1961 Kodiak Special Rises From Dead!

[NumPls]

Here is the short story and some photos. Unfortunately, I do not have a photo of the "before".

A while ago, KurtBel5 (of the Bear Coins fame) asked for broken Bear bows that he planned to convert to bow racks. I sent Kurt a 1961 Kodiak Special that I bought about 10 years ago that had a broken limb. After Kurt saw the bow, he suggested that I send it to Mike Mecredy at Maddog Archery to have it re-limbed. So, that is what I did. I chose black glass to go with the zebrawood highlights and yellow Bear Kodiak Special dry transfers from Al Harford.

I received the finished product a couple of weeks ago. The limb lams are bamboo. Mike also used zebrawood for the limb-tip overlays and overlays on the back of the riser.

The bow was originally marked 46# @ 28"; reborn, it is 48# @ 28". I put a Bear rug-rest & side plate on it and have had a couple of opportunities to launch arrows with it. I am delighted with the way this bow shoots! I have not been able to pick its favorite arrow, yet, but it seems to be quite happy with the 2216s and 2315s (30" long, 145 screw-in points) that I had available.

If you have a bow that is now dead (in need of new limbs), I highly recommend that you check with Mike at Maddog Archery - and, his cost was VERY reasonable!

Ray

Limb profile photos first, others to follow.

Upper Limb:


Lower Limb:


Limb End, Strung:


Upper riser back, with dry transfer from Al Harford:


Lower riser back:

[MR BILL SHORTY]

WOW! NICE. VERY NICE!

[Jeremy]

His website says $75 plus actual materials and shipping!!

[Bjorn]

Quite remarkable! Never woulda' thought that would work so well! Bring it to the meeting.

[Jack Shanks]

Wow! Really nice job! I just got a 61 Kodiak Special in the mail today that I bought off the auction site last week. That Zebrawood really makes for a nice looking bow.

[ishi1archer]

Thats one sweet looking bow and it's great it was saved from the scrap pile.

[4runr]

Beautiful,beautiful and beautiful!!!

[myshootinstinks]

Wow, I'd-a never thunk it.  Looks great.

[cacciatore]

I wanna a broken bow.

[yellow bow]

 sweet.

[reddogge]

I got a quote from Mike for my '65 Kodiak and it was $220 for the complete job.

[OldSkoolArcher]

Originally posted by reddogge:
I got a quote from Mike for my '65 Kodiak and it was $220 for the complete job.

That seems like a deal to me! Wow.

[Bjorn]

Until this thread got started to me limb replacement was as believable as cow tipping.
Well last night I got to see NumPls bow and the pics don't even come close to the real thing!
What an awesome job!
Can't wait to shoot it and I have just the candidate for this resurrection too!

[Mike Mecredy]

Thanks for posting that.  That bow was quite a challenge with the shape of the riser.  But it came out pretty good.  It's quite long, if you measure along the curve I think it was 66" if I rememer right.  It helped me appriciate how it is to shoot long recurves again.  I'd almost forgoten how smooth they are and accurate to shoot.  Quiet too.  

When I take a project like that the and I quote a price the total price includes everything; labor the shipping back, the plywood to build the form, the glue, sandpaper, a string, finish, lams, and fiber glass. I don't make much at these undertakings they are more or less a service to get old bows back in working condition.

(Plus I've read people's posts saying "the bow's history, it's a wall hanger, make a lamp from it, or, no it can't be fixed." and I take those as a challenge)

[ckruse]

I'm thinking clear glass and Zebrawood veneers! I have two 1960 Kodiak Special Deluxe down in the basement that are not shooters due to limb problems. Think of the beautiful resurrection that could be done with those! CKruse

[Jeremy]

Mike, seems to me you're going to end up with a bunch of the forms for some real Classic bows... any thoughts to offering some replicas for sale??  

[Mike Mecredy]

No, I never really considered selling replicas.  That could really be a can of worms.  

-mike

[reddogge]

Mike,
I'll contact you again on my '65 Kodiak to work out some fine details.  It's something I want to do.

[Big horn1]

Wow some nice work!

[NumPls]

Has anyone else received a resurrected bow from Mike yet?

Ray