I just picked up a 1955 Bear Kodiak. It looks to me like its in very good condition and has been lightly used. I'd love to make it back into a hunting bow. Is that generally recommended or should they be used sparingly? I'm not intending in turning it into a beater but I would like to get it out every now and then when the conditions are good.
[attachment=1]
Very nice shooter. I replaced both limb tip overlays on this 34#/60" 1955 Kodiak. I've got some 5/16 tapered to 9/32 Wapiti cedar shafts that I'm going to pu two blade Bear Razorheads on and hopefully harvest a whitetail this fall!!
[attachment=1]
Here's finished arrow
I bought my 1955 Bear Kodiak new in 55 the year I started bowhunting for deer. It was 60" 52#@ 28"
[attachment=1]
A few years ago I found a 1956 Kodiak on a table at a shoot. It is 43#@ 28" and in great shape. I got it ready to hunt with that fall. My buddy Ray Lyon gave me some old compressed cedar Acme Forge woods, fletched with Bear Razorheads. I fit it with a Bear 4 arrow quiver took it to the woods.
We got a little snow in the U P that November. I had a fall turkey permit and I managed to nail this bird. The arrow went to the feathers and the turkey died 6 feet from where it was hit.
The 55 and 56 Kodiaks were identical except for a slight change in decal placement. Double shelf, shoot from either side was good for me as a lefty. It is a great bow and one of the first by Bear going from a Static recurve to a full working recurve. Hunt with your bow it will take you back in history.
[attachment=1,msg2927705]
[attachment=2,msg2927705]
Ron, that was one of the neatest harvests at Shrewhaven. Really cool that those vintage arrows, bow and points proved what Fred knew many years ago.
[attachment=1]
'Hey Ron, do you remember when you used my equipment to kill that turkey up at Shrewhaven?! Man I could have roasted that to perfection over coals if I'd have been in your camp' 😉
I love your bow! What brace height do you recommend setting it at? I'm somewhat new to traditional archery but all of the sudden I have 4 bows now! The other one I want to get going is a 66 or 67 Ben Pearson Colt. It was my dads bow. He was the first one to shoot a deer with the bow in our family. The Kodiak sure looks like it will be fun!
I'm shooting mine at 7 1/8