Trad Gang
Main Boards => Trad History/Collecting => Topic started by: Jon Stewart on January 28, 2013, 04:53:00 PM
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Reading some old magazines and saw a Bear add that read, Coming soon a new line of Bearcat Bows, The Grizzly. This was in April of 1949. In May of 1949 they showed a photo of the Grizzly which has static limb tips and an aluminum lamination on the limbs. I have a bow like that and was trying to date the year it was made. Does anyone know how long they had the static/aluminum Grizzly? And how I can date my bow?
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1949 to 1951
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How do you tell the difference or are they the same from 1949 through 1951????
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Copied from another site.
1949-50 - Woven Glass Back, Alum Lam under Walnut Belly
1949-50 - Woven Glass Back, Alum Lam under Cherry Belly
1951 - Blond Glass Back, Alum Lam under Cherry Belly
1952 - Blond Glass Back & Belly
1953 - Red Glass Back & Belly
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Way to go Jack! :jumper:
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I've looked at that chart/pictures many times. I was hoping there was some way to tell the difference between the 1949 and 1950.
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I wasn't sure if it were allowed here to post the link to the other site but there are pictures to go along with the info.
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I'm not sure either, but I know the chart and pictures. The way I understand it, both have the Woven Back Glass, Alum Lam under Walnut or Cherry Belly. The only difference I saw in the pictures, was one had a shelf and the other did not. But I assumed the one could of been LH (?).
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Rick,
I have three aluminum lam Grizzlies with woven glass and I'm thinking they are 49-50 models. I'm not certain but I'm guessing the 1951 with aluminum would have directional glass like the 51 Kodiak.
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Another thing that was interesting is the Grizzly was called, "Part of the Bearcat Line" I wondered why Bear referred to his bow as part of the Bearcat lone. Was there a Bearcat bowback then.
It would be nice to be able to determine if there is a differance between the 49 and 50 models.
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Originally posted by Jon Stewart:
It would be nice to be able to determine if there is a differance between the 49 and 50 models.
That's what I would like to know, but so far the information tells us they are the same, unless I'm missing something.
Jack...."I have three aluminum lam Grizzlies with woven glass and I'm thinking they are 49-50 models."
From the information in the chart/pictures, I too believe they are 49-50 models. But can you say for sure which ones are from 49 or 50? Can we tell from the SN#, decals? I'm guessing they were made on the same forms (?).
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OK....maybe I'm :deadhorse: but, how can you tell a 1949 Grizzly from a 1950 Grizzly ?
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Rick,
Myself, I have no idea. That is why I call the ones I have 49-50 Grizzlies.
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Al Reader's step son gave me permission to post this information. "The early 1949 grizzly has three decals, the third decal will have the spec's on the bow, SN, 62" and Weight, Later 1949-50 will have the spec's on the riser under the grip. but it will be marked only with the SN, and weight, not the 62". the 1950 SN start about 3000."
Added pictures on page 3.
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Dave Harby is correct the 49s have the extra decal and are rather hard to find.
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Thanks for that info Rick and I just found serial# 2133 '49 in my basement.
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Originally posted by Jack Shanks:
Thanks for that info Rick and I just found serial# 2133 '49 in my basement.
Great......is it an early 49 or later ???
I just happened to run into the right guy on another site. I guess :jumper:
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Rick,
It's a '49. Specs are written on the sticker and not on the handle. I'll try and get a picture posted later today.
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Mine has the Grizzly sticker on it, the small sticker with the serial number on it (1353), pull and length. It is missing the Bear sticker but you can see on the limb where it used to be. sounds like mine is a 1949. Mine does not has the patent applied for sticker on it and I can't see where it might have been if it was on there.
The story behind mine ( and I can only tell you what my dad told me) is when dad shot for Bear, Fred gave him the bow to try out but when they started to break, Bear asked for it back and my dad just ignored him and kept the bow.
Thanks for the info Rick.
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Did they really make them for 3 years? I was told they started to come apart soon after they were built and they stopped making them? Just curious. Thanks Dick
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Dick,
I assume they did as they made the Kodiak with alminum lam in '50 and into '51.
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Jack--You are right I had a brain misque, It happens when your 68!!!! Thanks dick
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Originally posted by bowhunterfrompast:
Originally posted by Jack Shanks:
Thanks for that info Rick and I just found serial# 2133 '49 in my basement.
Great......is it an early 49 or later ???
I just happened to run into the right guy on another site. I guess :jumper: [/b]
I should of asked....is it an early or later 49?
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Originally posted by Jack Shanks:
Rick,
It's a '49. Specs are written on the sticker and not on the handle. I'll try and get a picture posted later today.
That would make it an early '49. Would love to see the pictures :campfire:
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Rick,
Sorry no pictures yet. Took them and somehow lost the camera card before I could download them on the computer. Still haven't found the card. Now I'm waiting on a '51 in the mail so I can take a group photo 1949-51.
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Left to right 1949-51 Grizzlies. The early '49 far left has the decal with the weight, length and serial number. The two 49/50 in the middle are lettered on the handle.The 1951 far right has the dirrectional glass while the other three are woven.
(http://i.imgur.com/WrOFAeh.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/2uTG307.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/95SY7cO.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/0ftyJ5C.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/3OgiXjO.jpg)
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Thanks for posting photo's. I have the bow on the left. So they are just wallhangers?
I have another Grizzly, dual shelf, with no aluminum that is a static recurve. Can something like that be shot? It's a nice light draw weight of 35#.
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Jon,
I would not shoot an old aluminum lam. Many people are still shooting there old post aluminum static tips though. If yours has red glass it would be a '54. Black glass 1955-57. You can narrow the 55 and 56 down to the exact years with the 55 having a decal and the 56 a silkscreen. The 57 doesn't have the wood underlay.
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Guess the other recurve is a 55 as it has black glass and decals. Glad I took a close look at it because is has some limb tip separation starting.
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Jack....thanks for posting that great historical information.
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I finally have a 1949 Bear Grizzly, my birth year.
It has the Grizzly sticker on it, the small sticker with the serial number on it (2165), pull 35# and length 62". It is missing the Bear sticker but you can see on the limb where it used to be.
I will take pictures and post later on.
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What a great thread!!!!!
Patiently waiting Rick
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Here you go Trap
(http://i.imgur.com/9zz7Bj8.jpg)
More pics.
http://imgur.com/a/upP9P
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Awesome bow. Good find
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That's a great find Rick, Awesome!!!!!
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Nice Bow Rick!
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Al Reader's step son gave me permission to post this information. "The early 1949 grizzly has three decals, the third decal will have the spec's on the bow, SN, 62" and Weight.
(http://i.imgur.com/aCCPywc.jpg) (https://imgur.com/aCCPywc)
(http://i.imgur.com/eURFV8D.jpg) (https://imgur.com/eURFV8D)
Later 1949-50 will have the spec's on the riser under the grip. but it will be marked only with the SN, and weight, not the 62".
The 1950 SN start about 3000."
(http://i.imgur.com/kJP78zT.jpg) (https://imgur.com/kJP78zT)