Bear Alaskan's age help

[ncheels]

Can someone tell me the year of this Bear Alaskan recurve?  It came with a Bear leather top 4 arrow hunting quiver.  Serial # is RF863 if that helps.

Thanks.

 
   
 
 
 
 
 

[Mikenmn]

Looks like a 1958 Alaskan, I believe the first year they came out.

Mike S.

[wadde]

I agree looks like a 1958, 1959 had rust colored glass and two shelfs also.

[ncheels]

Great.  Thanks for the input guys.

My next question is this.  My wife is going to shoot this and I want to replace the leather grip.  Is there any specific technique for replacing the leather grip?  I'll try to find some thin leather but for attaching it, but, is there a specific glue that is best or is super glue just fine?

[Jack Shanks]

Mike and Wadde are correct as a 1958 and the first year offered.

You can probably do a search and find other threads on replacing a leather grip but here is one.

http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=14;t=000835#000000

[ncheels]

Thanks a lot Jack.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Nice looking bow!

[ncheels]

Thanks Charlie.  My wife thinks it will look better with a new leather grip lol.  I have the string on it's way and I'll shoot it first to try it out : )
   It was quite a surprising find.  I purchased some archery supplies locally from an older archer, who's dad help found the original Baltimore Bowmen archery club.
   He gave me this bow to go along with the supplies I bought.  It had camo paint on it.  I cleaned off all the paint to find this nice Alaskan!  So that was a very nice surprise.  And it's in great condition.....limbs, tips, everything.  So for her sake, I'll put on a new leather grip : )

[59Alaskan]

I have a few 1959 dual shelf Alaskans.  I have a very high opinion of them.  They were a low end bow at the time but I love shooting mine even though they are over 50 years old.

Congrats and enjoy the "new" bow.  Be sure to post pics of the grip!

[ncheels]

Thanks ceme24.  I have found a place where I can buy some leather scraps but hopefully I can find 5-6 oz leather scraps.  I'll post the finished pics in the coming weeks.  
   Like you, I own vintage bows to shoot, not to hang on a wall.  So this is a nice find.  
  Like your Graham quote : )