Trad Gang

Main Boards => Trad History/Collecting => Topic started by: Nook on April 20, 2011, 03:31:00 PM

Title: Knick Knickerbockers' 59 Kodiak (pic heavy)
Post by: Nook on April 20, 2011, 03:31:00 PM

Hey Gang. I happen to hunt Knick Kinckerbockers grandsons farm. Many ofKnicks hunting items are now his.  For those that do not know, Knick was a early investor in Bear archery and good friend of Fred Bear.  He is in many of Freds old hunting films.  His grandson does not hunt.  I knew of some old bows rotting away in a open garage.  So, I offered a shinny '72 Kodiak Hunter in trade.  The '59 was marked 40lbs, 60".  It was in rough shape.  Plenty of patina (Dust and bird crap).  The stike plate had fallen off and the yellow feather arrow rest fell off in my car.  I didn't want the old bow to be a wall hanger.  I contacted Joe Lash at the Bow Hospital do work his majic. (Prarie Traditions) Here are the before and after pics:

 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v252/JHarper/april11005.jpg)

 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v252/JHarper/april11001.jpg)

 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v252/JHarper/april11x2008.jpg)

 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v252/JHarper/april11x2011.jpg)

 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v252/JHarper/april11x2010.jpg)

 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v252/JHarper/april11x2014.jpg)

Joe did a great job in a timely fasion. As you can see she lost 4 lbs.  I pull 29.5 inches and there is no stack.  Her weight at my draw is 42 lbs.

  :campfire:

Title: Re: Knick Knickerbockers' 59 Kodiak (pic heavy)
Post by: SAM E. STEPHENS on April 20, 2011, 03:33:00 PM

That is for sure some history , nice find

Title: Re: Knick Knickerbockers' 59 Kodiak (pic heavy)
Post by: Jack Shanks on April 20, 2011, 03:55:00 PM

Jeff,

 Nice find and a great salvage of a piece of archery history. Congratulations to both you and Joe for preserving it.

Title: Re: Knick Knickerbockers' 59 Kodiak (pic heavy)
Post by: alaskabowhunter on April 20, 2011, 04:04:00 PM

Nice bow. She cleaned up real good. I have one of Knicks zipper bowcases, it is monogrammed "K.Knickerbocker."

Title: Re: Knick Knickerbockers' 59 Kodiak (pic heavy)
Post by: reddogge on April 20, 2011, 04:12:00 PM

Is the poundage different on the before and after pics?

Title: Re: Knick Knickerbockers' 59 Kodiak (pic heavy)
Post by: Nook on April 20, 2011, 04:43:00 PM

Yes. She lost 3lbs. from age and another pound after refinshing. Hence 40 to 36 lbs. at 28".

Title: Re: Knick Knickerbockers' 59 Kodiak (pic heavy)
Post by: JJB on April 20, 2011, 07:46:00 PM

Great piece of history.  Very nice bow and refinish job.
-Jay

Title: Re: Knick Knickerbockers' 59 Kodiak (pic heavy)
Post by: 59Alaskan on April 20, 2011, 07:58:00 PM

nice bow.  Thank you for sharing.  Good job Joe!

Title: Re: Knick Knickerbockers' 59 Kodiak (pic heavy)
Post by: 4runr on April 20, 2011, 10:08:00 PM

Jeff, that's a beauty!! Congrats!

Nice job Joe!

Title: Re: Knick Knickerbockers' 59 Kodiak (pic heavy)
Post by: OldSkoolArcher on April 20, 2011, 10:17:00 PM

Very Cool Story!
Very Nice Bow!
Very Nice Refinishing Job!

Thanks for sharing!

Title: Re: Knick Knickerbockers' 59 Kodiak (pic heavy)
Post by: d. ward on April 21, 2011, 06:06:00 AM

nice looking bow and should last another 50 years.May we see pics of the tip overlays ? bd

Title: Re: Knick Knickerbockers' 59 Kodiak (pic heavy)
Post by: Nook on April 21, 2011, 09:34:00 AM

Hey BowDoc.  I'll take some and try to post tonight.  Jeff

Title: Re: Knick Knickerbockers' 59 Kodiak (pic heavy)
Post by: d. ward on April 21, 2011, 10:51:00 AM

cool I love Joe's work he does outstanding restroations bd

Title: Re: Knick Knickerbockers' 59 Kodiak (pic heavy)
Post by: Warberg on April 21, 2011, 12:27:00 PM

Nice peice of history, Thank much for sharing. Joe did a great job on bringing that bow back to life.

