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Main Boards => Trad History/Collecting => Topic started by: Ray Lyon on October 27, 2007, 10:34:00 PM

Title: Unique Bear Takedown A handle help
Post by: Ray Lyon on October 27, 2007, 10:34:00 PM
OK Bear historians. I think I just held a rare Bear takedown in my hands tonight. This bow was given to a local archery dealer by Fred (has a picture with Fred presenting the bow to him) and after this gentleman passed away, his widow gave the bow to my brother-in-law.  The bow is an A riser with # 3 limbs that are the lightest physical weight bear takedown limbs I've ever held. They are yellowed glass and what looks like a micarta fadeout, but perhaps is just a black stained maple. Now for the handle, it's made of aluminum. It shines like a mirror, however it does have a side quiver mount on the bottom only. It has the removeable sight window and the rest is adjustable. There was no hand grip with the bow. The latches are black and the back of the handle opposite the latches have black standing bears. Limb tips are overlaid with a brown piece of wood only.  The handle is extremely light weight (I've held several magnesium riser versions before).

We'd like to know a little more about the history of the bow, but there are no markings on the riser.  The bow is 42# as set up on the A riser. I'll try and get some pictures in the near future.
Title: Re: Unique Bear Takedown A handle help
Post by: Horney Toad on October 28, 2007, 01:33:00 AM
I've never heard of an aluminum handle. Would love to see pics.
Title: Re: Unique Bear Takedown A handle help
Post by: PAPALAPIN on October 28, 2007, 08:17:00 AM
May have been an experimental model.  Black bears say it was 1971 oe later,

It must not have worked out or we would have seen aluminum risers on the market.

Probably a true "one of a kind" bow,
Title: Re: Unique Bear Takedown A handle help
Post by: Earl E. Nov...mber on October 28, 2007, 10:12:00 AM
Actually magnesium is lighter than Aluminum (I think), but yes it is possibly a one of a kind.
Is the grip just missing or has thickness been added to compensate for it(That would be very unique).. The white limbs were typically target limbs and some are very light, down into the 20# area.
Personal guess is it is a magnesium that someone polished, and is missing the rubber grip..
Pictures would tell the story
Title: Re: Unique Bear Takedown A handle help
Post by: PAPALAPIN on October 28, 2007, 06:58:00 PM
EARL E.

You are not due here for a few days yet.  :biglaugh:
Title: Re: Unique Bear Takedown A handle help
Post by: Earl E. Nov...mber on October 28, 2007, 09:09:00 PM
Jack,,, I need to change my handle to Late October,, Bucks are running like crazy here, and yes,,  I am a week away.   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Unique Bear Takedown A handle help
Post by: Ray Lyon on October 28, 2007, 09:24:00 PM
No, it's not magnesium. It was presented this way. Grip was not modified. Limbs were probably white before yellowing. A riser said 42# with 60" bow and 37# with 70 inch bow. Hopefully when I get the photograph of Fred presenting it, it will have the date on the picture, which would then hopefully provide a clue to the year of manufacture.  Do the limbs serial numbers indicate manfacture date?
Title: Re: Unique Bear Takedown A handle help
Post by: Falk on October 29, 2007, 05:10:00 AM
Now, that's an interesting find - would like see some pics too.
I am convinced someone will say something if you post the limb serials here.
Title: Re: Unique Bear Takedown A handle help
Post by: PAPALAPIN on October 29, 2007, 09:42:00 AM
I don't know that he limbs are the issue here.  They sound like standard white bear limbs.  If they have black tips they are 1970, if the tips are red they are  '71 or later.  They will fit on any bear takedown with clamps.

The issue is the riser.  Being that it is a mirror riser, does it seem to be chromed or just really shiney aluminum?

A picture would be great.
Title: Re: Unique Bear Takedown A handle help
Post by: Ray Lyon on October 30, 2007, 11:54:00 PM
Tips on the limbs are a wood that looks like shedua. I was hoping my nephew would have emailed pics by now, but I'll have to wait till I'm back from Shrewhaven Lodge hunting camp next week.
Jack, it looked like a shiney aluminum to me. The two set screws that adjust the back of the rest were rusting a tad bit and that spread to the riser just slightly at the rest. My brother in law was going to remove them carefully, clean them up and then buff that area of the riser slightly.
Title: Re: Unique Bear Takedown A handle help
Post by: Earl E. Nov...mber on October 31, 2007, 08:35:00 PM
Jack... 4:25 and counting