Fred and a 59K?

[vintage-bears]

Thanks for the great pics Wade.

[Wade Phillips]

Philip -

I feel bad about my poor quality unprofessional photographs of the great old time photographs that I've posted. As always, the originals are best.

This is probably the greatest photograph of Fred Bear with 1959 Kodiaks... The 1959 Little Delta Hunt. Wow, Factory Camo 59s and Maple Sight Window Bows...

It is hard to pick out the 59 Kodiaks in the mass of Caribou Antlers. Fred's World Record is the big one in velvet on the tree.

[vintage-bears]

Wade,
I'm fascinated every time I see that picture.
To see those guy's so young and roughing it out there is something I treasure.

Interesting how back then, those bows were simply "weapons" and today they are treasures.

Those 59's really shine in that picture!

Thanks for the pics!..........Philip

[Wade Phillips]

Phlip -

Yes, it is a cool photograph. I have studied it for hours under a 10x magnifier.

[d. ward]

the signed StCharles arrow from the 1959 Little Delta hunt in my pic ? that arrow was actualy in the quiver of one of those left hand bear bows stacked in the antler pile.Now if I could just get that one arrow to talk ...... bd

[SlowBowke]

For those of us less informed could you guys name the hunters (besides the obvious one, lol).

Just awesome.........NOW I understand a little more of the huge interest in the maple sight window bows.

Since right handed. Who's bow is that in front? Where did these bows end up? Do we know?

Must be Fred's leaning agaisnt the tree with his antlers (from what I can tell.)

My thanks to all for the info and photos you've been sharing.

God Bless
Slow

[Javi]

Love seeing the photos of Fred and the '59 bows.. the '59 Kodiak was my first "new" bow... I hauled hay and worked the neighbors field crops all summer to pay for it..

[johnnyrazorhead]

The hunters in that famous picture are(l-r)
Fred Bear,Dick Bolding,Bob Kelly,Russ Wright,and Glenn St. Charles kneeling.

[Wade Phillips]

Originally posted by SlowBowke:

Must be Fred's leaning agaisnt the tree with his antlers (from what I can tell.)

Yes, the bow at the far right leaning against the tree is left hand.  

However, if you refer back to the photograph of Fred with the World Record Caribou, you will notice that his bow has bow socks on it rather than being factory camo painted, like the LH bow at the far right leaning against the tree.


     

I would guess that the bow at the far right leaning against the tree is Glenn's bow as he shot left hand.

Note also in the photograph that Glenn still has his left hand shooting glove on...

Note also that Fred's arrows are white in the photograph with the World Record Caribou, but the arrows in the quiver of the LH bow in the group photograph are not white, have different cresting and different feather colors. They don't even look like standard Bear factory arrows as they have no crown dip.

   

[Wade Phillips]

Doc,

Which quiver of arrows in the above photograph does your Little Delta Arrow Match?

[TRAP]

A fellow Tradganger's search for Fred Bear's arrows prompted me to do a little searching of my own.

I love the photo Wade posted of the "Little Delta Gang" and the pile of 59 Kodiaks and Caribou antlers. (probably my favorite Bowhunting image of all time)

A few things about the photo interest me.  

1. the Kodiak silk screen is on the belly of these 59 Kodiaks but is typically on the back. Is that because they are factory camoed?

2. and since they are factory camoed, how do we know they are maple sight window 59s

at any rate, the photo is cool and others may appreciate it that havent seen it.

Trap

[TonyW]

TTT  (Alan - Hope this helps you!)

[AlanF]

Thank you Tony.

[jackdaw]

Great series of photos and history on this thread...kind of a Bear Archery collectors thread....thanx guys...jackdaw