I picked up a super k that needs to be refinished. It had a camo job put on it, in it's past and then removed. After a hard life I am going to bring it back. I know it is a 73 or 74 but the writing was removed. Without this any way to tell which it is?  Thanks for any help, Steve

The 73 will have gold lettering the 74 white. If there is no lettering I guess you could make it a 73 or 74 when you refinish it.

Sorry, I didn't answer your question. The lettering is the only difference that I know of. I suspect that the lettering was changed to white sometime during the 73 model year. I see lots with white lettering but few with gold.

Thanks Jack, can you tell me what letters and how many numbers were used in 73?

Thanks Jack, can you tell me what letters and how many numbers were used in 73?

Steve,

  All of the Super Kodiaks I have owned from 71-76 have a KZ at the beginning of the serial number. I only have one 1970 Super Kodiak and it has a KY serial number but is 64" long. The last year that length was offered in Grayling Super Kodiaks. I believe the 60" 1970 would have the KZ serial number. Each 70-76 Super Kodiak I have has either four or five digits following the letters.

I have one with white lettering, rose tips and raised medallion but it says Grayling MI on it-what year would this be? Oh it is 60" and black glass-serial number starts with KZ.

Kelly,

That sounds like a 1973-74. I'm not all that convinced that all 73's had gold lettering is the reason I say this.

Here is a 72 and a 73-74 that shows the difference in the stripes.


The 75 and 76 were the blue stripes.

The 75 had white overlays the 76 futurewood.

Thanks, Jack. Mine looks like the one on the right-color of stripes is same as the tips, which are rose colored.

The raised medallion started in 1973, correct?

Whem did the Gainesville decal show up on the bows?

I have heard the raised medallion started in mid-72 but I have never owned a 72 Bear bow with a raised medallion. The US patent also began sometime during the 72 Model year and replaced the 1953 Canadian patent. Bear Archery moved to Gainesville in 1978.

Jack my wife has a 72 k mag, with the raised medallion.and I have a 72 k mag with the coin.

Rick,

I knew they were out there but I have never owned one myself. They could have started late in the model year is why I don't see more.

I agree Jack,I have a 72 grizzly with coin,and a 72 kodiak hunter with coin.

Jack, I have one that I have thought was a '72 with the raised coin.  Both decals on the belly.  Is that what this one looks like to you?

ya whip thats a 72.and I also have a 72 with flat coin in it.

Mine has the same color handle wood in the points whereas yours Whip is different. If you'll look back up at Jack's picture of the 72 and 73/74 ones you'll see that the 1972 has the same wood color in the points as yours does.

Whip, That bow looks familiar !

Whip,

Sorry, for the delay in answering. Like Rick and Kelly said yours would be a later model 72 with the raised coin.