/renos53/media/100_3234.jpg.html)
I have never seen one.
Is that an "official" Bear issue? Either way, I like it
I'm not sure Lon.I purchased a bunch of Bear archery items from Howi Hatfield,I guess he was a big shot at Bear.I purchased autographed books --Bear tie tacks-- Bear coin earings-- medals-- big sky items.& this belt buckle.I'm sure he had a story with this buckle or I wouldn't have aquired it.I went through my catalogs from 60 thru the 80s with no luck in finding it.I just thought someone here could ID it.Maybe a employee promotional item-or years of service.I'm really not sure.
Not sure I have ever seen that one. I have an older never used slim belt which looks like alligator skin and is very shiny with a Bear buckle on it. I showed to someone and they thought the belt was a replacement. I told the guy not so as it came out of my dads old store that way.
Point is they had a lot of different Bear items for sale.
I have quite a few Fred Bear belt buckles but none that are leather.
Jon,I have one of those I believe.It has a chrome buckle with a large Bear coin in the middle of it.Leather belt is black with a gator pattern.By the looks of mine it has been used quite a bit.
Lon,I was digging around in my quivers the other day & found a Blackhawk quiver with a knife & file holder on it.Pretty cool.
First time I saw a Bear archery bear heading left!
http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=14;t=006079
hey Tony,
Jimmy Carter was President from 1976-80...so probably made during those last years at Grayling.
(http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z117/katswal/bearleft_zpsd3e403cf.jpg) (http://s190.photobucket.com/user/katswal/media/bearleft_zpsd3e403cf.jpg.html)
VICTOR COMPTOMETER CORPORATION Trademarks
Serial Number 80988318 Registration Number 0988318 Word Mark BEAR
Registration Number 0988318
Registration Date 1974-07-16
Trademark Events Event Date Event Description 1980-12-30 CANCELLED SEC. 8 (6-YR)
Anybody see this left faced logo on anything made by Bear 1974-1980?
Rick, sounds like the same one I have. I will probably give mine to my grand daughter to use.
Here is a cool Buckle I just purchased. Doubt it was ever for sale by Bear. Made by Von West 22K Gold finish with a Bear Bubblehead under what I am guessing is glass.
(http://i937.photobucket.com/albums/ad215/mrgq4126/117_4388.jpg) (http://s937.photobucket.com/user/mrgq4126/media/117_4388.jpg.html)
(http://i937.photobucket.com/albums/ad215/mrgq4126/117_4387.jpg) (http://s937.photobucket.com/user/mrgq4126/media/117_4387.jpg.html)
Maybe it was made for someone at Bear or by someone at Bear. Doesn't look like a Bear trademarked symbol, but it's well done and looks great
Hello Shane
Take a look at the vents??
Vents?
(http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z117/katswal/bearrr_zps84fa8c79.jpg) (http://s190.photobucket.com/user/katswal/media/bearrr_zps84fa8c79.jpg.html)
Wade's ID photo showing vent cut out and ferrule shape evolution.
Ty Tony. Not sure why he asked I look at Vents.
the head is not crimped..
Yes I think he was referring to the fact that although the rounded end of the ferrule is similar to the "bubblehead" ferrule of the '56 Razorheads, the cut-outs,or vents are more like those found on the 1964 Razorheads. Cool buckle either way.
the head is not crimped..
Yes The buckle is cool. My intent is not to detract from that. I stated look at the vents because as far as I am aware the Bear "bubblehead" was only from 1956 which had the rounded vents. Yes the head could be an "uncrimped" production head from a year after the change in the vents. But the Von West buckles are still being advertised as "vintage Bear Razorhead Bubblehead"... the broadhead in the buckle is clearly not a vintage Bear "Bubblehead".
"Vintage" does not mean 1956. Vintage is a vague term used when you just know something is old, but don't know how old. The vintage Bear razorhead on the buckle is gold-plated, embalmed in acrylic, and has what looks like converta-point threads. I don't think anybody, including the seller, plans on excavating it from its tomb, scraping off the gold plate, removing the threaded adaptor, and passing it off as a item made in 1956.
Now look at the vintage razorhead on the buckle. It is not a 1956. Yet it clearly has what people call a "bubblehead," not a crimp, and it sure looks like the 1964 razorheads made by Bear. Anybody ever see another 1964 bubblehead? Because the term "bubblehead" is a description used to describe uncrimped broadheads, this clearly is a "bubblehead."
This got me wondering. Which collector coined the term "bubblehead?" Can you find this description used in the 1956 or 1964 Bear archery catalog? Did Bear Archery ever make gold-plated broadheads for other companies besides Von West? If Bear Archery supplied Von West with uncrimped vintage 1964 "bubbleheads," are there some others waiting to be found?
Check out the topic "Antique vs. Vintage. Definition and differences?" that has been running on the big E website.
Ummm, this cool buckle is vintage, and it sure has me on the lookout for 1964 or newer Bear bubbleheads.
I did spot a vintage Bear bobblehead:
(http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z117/katswal/bearbobblehead_zpsb043f169.gif) (http://s190.photobucket.com/user/katswal/media/bearbobblehead_zpsb043f169.gif.html)
(http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z117/katswal/bearchrome_zpsc2903ac9.jpg) (http://s190.photobucket.com/user/katswal/media/bearchrome_zpsc2903ac9.jpg.html)
BINGO - 1964 Chrome Razorhead given to Bear dealers and vistors to Bear museum as a presentation head.
(Still looking for one of these 1964 Razorheads that has a "bubblehead," because the presentation 1964 chrome plated heads had crimped ferrules. Just passed on a typical 1956 "bubblehead" Razorhead for $13 on the big E. Another one of the typical 1956 uncrimped Razorheads is going for $9.99 right now.)
The buckle is quite common and not rare by any means. I have one and would not sell it as a rare 56 bubblehead buckle. It is just an archery broadhead belt buckle and as far as I am concerned may not even have any vintage ties to Bear at all.