Trad Gang
Main Boards => Trad History/Collecting => Topic started by: Jeremy on October 13, 2009, 11:14:00 AM
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The Polar was introduced in 1950 as a 62" sinple reflexed longbow with the woven glass and the aluminum lam. Wedged leather shelf with a straight grip.
1951 - 62" bow with unidirectional blond glass and the aluminum lam, though that was stopped mid-year like the rest of the Bear line-up. Same wedged leather shelf and straight grip.
1952 - Length increased to 64" with blond fiberglass front and back. Same wedged shelf and straight grip.
1953 - 64" red glass, single cut in shelf with a saddle grip.
1954 - 64" and 68", red glass, dual shelves on a saddle grip. This is the last year the Polar was a simple reflexed longbow.
I got this pic from Wade to show the glass colors. Thanks Wade!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/fliksr/More%20Bows/Polarglass.jpg)
1955 - 64" 'semi-recurve' with brick red glass and dual shelves
1956 - 64" 'semi-recurve with the same brick red glass and dual shelves. For most of the year, there were single white tip overlays and the riser was trimmed like the Kodiak and KSpecials, though none of the catalogs I've seen show this. The '56 I've seen with a plain maple riser, no overlays and silkscreens may have been made in late '55 or early '56, but I've only seen one like that so far.
1957 - 64" semi-recurve, red glass, single shelf and white tip overlays. There's an additional 1/2" of net reflex in this bow vs. the '56. I have seen pics of a '57 with the riser trimmed like the Kodiaks (if you have one, shoot me a PM :) ) but the standard '57 just had a plain maple riser.
1958 - 64" semi-recurve, red glass, single shelf and white tip overlays. Telling the difference between the '58 and the '57 is tough. There's a full inch less net reflex than in the '57 and the sow belly riser is a little more pronounced. I've seen one '58 with the rounded sight window, but most still have the scalloped window. I haven't found a transitional Polar yet (sowbelly with the greater reflex of the '57) but I've only had my hands on a dozen '57-58 Polars at this point.
1959-60 - 64" recurve (though just barely), red glass, single shelf and deflexed I-beam riser. Gorgeous bow and in the running of my favorite Bear.
From left to right, 1954-'59
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/fliksr/More%20Bows/dscn2675.jpg)
As I said, the riser difference between the '57 and '58 is subtle, but easy to see when you have them on top of one another.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/fliksr/More%20Bows/dscn2676.jpg)
And here are the limb profiles
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/fliksr/More%20Bows/dscn2674.jpg)
There is little difference in the '55 and '56 profile, but I hope the pic shows the differences between those and the '57 and '58 well enough.
And the tips (right to left this time)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/fliksr/More%20Bows/dscn2678.jpg)
The 1961 Polar started off as 64" with white glass and just a tad more recurve in the limbs than the '59. At some point in the year Bear switched it over to 66" with more of a working recurve.
I have a small rack of '57 Polars left from figuring this stuff out and a few more on the way. Some of those will be moving off the rack, but one of my personal bows will be getting new tip overlays and a low-stretch string :) They are a completely different bow set up that way :D
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Very nice to be able to compare them one next to another. Really like the looks of the 59' too.
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Jeremy - Good job of identifying the Bear Polars. I don't collect Polars nor have I studied them much over the years, although I've had a few.
Most of the alum lam polars with woven glass that I've seen, simply have the alum lam exposed on the belly with no wood lamination over the aluminum. This is unlike the alum lam Grizzly with woven glass, which usually has cherry or walnut over the alum lam and the Kodiak, which usually has maple over the alum lam.
Do your woven glass Polars have a wood over the aluminum lamination? There is always something to learn about Bear bows...
(http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo301/WadePhillips/de1a9c23.jpg)
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OUTSTANDING JOB.bd
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Wade, I knew I forgot to add something! The ones I've seen just had the aluminum lam on the belly like in your pic. I haven't seen any with a veneer over the alum - have you??
I don't own any of them; I started off collecting by telling myself if I wasn't going to hunt with it I didn't want it in the house!
