Yeah the weight was spot on for me. Thanks for starting this thread ... And the info.  I love this place!

'59 on top, '58 on bottom

Here's the profile of the '58


The '58 Alaskan is a dead ringer for many of the r/d longbows out today.  The force/draw curve is a little friendlier than the '59 to those of us with monkey arms and 30+ inch draws.

Just cause Im still looking....what coin is in that 59? Please? Still of the opinion that Im not sure Bear MADE any that wasnt aluminum in the double shelf models of 59-60 is all. Regardless of what kind its supposed to have for 59. (no offense to anyone, just cant find one that is otherwise)

Love to find someone to prove otherwise. LOL

Fully aware that the coins are not carved in stone and there are exceptions to what is listed for that year......but in this case the exception is one that has the coin LISTED for the year being the one I cant seem to find a photo of.  ??

Sweet bows!

God Bless

Isn't the bow Xavier posted a '62?  That's the pewter coin.  

I sold my Alaskans and can't recall if the '59 had the nickel or aluminum.  The grip was slim like all the '59s, not at all like the fatter '60s.

Yup, only the Kodiaks and KSpecials had the copper coins in '59.  You may find an occasional Grizzly with one, but I'd bet it's not original.

Unless all info Ive found online is in error, there wasnt an Alaskan made in 62, yet one made in late 61 could have easily had a pewter coin, I'd imagine.

Unsure what coin that is. Not quite "black" enough for pewter? Maybe?

I thought the same looking at it at first but all my info points at the single shelf, leather grip and limb color as a 61.

Wouldnt be first time Im incorrect though. LOL
(just hate it when it's so consistant)

Thanks

PS Did wonder if the 59-60 Alaskans had a grip change too like the K. Specials. First Ive heard anyone mentioning it. Wasnt/Not sure if it was only certain models or all models that went to fatter grips in 1960?

Would be great to confirm that. A bit lost on how to identify a 59 from a 60 in an Alaskan at this point.

Steve,
It's not so evident in the pictures of the two I posted, but there is definitely a grip difference.  The lower weight is much slimmer than the higher weight.

I have often wondered if the higher weight one is a 1960 and the lower weight a 1959.  Or, it could be they just put a slimmer grip on the lower weight thinking it would be a youth or ladies bow anyway.

That would be a good thing to keep in mind later if a guy COULD find two in the same weight with different size grips.lol

Ive no clue myself if it's model year or weight......and why all of you responding is so GREEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!

That said...I'm not even sure on the "lesser" bows if grip diameter was even monitored much in production?  Could be they came out as they came out? hmmmmm

STILL *assuming* a 59 would have a brass? or nickel? coin in an Alaskan......at least SOME of em? Going with Nickel at this point, .....kinda LOL.


WE SHALL OVER COME.......lol

Thanks, Ceme!

I've yet to see a brass coin in a '59.  Lots of nickel coins with oxidized finish over them making them look brass.  But no original brass coins until '63

Areas that are rubbed on the pewter aren't black - the oxidation gets rubbed off.  Take a look at the recent 62 Kodiak thread for some pics.

I don't have a '62 catalog, but don't remember hearing the Alaskan being offered that year.

What year did the Alaskan come in zebrawood ?

66 I think, Don
(had to change that from 69 after finding another one)
Ive seen two and both were 66inch. Could have been other years but did see one on the auctions some time ago.


God Bless

Steve,

The 1959 Alaskan started with regular serial numbering at NA001, then NB, NC etc...

The NR648 ? that ceme24 pictured is a standard 1959 Alaskan with the standard coin in them which was aluminum.

I have seen dozens of 1959 Alaskans, none have had any other coin than aluminum. Not to say any coin could have been put in them, but the standard coin was aluminum for them in 1959.

Forget the coins, date bows by the riser shape.

Like some of the early 1959 Kodiaks, some of the early Alaskans were not even drilled for a coin... I have one such un-drilled  no-coin 1959 Alaskan.

The other Alaskan that ceme24 shows, looks like serial number 16N16 That bow has a thicker grip area, which is also typical on other 1960 Bear bows, Kodiak, Kodiak Special, Grizzly. Those fatter grip Alaskans that I have seen also have an aluminum coin. But again, any coin could have been put in any bow, by anyone at any time.

That 16N16 is a later 1960 serial number. The Alaskan serial numbers are like the Kodiaks that continued the 1959 serial numbers into the early 1960 bows.

Hopefully this helps a bit.

OH BOY does THAT help , Wade! MANY thanks! The serial numbers on bears, other than those starting with the last digit of the year made.....always has me confused, to say the least.

Excellent info to date the Alaskans by and also interesting on the aluminum coins that I've yet to see LISTED for anything 59. interesting stuff!

God Bless

Thank you for posting Wade.  I was wondering if there was a correlation between the serial #, grip and the year.  Aside from my two, it seemed to be a general trend I noticed in watching these bows (serial #'s with a number to start had fatter grips).

1960 Alaskan with original shipping box dated Aug20'60 Grayling Mich. Box is not mint but still a neat old item.

"neat"......don't cover that one, Zep.

WOW .....comes closer.

Thanks for posting that.
God Bless

The one I have does not have a coin.  Gray glass both back and belly, serial# RJ298, 62" 43#.  Has a red decal that says "Bear Archery Shop of Detroit", Bear Archery Company, Grayling Mich. sticker, and Bear Glass Powered Alaskan.  Double shelf, with a very narrow riser.  Any ideas as to the year?

Interesting. Does it look like the 1958 one photo added earlier in this thread? Would be my first guess, but only a GUESS.

God Bless

Yes it look like the 1958 shown, but I couldn't tell if that one has the double shelf like mine.

How'd I do? Found one......so far.











Thanks again to all for all the help on these!!
God Bless!

That's one fine looking bow Steve!