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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Possum Head on September 09, 2021, 04:15:40 PM

Title: What year Bear
Post by: Possum Head on September 09, 2021, 04:15:40 PM
Who can date for me?[attachment=1]Thank you
Title: Re: What year Bear
Post by: stonekiller on September 09, 2021, 06:52:11 PM
2011
Title: Re: What year Bear
Post by: Bowguy67 on September 09, 2021, 07:03:50 PM
Boys if that was that easy could anyone help me here. My uncles old bow. I don't know much about it. I'm starting to see it's a hunter. He painted it all black.
Title: Re: What year Bear
Post by: Possum Head on September 09, 2021, 08:53:16 PM
Jacob, I can't thank you enough! Is there an available resource that can help rookies like me to decode numbers?
Title: Re: What year Bear
Post by: Hud on September 10, 2021, 12:45:40 AM
Collectible Forum, but include the model, length and glass color. Bear may have used a special glass color with a particular model for one year.
Use a little lacquer thinner, mineral spirits, or white vinegar to uncover the model, decals etc.  If that doesn't do it try Acetone, If you have some rubber gloves use them with rags and when done drop them in a paint container with water and dish soap.
Title: Re: What year Bear
Post by: woodchucker on September 10, 2021, 07:35:44 AM
Michael,

Looks like a Gainesville, late 70's, Blue Stripe, Kodiak Hunter
Bear started the "Blue Stripe" in 1976 for the Bicentennial.
Title: Re: What year Bear
Post by: Bowguy67 on September 10, 2021, 08:46:06 AM
Thanks
Title: Re: What year Bear
Post by: Possum Head on September 10, 2021, 11:38:58 AM
Thanks Hud!!
Title: Re: What year Bear
Post by: Ken Sorg on September 11, 2021, 02:08:03 AM
Mean greens started in 1973 and I'd guess by the "KT" in the serial number the kodiak hunter is a 73/74 and a grayling bow.
Title: Re: What year Bear
Post by: Bowguy67 on September 11, 2021, 04:46:46 AM
Thank you
Title: Re: What year Bear
Post by: mj seratt on September 13, 2021, 02:05:59 AM
Woodchucker-Yeah, but what day of the week was it made?

Murray
Title: Re: What year Bear
Post by: woodchucker on September 13, 2021, 08:54:52 AM
Well Murray, The Future Wood/Gainesville bows, are kinda hard to nail down...?? :dunno:

I think IMHO, that getting the Gainesville plant up & running, there was a push to crank out bows.
The Future Wood (died maple) was a big hit!! Both cheap and easy to get. There seems to be no ryme or reason to the color combinations. The "Blue Stripe" was introduced to commemorate the 1976 Bicentenial. (75-76)
Sadly, all this happened just before the compound craze hit.

As for the serial numbers.... Takes a smarter man than me!!! I'm old, and have brain farts....  :help:
Title: Re: What year Bear
Post by: Blackstick on September 14, 2021, 07:03:30 AM
Bowguy67,

Your Kodiak Hunter appears to be a 1976 model. In 76 Bear changed the lettering from black to white, and in 77 the serial number started with a KH.

Bear did not move the forms from Grayling to Gainesville, so 1977 was the last year made.
Title: Re: What year Bear
Post by: Bowguy67 on September 16, 2021, 08:08:35 PM
Thank you blackstick