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Jeremy - I have seen one Polar with wood over the alum lam, but can not remember if it was a woven glass Polar or a blond glass.
Wise man to only own bows that you shoot.
Let me know if you want me to make you up a replacement for the first photograph in the thread... so it would be just for Polars. I think I still have the unmolested original and can just add different text unique to the Polar. It wouldn't take long to make it up.
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Wade, if you have the time and inclination that'd be great! Thanks!
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Jeremy - She's looking good. Lots of great information in your text.
Just checked around and found three Polars 1950, 1952 and 1954. The 1954 is an odd duck with a rearwardly extended shelf. Bought it off of an auction some time back. Guy claimed it was factory. I'm certain I got taken, but a good lesson for all. Some sellers never let the truth get in the way of telling a good story in hopes of driving up the price of an item...
(http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo301/WadePhillips/15fb11fc.jpg)
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Thanks Wade! Looks great.
Here's a nice pic of the 50# '59 Polar in the sun (my camera doesn't take pics inside too well)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/fliksr/More%20Bows/FrankandShell00001.jpg)
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Well guys, I guess mine's a 1950? I think this is an example of the aluminum as a second laminate layer on the face of the bow rather than being the belly itself.
I'm obviously not an expert, but I didn't find a reference to anything other than this being a Polar.
The guy that I bought it from said he shot it for years until it delaminated, then the local archery dealer told him to epoxy it back together and keep shooting it...so he did! :eek:
The only real wall hanger I own.
Bernie
(http://i609.photobucket.com/albums/tt177/CrookedStick/alumpol2.jpg)
(http://i609.photobucket.com/albums/tt177/CrookedStick/alumpol1.jpg)
(http://i609.photobucket.com/albums/tt177/CrookedStick/alumpol3.jpg)
(http://i609.photobucket.com/albums/tt177/CrookedStick/alumpol4.jpg)
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By the way Jeremy, great job starting this thread.
Before ya know it we'll have the most detailed reference material available covering many of the Bear Archery lineup through the years!
Bernie
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Bernie, Great photographs of the 1950 Polar! Glad you have one of those. The serial number is gone off that 1950 I have, so we can't really compare to see which was first...
Let me know if you want to trade some new unused Deadheads for that Polar...
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Jeremy - Finally found the photograph of the Polar with wood over the alum lam... unfortunately I never took a shot of the back of the bow to tell if it had woven glass. But judging from the serial number, P1710, it was made before Bernie's P2708, so would speculate that it has a woven glass back...
(http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo301/WadePhillips/164ab2fb.jpg)
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Nice work Jeremy!! Good to see someone seriously collecting something other than the obvious.
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Nice wall hanger Bernie :)
I wonder at what point during the year Bear started putting the wood lam over the alum? I've only seen a few of the 50's
Bjorn - the Polars are the only ones I can afford to collect! The Kodiaks (you remember, the bows I said I wasn't going to collect) damn near broke me and have been slowly moving off my rack. I'm still loving that '59 Grizz I bought from you! I just finished redoing the tips and am replacing the strikeplate for this season (what did you glue that last one on with?!)
I'd love to see some pictures (OK, get my hands on) some of the transitional Polars. The '57 with a trimmed riser is high up on that list. Also the rounded sight window '58. I need someone with one of those to either a. sell it to me :) or b. measure the amount of reflex to make sure it's the same as what I've described the '58 being.
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You have been shooting that Griz a lot!! Jeremy, when you have replaced the tips please post a pic. The strike plate was likely glued on with Barge cement.
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Jeremy, nice collection. I usually just lurk here, but I have a 57-58 Polar, LH, 42# if you're interested. I replaced the leather grip, shelf, and wall. It has some stress cracks and is missing a tip overlay, but it shoots well. PM me, I'll send pics if you like.
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ttt
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Since I first posted this I've seen/had my hands on a few more '57-58 Polars. Of note, I've seen a lot more '58s with red and white tip overlays. Most of them have had the rounded site window, but Wade has shown a few pics of scalloped windows.
