Mid 1960s Kodiak Special Birthdate?

[michigan bill]

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http://s531.photobucket.com/albums/dd352/dixiethor/?action=view¤t=P1010709.jpg" target="_blank">http://i531.photobucket.com/albums/dd352/dixiethor/P1010709.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket">

Any bow doc or collector who can tell the year this Bear was built?  The handle is shedua and the "bumpers" are Brazilian rosewood.
Thank you.
Bill

[michigan bill]

Well that was one great job of posting the photos!
I used to be able to do this....
The serial number on the bow is 11AM120.
Bill

[D.Sheppard]

[michigan bill]

Perhaps I followed instructions [!] this time.
Bill

[D.Sheppard]

I'm guessing a "62"

[michigan bill]

Thanks, Donald.
I think it is post 1964 though.  At least that is what I think.
Bill

[michigan bill]

No, wait.  You could very well be right, Donald.  I own a 1964 Kodiak and that is what has thrown me off.  In the 1964 Bear Catalog the Kodiak Special African Bengal Wood and Brazilian Rosewood.
So it very well could be a 1962.
Thanks again.
Bill

[NancyVTAS]

My 62  KS doesn't look at all like that, I'm guessing 65 or66

[NancyVTAS]

I just looked at the Bear cd and I believe it to be a 65

[Whip]

I still have a lot to learn about aging the old Bears, but didn't serial numbers start with the last digit of the year in 1965-69?  If that holds true on the KS as well, then I think 63 or 64.  But 63 had bubinga riser with rosewood caps, and 64 as Michigan Bill said was African Bengal wood and rosewood.  Are you sure on the shedua?  Or is that the same as African Bengal wood?

[minnesota_hunter]

it looks like a 63 to me,  but i am no expert.

[450 marlin]

The one in the 64 catalog has less outward curve at the front of the grip..thinking 63 also

[michigan bill]

I am not at all sure the handle wood is shedua.  That is what the man who sold me the bow "thought" it was.  I have to admit, it looks more like shedua than bubinga to me.
Per one of the Kodiak threads a while back, the serial numbers are only reliable for the years 1965 through 1969.  That thread was about Kodiaks but I can't imagine it not also applying to Kodiak Specials.

[macclare]

I'm thinking 63

[NancyVTAS]

My Bad-- I double checked and think '63 is correct, I didn't do enough homework the first time on the CD.

[michigan bill]

Thanks, folks.
I'm goin' with 1963.
Man, is that one sweet shooting bow!  Probably the smoothest I have ever shot. It's marked 42# but is actually 44#.
The fellow knew he had bought it in the mid '60s but that's it.  He never shot it!
Thanks again.
Bill Norman

[Wade Phillips]

Bill - This Kodiak Special Identification Guide was created on Trad Gang to help with questions like yours so anyone who was interested could easily identify the year of any Special in question....

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

[michigan bill]

Thank you very much, Wade.  
That guide is really worthwhile.
My "new" bow is definitely a 1963.
Bill

[wasapt]

OK, Since we are students, what did you learn to help us identify this as a '63. I have a 63  so it was my thought as well but I am not one to know other than just looking at them side by side to mine.

[jcar315]

1963 KS from Bear catalog

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