Posted this question in the trad history/collecting thread, but no answer yet so I thought I'd broaden the search. 

Just picked up a set of white Bear TD limbs.  I don't see a White Knight decal, but it does have the remnants of the Bear Take-Down with Fastcor decal on the belly side of the top limb and the standing bear with patent dates decal on the lower limb belly.  The decals are in black and about 60-70%, and the white on the limbs surrounding the decals is yellowing a bit. Except for the area around the decals, the remainder of the limbs have been repainted white, including the tips and wedges.

The wear on the limb butts shows that there's black glass under all that white. So, Bear painted the limbs first and then they were repainted.

Here's the question?  Did Bear paint limbs white to hide defects that may have been in the black glass, or was it just a way of offering another limb color, particularly white, which was and is associated with lighter target weight limbs.

Has anyone refinished a set of white limbs and found a surprise under the finish? I plan to refinish these unless there's a good chance I might find substantial cosmetic problems under the white finish. 

Jerry, check out this Bear bow info. May help you out.

My Bear Victor Viking TD which I bought new in 1971 had white target limbs and black hunting limbs.

http://www.vintagearchery.org/bear.html

Check your pm..