Yesterday I was in the shop when my wife called me from a yard sale, and said "there's a old green Bear recurve for sale for 10 bucks. Do you want it?" Without asking anything I just told her to buy it. When she came home I didn't know what to expect (twisted limbs, stress cracks, ect) but it looks like it's in good shape for how old it is. I strung it and shot it a few times, and it shoots real nice. The bow has dark green limbs, green riser with a blue and tan accent strip and a silver bear metal on the side, and green tips made of wood. No holes drilled anywhere. Serial number is kt90491, and it's 58" and 45#. Just wondering how old it is, and what it's worth. Pretty cool little bow for 10 bucks. I like the way it shoots better then my dads old bear grizzly my grandpa got him in the 60s. I took some pics of it but don't know how to post them. I can email them to someone. Thanks for looking.
If it has white overlays on the back of the grip its a '74-'75. If it has colored overlays its a '76.
Nice find. Gotta' love a yard sale.
It has a layered black and white overlay on the back of the grip. Would that make it a 1976 bow? I just figured with the green wood tip overlays it would be older then that. But I don't know how to age these things.
I thought they were all 60" after the first year.
Here's a Kodiak Hunter Dating info that Jim (Raineman) posted on the Trad History/ collecting forum. Very helpful info.
DATING BEAR KODIAK HUNTERS
Year - AMO - Riser wood(s) - Glass color - Tip/Overlay color - Serial prefix
'67 ½- 58"- Shedua- Forest Green- White/ White- 7T
'68- 60"- Shedua- Forest Green- White/White- 8T
'69- 60"- Tiger wood- Arctic Gray- Black/Black- 9T
'70- 60"- Pau Ferro/African Bubinga- Arctic Gray- White/White- KT
'71-72- 60"- Shedua/African Bubinga Arctic Gray- White/White- KT
('71 is the first year the stabilizer insert was standard and not optional)
'73-75- 60"- Green Futurewood- Forest Green- Green/White- KT
'76- 60"- Green Futurewood- Forest Green- Futurewood- KT
'77- 60"- Green Futurewood- Random Dark Glass- Futurewood- KH
Trap
Thanks for the help guys. My bow would fit into the '76 category except it has AMO 58" written on it.
Wengerd, email me the pics.
rainemans71@verizon.net
Pics sent.