Serial numbers are a good indicator too... from '55 to '57 the serial number started with "M"... everything I'd consider calling a '58 starts with an "N"
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Jeremy mine looks to be a 59.Which is really cool cause thats the year my parent got married. Thanks for all your help. Good job..She a really good shooter.
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Just to comfirm what I have ... my Polar is a 64" white glass with black/white overlays & tips. s/n is JL142. What year would this bow be? It's a great shooter and very fast for a 42# bow!
Thanks for your help,
Steve
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Steve,
Yours should be an early 1961. At some point in '61 they switched over to a 66" Polar.
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Thanks Jeremy .. I would rate the bow a 8-10 .. it's in great shape. i just may hang the BW up and hunt with the Polar next year :)
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Jeremy if i read it allrite mine b a 55 ser#my746 64" 46# orig grip an rest. my Alaskan b a duel shelf '66' ser# mo732 62" 50# am i bout rite. thanks TJ
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I have a Polar that is marked 62". The serial # is LD63 and it is 55#. Has the dual shelf and no alum lam. Red colored glass front and back with original leather grip etc. I thought it might be a 1954 model but it is only 62". It has the straighter limbs like the 55 model. I will try to post a pic. Can anyone tell me what this might be?
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Post some pics :) The only 62" oldies I've seen were '51s, but they didn't have red glass.
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can someone tell me what i need to do to post pics? I took some earlier today but couldn't figure out how to post them.
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Read here for instructions on posting pics
http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=5;t=028257
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That's definitely a '54. Dual, cut in shelves and a simple reflexed longbow, not the semi-recurve that started in '55. I haven't seen one in 62" before though.
The '54 Cub was 62", but I thought those were all wedged shelves, not cut ins. Does it actually have the "Polar" decal? If not, my bet would be on a late, transitional Cub, not a Polar
That's a good weight and it looks to be in good shape. Get some arrows and go get them bloody w/ the old girl! :)
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Originally posted by CrookedStick:
Well guys, I guess mine's a 1950? I think this is an example of the aluminum as a second laminate layer on the face of the bow rather than being the belly itself.
I'm obviously not an expert, but I didn't find a reference to anything other than this being a Polar.
The guy that I bought it from said he shot it for years until it delaminated, then the local archery dealer told him to epoxy it back together and keep shooting it...so he did! :eek:
The only real wall hanger I own.
Bernie
(http://i609.photobucket.com/albums/tt177/CrookedStick/alumpol2.jpg)
(http://i609.photobucket.com/albums/tt177/CrookedStick/alumpol1.jpg)
(http://i609.photobucket.com/albums/tt177/CrookedStick/alumpol3.jpg)
(http://i609.photobucket.com/albums/tt177/CrookedStick/alumpol4.jpg)
Had the sister (or brother) to this bow in my hands on Monday. Looked pretty good except for a bit of separation noticable at one tip. Seems to me it was also quite a stiff draw weight.
The owner has never strung it and never will. It is merely an interesting piece of Bear history.
He also had a Grumley take down in pristine condition.
DDave
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Move this to the top in expectation of mine finally arriving.
DDave
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Any way you gents could extend the years on this thread to include the bigger risers of the 60's?
Lucas
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I would like that too. I am still not sure if mine is a 64 or a 63.
The more I shoot that bow the more I like it.
DDave
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Jeremy,
If you're still watching this, please comment on my bow. It seems to be a 1953 and does have red glass, single cut in shelf with a saddle grip.
Do you measure the length nock to nock strung, unstrung, or overall length?
Also, the serial number starts with a P, which doesn't seem logical from other numbers noted above. It's p 9301.
Jim
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Jim,
Looking through the pics, the 'P' prefix (P for Polar) was used from 1950 into 1953, and based on your description I'd say your bow is a '53 Polar.
You can get an approximate length by measuring NTN while unstrung. As far as I know the Polar was only 64" in '53, but based on what I've seen the actual length can vary by almost an inch depending on who was working on the bow the day it was made.