Title: Re: Knick Knickerbockers' 59 Kodiak (pic heavy)
Post by: vintage-bears on April 21, 2011, 12:31:00 PM

What a great find.
That's a special bow you have and nice to see it restored and preserved. KK was a great friend of Fred Bear and your bow probably has a tale or 2 in it's life.......Bravo!

Title: Re: Knick Knickerbockers' 59 Kodiak (pic heavy)
Post by: ron w on April 21, 2011, 02:31:00 PM

Just beautiful......Whip did a nice job.......I bet that shoots nice   :thumbsup:

Title: Re: Knick Knickerbockers' 59 Kodiak (pic heavy)
Post by: Whip on April 21, 2011, 10:02:00 PM

Thanks for posting those Nook.  That was a fun bow to work on. Very cool  piece of history.
The overlays on the back and the tips were all in surprisingly good condition, so I left those alone.  
Cool old bow, and glad to here it is flinging arrows once again.

Title: Re: Knick Knickerbockers' 59 Kodiak (pic heavy)
Post by: Whip on April 21, 2011, 10:02:00 PM

Thanks for posting those Nook.  That was a fun bow to work on. Very cool  piece of history.
The overlays on the back and the tips were all in surprisingly good condition, so I left those alone.  
Cool old bow, and glad to here it is flinging arrows once again.

Title: Re: Knick Knickerbockers' 59 Kodiak (pic heavy)
Post by: 2hats on April 21, 2011, 10:16:00 PM

Nook...You never know,but the more we hunt that farm(10 yrs and growing)there might be more of those finds.Very nice find.I was honored to shoot a piece of history as well.....

Danny

Title: Re: Knick Knickerbockers' 59 Kodiak (pic heavy)
Post by: Nook on April 21, 2011, 10:46:00 PM

You never know Dan.  We may be able save some more history from the pile....  Thanks again Joe.  Here are the tips as BowDoc asked:

Top
 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v252/JHarper/tips002.jpg)

Bottom
 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v252/JHarper/tips005.jpg)

Jeff

Title: Re: Knick Knickerbockers' 59 Kodiak (pic heavy)
Post by: d. ward on April 22, 2011, 06:11:00 AM

oh yeah slim and trim as a ladys finger nail.Beautiful bow beautiful work Joe bd

Title: Re: Knick Knickerbockers' 59 Kodiak (pic heavy)
Post by: Missaukee on April 22, 2011, 01:27:00 PM

I find it very funny that the archery equipment of a former Bear Archery Vice President is sitting in a garage. I guess that is what happens to some of the stuff. I would be interested to know more about KK Knickerbockers life if anyone has info, I am sure he probably had some cool bows.

Title: Re: Knick Knickerbockers' 59 Kodiak (pic heavy)
Post by: vintage-bears on April 22, 2011, 04:21:00 PM

Quote

Originally posted by Missaukee:
I find it very funny that the archery equipment of a former Bear Archery Vice President is sitting in a garage. I guess that is what happens to some of the stuff. I would be interested to know more about KK Knickerbockers life if anyone has info, I am sure he probably had some cool bows.

KK is mentioned in many books about Fred Bear.
I highly recommend that you watch the vintage-bear hunting tapes/videos.
You will see KK shooting along with Fred and others. Quite possibly the very bow in this topic.......Very special footage indeed.....Philip

Title: Re: Knick Knickerbockers' 59 Kodiak (pic heavy)
Post by: Hoof on April 24, 2011, 09:10:00 PM

Awesome save right there! Thanks for sharing and great job Joe!  :thumbsup:

Title: Re: Knick Knickerbockers' 59 Kodiak (pic heavy)
Post by: David Bartholomew on April 26, 2011, 07:37:00 AM

Nook,

Very nice!!

David

Title: Re: Knick Knickerbockers' 59 Kodiak (pic heavy)
Post by: Bernie B. on April 26, 2011, 11:32:00 AM

Wow, what a find!  Great job of restoration Joe.  If that old bow could only talk!  Thanks for sharing the story and pictures.

Bernie Bjorklund

NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin

Title: Re: Knick Knickerbockers' 59 Kodiak (pic heavy)
Post by: Missaukee on April 26, 2011, 11:54:00 AM

Phillip-

Yes I have seen and read about KK in the books and films. I was just curious when he died, and it seems like he wasn't mentioned as much after the 60's.

Title: Re: Knick Knickerbockers' 59 Kodiak (pic heavy)
Post by: gaitero on April 27, 2011, 06:25:00 AM

Yeah, nice peace and nice history! Thanks!