Early Bear Polar Identification Guide 1950-1961

[ssoden]

Just to comfirm what I have ... my Polar is a 64" white glass with black/white overlays & tips. s/n is JL142. What year would this bow be? It's a great shooter and very fast for a 42# bow!

Thanks for your help,
Steve

[Jeremy]

Steve,
Yours should be an early 1961.  At some point in '61 they switched over to a 66" Polar.

[ssoden]

Thanks Jeremy .. I would rate the bow a 8-10 .. it's in great shape. i just may hang the BW up and hunt with the Polar next year  

[TrapperJohn]

Jeremy    if i read it allrite mine b a 55  ser#my746 64" 46#  orig grip an rest. my Alaskan b a duel shelf '66' ser# mo732  62" 50#  am i bout rite.   thanks  TJ

[Nodrama43]

I have a Polar that is marked 62". The serial # is LD63 and it is 55#.  Has the dual shelf and no alum lam. Red colored glass front and back with original leather grip etc. I thought it might be a 1954 model but it is only 62". It has the straighter limbs like the 55 model. I will try to post a pic. Can anyone tell me what this might be?

[Jeremy]

Post some pics     The only 62" oldies I've seen were '51s, but they didn't have red glass.

[Nodrama43]

can someone tell me what i need to do to post pics?  I took some earlier today but couldn't figure out how to post them.

[Jeremy]

Read here for instructions on posting pics

http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=5;t=028257

[Jeremy]

That's definitely a '54.  Dual, cut in shelves and a simple reflexed longbow, not the semi-recurve that started in '55.  I haven't seen one in 62" before though.  

The '54 Cub was 62", but I thought those were all wedged shelves, not cut ins.  Does it actually have the "Polar" decal?  If not, my bet would be on a late, transitional Cub, not a Polar

That's a good weight and it looks to be in good shape.  Get some arrows and go get them bloody w/ the old girl!    

[damascusdave]

Originally posted by CrookedStick:
Well guys, I guess mine's a 1950? I think this is an example of the aluminum as a second laminate layer on the face of the bow rather than being the belly itself.

I'm obviously not an expert, but I didn't find a reference to anything other than this being a Polar.

The guy that I bought it from said he shot it for years until it delaminated, then the local archery dealer told him to epoxy it back together and keep shooting it...so he did!    :eek:    

The only real wall hanger I own.

Bernie

 

 

 

 

Had the sister (or brother) to this bow in my hands on Monday. Looked pretty good except for a bit of separation noticable at one tip. Seems to me it was also quite a stiff draw weight.

The owner has never strung it and never will. It is merely an interesting piece of Bear history.

He also had a Grumley take down in pristine condition.

DDave

[damascusdave]

Move this to the top in expectation of mine finally arriving.

DDave

[Lucas K]

Any way you gents could extend the years on this thread to include the bigger risers of the 60's?

Lucas

[damascusdave]

I would like that too. I am still not sure if mine is a 64 or a 63.
The more I shoot that bow the more I like it.
DDave

[Jim now in Kentucky]

Jeremy,

If you're still watching this, please comment on my bow. It seems to be a 1953 and does have red glass, single cut in shelf with a saddle grip.

Do you measure the length nock to nock strung, unstrung, or overall length?

Also, the serial number starts with a P, which doesn't seem logical from other numbers noted above. It's p 9301.

Jim

[Jeremy]

Jim,

Looking through the pics, the 'P' prefix (P for Polar) was used from 1950 into 1953, and based on your description I'd say your bow is a '53 Polar.

You can get an approximate length by measuring NTN while unstrung.  As far as I know the Polar was only 64" in '53, but based on what I've seen the actual length can vary by almost an inch depending on who was working on the bow the day it was made.

[Jim now in Kentucky]

Length is about right then, 53-1/2" unstrung. Nice to feel pretty confident of when the bow was made. I was five that year, and couldn't have begun to draw this 50 pounder.

Thanks,

Jim

[Jeremy]

ttt

[M60gunner]

Jermy, I am looking at what seems to be a 53 Polar by the info on this thread. But the serial# prefix doesn't match. It has: ND-599 with the letter "A" over. By the way it is 44# and 64" long. It looks like it took the very early bow quiver. It is red glass with a single sight window.
I also wonder how long should the string be? This bow is supposed to have the orginal string? It just looks short to me. I am afraid to try and string the bow with this string.Thank you, Tom

[M60gunner]

Opps, went back and looked at pics agian. This bow seems to fit in the "58" year. My God I was in 7th grade. Still wonder about the string.

[Yelloweye]

Thanks Jeremy, I was looking for some refinishing info. and found your post. Seems I have a 51 or a 52 polar. But the number is SP23, its 62" no alum. Looks sound for shooting. Needs a grip and maybe some refinishing.