Harold, Bob York makes aftermarket latch bears.

I do not recall the price of some after market bears but I know the hand make ones take some time to make bd

I believe Bob York charges $35 plus shipping for a pair of Bears. He makes two sizes and different colors.

Bob and his products are truely TOP NOTCH.

Very nice work

Great job all the way around on this one!

And now I find out someone sells bears!!!Oh well.I have been kind of dragging my feet on this project but I have finally decided on a color for the bears and plan to make them today.I should be able to install them tomorrow.I'll get pictures up when I do.

I found a cool padded,zippered case that the riser fits in nicely and rigged up a bow sock to hold the limbs.I plan to pack the bow in my cat quiver for lion hunting next year.

ANyone know how to get the latching clip out? This the little tab at holds the latch shut. I took the screw out but the clip and the spring are not coming out.

Thanks dave

Here is the are the rare,"Tundra Gray" bears.Only one known set ever made.I decided I wanted some contrast so I made them close to the same color as the riser.

The bears are made from an epoxy putty.I hand mixed tiny amounts of black and green pigments into the putty till I got the color I wanted.Casting urethanes don't take glue as well,so I chose to make them from epoxy.

These bears have no stem on the back.Instead,I used a countersink bit on the back of the hole in the latch.I covered the corresponding hole in the riser with a small piece of masking tape,then installed the latch on the rider.Now that the latch is installed,that hole is undercut in back.I dabbed some fast set paste epoxy in the hole(this becomes my stem)and applied a thin layer on the back of the bear and put it in place.

I forgot to say,I repainted the latches with Rustoleum's black Texture paint.Not Multi Texture,like the riser,just "Texture".It looks similar to the paint on the newer Bear TD's.

Check out this padded case I found to pack the riser in.I got it from a knifemaker supply.It is black cordura,very well padded and lined with soft flannel.The price was $8.95.
 

looks great. the case is cool too.  

Super Work!!

Link to place where you bought the case?

Sent you a PM,OldSkool.

Great Work Jim. I love the color and the detail work you have done is first rate. That's a real show piece. By the way, I have a set of ivory bears Bob York made for me on one of my takedowns. All things considered, yours are as nice.     Grant

Thank you Grant.Ivory sounds pretty cool.I had actually considered that for mine,then decided at the last minute on the gray-green.

looks very nice.

Awesome work Jim,mad skillz brother!  

QuoteOriginally posted by JimB:
I forgot to say,I repainted the latches with Rustoleum's black Texture paint.Not Multi Texture,like the riser,just "Texture".It looks similar to the paint on the newer Bear TD's.

Check out this padded case I found to pack the riser in.I got it from a knifemaker supply.It is black cordura,very well padded and lined with soft flannel.The price was $8.95.
 

Jim;

Do they make any of these cases that a B handle would fit in? Or a set of limbs?

Thanks for this very informative thread.

This was by far the biggest padded knife case I could find,5"X19".I think for a "B" handle,you would need to find some other type of case.

Jim,

Excellent job on the riser and latches.  My best friend just retired to Az. I gave him my "A" riser and two sets of fascor (red tip)limbs with accessories for a retirement gift. I need to let him know this site and your post as well.

Thanks, Dean

Great thread! Very informative. You sir, are a craftsman!