What to do with an old Bear

[jpcarlson]

#2738

So the dilemma. I recently acquired this beautiful old 68 Bear Super Kodiak Magnum from an older friend who can’t hunt any longer due to a bad shoulder. I was able to buy this bow along with the old bow sock and a set of old glass arrows with razor heads. It seems to be in fairly good shape with a little bit of spidering in the glass in the middle of the limbs. I have fairly long arms and draw almost 30″, so this little guy stacks pretty hard. I have shot it, and it really zips an arrow away. I like the shortness of the bow and the fact that it is a piece of history, but I like to hunt with the bows I have and want them to be comfortable to shoot. Maybe this is a good one to keep for tight tree stands or ground blinds? I have an early 70s Bear take down as my go to rig right now and I definitely notice how much more comfortable it is to shoot a 58″ and longer bow Vs the short 48″ Magnum. I am considering trading this or selling it in order to update what I already have in my other recurves rather than just see this guy hang on a wall and not be used. Then again, it is an old Bear, and they just don’t make them like they used to:) Any ideas out there? Any interesting trades?

Jans

[grumpy]

#12487

no clue what you should do, just know I am jelous

[Doc Nock]

#12797

I’ll be no help either on choices.

What I read on another site is that the finish on a LOT of the older (and some newer) Bear bows is not very flexible and gets horizontal lines in it and such. Perhaps then your crazing is purely in the finish.

There are a bunch of old bear collectors around and folks who specialize in buying/selling those. Especially the mags!

One in Boyertown, PA I know of and another up around Sunbury, PA. Email me if you want to get contact information.

[sinawalli]

#15091

I won’t be much help either! I have a 1970 Grizzly that I tried to sell once. All I can say is thank God no one bought it! I love to shoot it, and can’t wait to hunt with it!

[coastalbendbows]

#15107

I would refinish it and make it look new again and put her in the stable and let friends that are interested in getting into trad or maybe let yours kids or grandkids (sorry dont know how young you are) shoot it. Maybe pass it on down the family tree. Or after its refinished then take it to a shoot and see what you can trade it for thats more comfortable to you.

Hope this helps

[jpcarlson]

#15351

All good ideas folks. I think I will refinish it and get her shootin, then look at trading it. My girls are young, 1.5yoa. This is a pretty stought little bow at 45#@28″. I draw 29.5″ so the stack is pretty rough, and the darn finger pinch is uncomfortable. I will see what I can do. Anyone interested, shoot me a PM.

Thanks guys,

Jans

[Troy Warner]

#15494

Use it to start your museum collection.

[jpcarlson]

#15528

🙂 I have small children, can’t afford a collection yet:) If I could, I wouldn’t get this one, I would buy a signed and numbered Bear Super Kodiak special addition in mint condition:)

I’m more about having things that I will use. This is a nice old Bear, but someone else with shorter arms will get more enjoyment out of it and that is where it belongs.

J

[Anonymous]

#20601

If you refinish it, your trade/sale value just dropped by over 50%.

If you don’t want it, there are plenty of collectors/shooters out there who will take it as-is and for a pretty nice penny.

[Ralph]

#20685

jpcarlson wrote: All good ideas folks. I think I will refinish it and get her shootin, then look at trading it. My girls are young, 1.5yoa. This is a pretty stought little bow at 45#@28″. I draw 29.5″ so the stack is pretty rough, and the darn finger pinch is uncomfortable. I will see what I can do. Anyone interested, shoot me a PM.

Thanks guys,

Jans

Does that not say 55# 😕 That is nice. I’d keep it. I have a 1972ish Bear Griz that I keep just cause. Besides, it shoots well but 45# @ 28″ is actually 49# @ 28″ on scale for that bow.

[Cameron Unruh]

#20717

I had an old takedown Ben Pearson 45lb bow that I sold on ebay to raise money for a new bow and I did well. I would leave it as is and describe it in detail – you should get a good price. Having said that…I really wish now that I would not have sold it. That was a special piece of history and I should have hung onto it. How that for a wishy washy reply?

[jpcarlson]

#25342

Thanks guys. I think I will try to trade or sell it. I am already shooting a 70 Bear take down of my grandpas which is a nice piece of history:) I am 6/4 and have long arms, those short bows just don’t work well. Besides, I really like to shoot longer recurves. Life is too short to shoot a bow that doesn’t fit you and shoot well:)

J

[David Petersen]

#27616

What to do with an old bear? Well, it will predictably be tough, so I’d marinate it a long time in BBQ sauce then cook it very slowly and eat it like shredded pork. Bear jerky?

[Ralph]

#28453

Hey David, you’re perhaps giving bad ideas to some. They might get the idea that your designs for old bears might work on some of us old goats. 😀 Well, y’all anyway. I think my old hide too tough for jerky even. Boot soles??? Good traction with all the wrinkles.:lol:

[grumpy]

#58718

Old bears should be allowed to chit whever they want to.

Actually if I were to use this bow with my 22″ draw it would NOT be 45#. More like 27. That is not legal in my state.

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