A friend of mine picked up a Bear Polar in fabulous condition.  The bow is marked as 49# and 64" long.  Its serial number is NB184.

Can anyone tell me when this bow was made and whether it will be safe to string and/or shoot.  Visually, the bow looks perfect with almost no wear and clean laminations.  It has what appears to be a factory drilled and fitted quiver mount and an unused 3-arrow Bear bow quiver with a mounting point for a fourth broadheaded arrow on its outer face.  It also has what I believe to be a factory linen string which of course will be carefully stored.

Sorry I don't have any pictures, no digital camera.

Thanks,
Brannon

By the way, it is a semi-curve bow with the "Glass Powered" label.  If I'm right, that makes the bow 1956-1960?

The bow is an early 50's Polar.  If it has a decal, rather than silk screen, it is a 55 or earlier.  The quiver is nearly as valuable as the bow on this one.  I would not hesitate to use it if you don't see any deep cracks or splitting.  String it and look at the symmetry of the string to the limbs;  if fairly even the limbs are probably okay to use.