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Length is about right then, 53-1/2" unstrung. Nice to feel pretty confident of when the bow was made. I was five that year, and couldn't have begun to draw this 50 pounder.
Thanks,
Jim
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ttt
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Jermy, I am looking at what seems to be a 53 Polar by the info on this thread. But the serial# prefix doesn't match. It has: ND-599 with the letter "A" over. By the way it is 44# and 64" long. It looks like it took the very early bow quiver. It is red glass with a single sight window.
I also wonder how long should the string be? This bow is supposed to have the orginal string? It just looks short to me. I am afraid to try and string the bow with this string.Thank you, Tom
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Opps, went back and looked at pics agian. This bow seems to fit in the "58" year. My God I was in 7th grade. Still wonder about the string.
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Thanks Jeremy, I was looking for some refinishing info. and found your post. Seems I have a 51 or a 52 polar. But the number is SP23, its 62" no alum. Looks sound for shooting. Needs a grip and maybe some refinishing.
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ND 133...64"....55#. Maybe 1958? Needs refinishing, strings and some shooting. Should keep me busy for now.
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TTT, for a friend.
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Great thread! I just picked up a '53 polar, #p7889, has red glass and running bear decal (polar and paf decals are there too). Bow is in really nice condition, except for cracks in the leather grip. This glass is awesome! I really love how it sparkles in the sun! There's a lot of depth to it.
What kind of value does it have? I'm trying to decide weather to shoot it or view it more as a collectors item..
Also, can anyone tell me the brace height? I figured with a 64" length it would use a string around 61", but it seems that may be as much as two inches too long!
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ttt
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Nice to have these identification threads brought back up...thanks Tony
DDave
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This is great. Just got my Polar in the mail yesterday. It must be a "58", 46# 64in. Just removed the grip and strike plate. Time to sand and refinish. Not in bad shape but shes going to be a beauty. Can't wait to shoot her.
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I only have a few Polars. I bought one that has bare aluminum on the back. I figuredthat it was built between 1949 and 1951. Now I know that it is a 1950.
I really do appreciate the guys that dig up this information. I just never thought to do a search on the Polars or this thread would have shown up.
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I just picked up a 1958 60# 64" at a swap meet this past weekend. Got it for $30, no cracks splits or delamination. Needs string, rest and plate but that's about it still looks almost new. Are these good shooters?
I don't suppose anyone knows what brace height these like?
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I had a 1959 Panda which was a less expensive bow than the Polar and it shot fine...I passed it along to a friend who was looking for a trad bow...I would start with a brace height of 7 and a half
DDave
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I have a lefty 1953 polar in 61#, that thing is a thumper!
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The Polar is completely under rated!
A very nice shooting bow and can still be found in good condition at a reasonable price....
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What would you guys recommend for the brace height on a "55" Polar?
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Hi all -- new member here. I've been reading through all the posts from the beginning, and learning an enormous amount, this site is terrific.
I have a Polar which, from what I've learned here, I think is probably a '62 or '63.
It's a full recurve, and has what looks like bubinga and zebra wood riser, laminated vertically with the zebra in the middle, so that the zebra wood becomes the surface of the sight window. It has a vertical metal plate in the window which holds a brush rest and the remains of a broken-off white plastic cylinder which was screwed into a hole in the plate above the brush.
Removing the plate uncovered a deep vertical slot in the wood of the window.
Serial number is 22CJ124, and it's marked 66" and 40#, with all the markings in gold. The limbs are sort of ivory-colored, with a sort of very pale greenish-colored tip overlays.
I would like to know the year, and anything else that anyone might know about it. Unfortunately, I'm unable to post pictures at this time.
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1964
Happy 50th Anniversary!
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Time to run this one back to the top for a bit...I just picked up a very nice 1956 that is marked 77 pounds...everyone ought to have at least one of those
DDave
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Dave, this unusual Polar bow must have been a special order for someone going on a real Polar Bear hunt. :D
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Pure genius Lon...I knew there had to be a reason why it is such a heavy draw
DDave