Building Replica 1959 Bear Kodiak

Little Missouri · February 04, 2019, 01:54:39 PM

I have built longbows, but this will be my first recurve. I am attempting to build a copy of the 1959 Bear Kodiak. I have a 1959 Kodiak 49# which I have studied and am using it to construct the form. When I measure limb thickness at 10 inch intervals the bow appears to have a .003 inch per inch taper. I tried to determine the thickness of the laminations, but that is difficult to do. My goal is 55# @ 28". The input I received so far is as follows; Option A (2) .040 glass, (2) .110 flat grain red elm each w/.002 inch per inch taper, or Option B (2) .050 glass, (1) flat grain red elm .060 parallel, (1) flat grain red elm .110 w/.002 taper. Has anyone built a copy of the 1959 if so what are your thoughts? I understand that my chances of getting this right the first time are slim, so if I miss the mark it would be better to lower rather than higher.

Crooked Stic · February 04, 2019, 10:32:41 PM

Measure your limb right past the fades where your glue line comes together. divide your riser length by 2 add .003x half your riser. add that to your fade measurement. That should get you real close to a butt thickness you need.

Little Missouri · February 04, 2019, 11:00:09 PM

Thanks so much. If you had to pick one of the two lam options, which would you pick...A or B?

kennym · February 05, 2019, 01:43:09 PM

I would most likely go with .040 glass plan , the total stack shouldn't need .050 glass imo...

Crooked Stic · February 05, 2019, 02:50:43 PM

I would go with .040 also.

Holm-Made · February 08, 2019, 08:43:57 PM

I have built hundreds of replicas of the late 50s- early 60s Bears.
I would go with .040 glass, 21" riser and a total of .002 per running inch taper.

Go with 3 core laminations. .110 is most likely too thick to conform over the back of the forward handled Kodiak riser. Do yourself a favor and use about .060 parallel on back of riser and put the other two lams on the belly.

With .002 taper I think a total thickness with glass of .260 will get you close.

kennym · February 08, 2019, 08:49:13 PM

And there ya go, from a guy who has done em!!

Little Missouri · February 08, 2019, 11:15:10 PM

Thanks so much to everyone for sharing their knowledge and experience. I will post the results in a couple months.