Kodiak Special pics, refinishing advice?

[hansenjw]

Hey guys, here are some pics of a Kodiak Special that my father pulled out of his barn after a few decades. This one belonged to my grandfather who did some target shooting with it in Detroit.

I'm taking up traditional archery now, and with a TON of help from Jerry @ Blackhawk in Madison, WI, I've started practicing for hunting next year! I have one other suitable bow, an Alaskan, but it's higher poundage so I was advised to stick with this lighter one until I get some technique. Anyways, shooting this one feels great.

Does anybody care to take a guess at the year of this bow? I guess it's a late '50s, but don't know much else. Any other interesting nuggets you could tell me about this bow would be appreciated.

Also, I'm planning to refinish this bow. Nothing major, but it's pretty dinged up and has a thick extra coat of finish that somebody added at some point. I was thinking about starting with some 600 grit, get a thin layer of old finish off the top, then move to 1000 grit, and finish with some wet sanding. Then a couple light coats of spray on poly with some sanding between coats. How does that sound? I was thinking of using blue painters tape to cover the decals.

On to the pics...

[Wade Phillips]

Nice bow, it is 1957 Bear Kodiak Special, in the longest of 5 lengths available that year.

More information can be found on this Kodiak Special Identification thread...

  http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=14;t=002059#000000  


Check out Doc's Restoration 101 thread for everything you wanted to know about restoring old bows...

http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=14;t=001670#000000

[4runr]

That's a sweet old bow. The history behind it is even sweeter.

[hansenjw]

Wow, that refinishing thread is amazing! Not to mention a little intimidating. I was just thinking about spending a couple days sanding down and refinishing. I gotta think about this again...

After I read that thread, I checked out both of my tips, and sure enough the lamination is separating a little. I can just see the crack. Hmm... anybody know what the bow doc charges for his amazing restorations?  

[4runr]

Best thing to do would be to pm the doc and ask him.

[reddogge]

To me it looks just fine as is but I'd give it new leather dyed just right.  It will look great with a little handling.

[Bjorn]

Looks too good to refinish to me too......one of Traps feather rests on the shelf, some thin leather on the sidewall, some dressing on the leather grip, and you're in business.