Left: 56" Grizzly Silver Medallion green glass 60#
serial # KR35118
Right: 60" Super K, Gold Medallion, Black glass, 42# Serial # 7Z793
What can you tell me about them?
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v247/theferret111/2007_07030001.jpg)
THEY are beautiful ,i never get tired of looking at recurves.sorry i cant tell you more .might wanna get up with rich lopez (droptine59)he used to have a huge collection
Mickey,
I believe the Super K is a 1967
The Grizzly is a 1970's. I believe if it has a flush-mount coin it IS a 1970,raised coins are later dates.
I'm sure that someone who knows more than I do will be able to tell you more.
BTW, VERY NICE!!!!!!!!!! :thumbsup:
Hello Ferret;
The Super K is a 1967-first year in production. This riser is all phenolic (high compression material, similar to whats used for bowling balls from the same period) including the nose caps. '68 and 69 models are very similar except that rosewood caps were used. If that bow is as clean as it looks with minimal to no compression fractures in the riser or limbs it is worth $400.00 or better on the current open market. Beautiful bows and solid shooters but neither of mine are real fast but who cares? The Grizzly is an early '70s model, probably an early 70 before they began using the dyed maple in the riser and before they returnrd to the 58" length. Shooters can thank Owen Jeffery for the design changes in the Grizzly model that occured in the late '60s. The riser is more "set-back" than that of a '67 and this bow is probably marginally faster and less "shockey" than earlier models. Aesthetically, I'm more fond of the profile on the older models which some argue pointed a little better because of the forward grip/shelf position but that's all about taste and personal preference. Very solid bow design that can still be purchased at a reasonable price.Since the 56" model was only made for a short time, they sometimes go a little higher than the later 58" models. You made a good score-especially if you plan to shoot and hunt with'em. :clapper: Grant
SEE!!!!! LOL
The 56" Grizzly was only made for 3 years. It was either 68, 69, 70 or maybe 69, 70, 71. Chad
Your killin me Mickey. For someone who shoots selfbows you sure are getting a nice collection of classic curves. Do I smell the winds of change coming?
Thanks for the info guys. I like hearing from those who know about this suff. Now that you mention it Grant that riser is like a bowling ball in nature. They won't get shot by me...for me they are wall art.
Tim..no change planned. I'm just an enthusiastic collector with a pretty decent collection (of bows, archery books, archery magazines, arrows,broadheads, Indian artifacts etc). There were some folks over last night and they were in our trophy room looking around and said "this place is like a museum" LOL. I really need to sit down and catalog this stuff sometime. Sad thing is my son Brian will probably have to figure out what to do with all this crap when I die. Good thing he's into archery :bigsmyl:
Mickey, my youngest son pulled me back into archery when he "discovered" my collection gathering dust. I laid most of my personal pastimes away when I became a single parent. I figured I'd get right back to it and thirteen years went by in a blink. He'll get all of them, another son gets the guitars, and another my library. I enjoy the boy's interest as much as I do my own. Grant
:bigsmyl: Nice Mickey...
Check this out brother,,
I love this site
http://www.archerycollecting.com/FeatureArticles/Bear_Archery_Chronology.htm
http://www.archerycollecting.com/FeatureArticles/Bear_Bows_Datings.htm
http://www.archerycollecting.com/FeatureArticles/Bear_Archery_Bows.htm
How About Serial Numbers for Dating?
According to research done by Al Reader of New Jersey, who by the way is considered by most to be the most knowledgeable Bear collector alive, serial numbers work very well for dating Bear bows, but only for the years 1965-1969 when the first digit of the serial number is the year of manufacture. For example, a serial number of 6Z3884 would be a 1966 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 KZ9399) were started in 1970.
Even looking at the catalogs is not a sure way of dating a Bear bow, as sometimes the pictures were used for more than one year, even though there might have been changes in the woods used, or the colors available.
Remember also that Bear had to take the next year's catalog to the printer in late fall of the prior year. This means that bows for that catalog or model year had to be available to take pictures of in the fall before the catalog was printed. For this reason, you will find bows of a particular year with features of the previous year. A good example would be the few known examples of the 1954 Kodiak II (Compass Kodiaks) with the small "Running Bear" decal which was actually discontinued in late1953. Most 1954 Kodiak II's will be found with the large Standing Bear decal which replaced the small Running Bear decal in 1954. Another example would be the few known 1959 Kodiaks which don't have a coin medallion which were supposed to be on all Kodiaks beginning in model year 1959. Obviously these bows were made in late 1958 before the medallions became available to the factory.
Sometimes showing the bow to a knowledgeable collector is the only sure way to get an accurate date of manufacture.
Yearly Production Chart For The Most Popular Grayling-Made Bear Bows
(Researched by and reprinted with the permission of Al Reader, North Haledon, NJ)
Wood Handle Take-Down 1969-1972
Wood C-Riser Victor Custom 1973-1975
Magnesium Handle Take-Down A-B-C 1971-1978
Kodiak Static Recurve 1950-1953
Kodiak Recurve 1954-1966
Super Kodiak 1967-1976
Grizzly Static Recurve 1949-1957
Grizzly Recurve 1958-1978
Super Magnum 48 1966-1976
Kodiak Magnum 52" 1961-1977
Kodiak Hunter 58" and 60" 1967-1977
Tamerlane 1962-1968
Tamerlane HC-30 1965-1967
Tamerlane HC-300 1968-1972
Kodiak Special 1955-1967
Temujin 1968-1970
Tarter 1968-1972
Victor Patriot 1973-1977
Victor 1972
Polar (recurve) 1957-1970
Alaskan (leather grip semi-recurve) 1959-1961
Alaskan (recurve) 1966-1970
Tigercat 1964-1978
Bearcat 1964-1971
Black Bear 1972-1978
Little Bear 1965-1978
The guy who sees more bear bows than Al Reader is Bowdoc.
LOL,,,He might see one of mine soon,If he does side jobs,,JB