Trad Gang

If it 56" amo they only made them grizzlys three years.68,69,70.

i almost bid on that one. Sounds like it is too heavy and the wrong hand for you. I have an older right hander, the ones with a more tapered cored, that is 42 pounds. We should trade.
 Just kidding, I am having an issue with my wife for not letting me get a new super griz.

Good on you (and your girl)! Happy shooting!

I may be wrong on the AMO as its just what the seller posted. It is definitely 1973-78 since it its serial number starts with a K and it has a gold colored medallion. that puts it in that short year range. I cant make out the rest of the serial number. and most of these bows have a pat. # that states the year of production.

Agreed! she is a keeper. She currently shoots a right handed 35# razorback. she loves going to the range as much as possible. Its her first bow ever. and thanks to me.....she loves trad gear!!

Pavan...should have bid. I cant wait to see it. She says she will let me see it before its put away till december. Jerk! lol. oh well. better to have it later than not at all i guess

Back in the late 70s, at a 3d shoot there was me, my family and two or three other people shooting recurves and longbows. One fellow was smoothly snap shooting respectable groups with a Bear Griz, about a fifty pounder. Someone taunting him said "You really think that thing has enough power to kill an Iowa deer?"  The kid turned and said "I got a pass through on an elk last year, besides if there is a deer out there this bow won't kill, we are all in danger." He turned to take another shot and splat, wood chips, arrow nocks and feathers were all over the front of the target. It was one too many in the stack. It takes a pretty good bow to be better than a Bear Grizzly.

thanks pavan. Now I really cant wait. As if I wasnt impatient enough lol.

UPDATE HERE NEED HELP.

As I stated I dont know the year of this bow.
what I do have is the serial number and an AMO of 56".

serial number KR39205
AMO 56"
gold bear medallion
50# at 28

cant seem to get the pics loaded. sorry.

ANY help in identifying the year would be great. thanks a ton.

The 56" Grizzlies were 1968-70. The 68 serial number would start with a 8 the 69 with a 9. The 1970 would have a KR serial number. Also the 70 model will be a dual wood riser with accent stripe while the 68 and 69 used a single solid piece of wood in the riser.

So being a gold medallion doesn't matter? It does have two color wood riser with an accent stripe though. I just want to be sure of my bows year. Thanks for all the help.

If it's got the flat gold coin inset into the riser it is pre '73.  In later '72 they switched to the raised plastic medallion.  At least that's how it was for the Super Kodiaks, I'm assuming Grizzlies were the same - Jack would know for sure.  As he pointed out, the 56" length, and serial # starting with a K would say it is a 1970.
You've got a good girlfriend!!

I never judge the years by the color of the medallion. Both brass and silver coins were used 1963-72. A coin can be lost and replaced with who knows what. I had a 1970 Grizzly once with a Buffalo Head nickle in the place of the medallion. I'm pretty sure it didn't come from the factory that way.

The Griz I have says 6P6045 it is a 58" bow solid one piece riser with more taper in the lams than the new models. For my under 28" draw it really shoots nice and it is as fast as a popular longbow model that I compared it to for speed that was 8 pounds heavier, shooting the same cedar arrows.  Not sure when mine was built, I am guessing it may be a 66. Maybe not the classiest bow design that Bear ever had, but it is a very versatile do it all hunting bow. Mine is not for sale, everyone who shoots it tries to buy it.

Pavan,your right it would be a 66.

I get to see it tomorrow, make a flemish twist for it, and fire as many arrows as i can through it till the night is over. than she is taking it away from me until christmas! gonna be a very very long wait! Cant wait to hold it!

I was just told that there is 1 or 2 small holes in the riser. the enter from the side facing the shooter (bell I believe). I recently read another ad of a 1970 grizz that had the same holes in it.
Factory? whats the purpose?

The holes are most likely left from an aftermarket sight. Very common in bows from that era but not factory.

ooohhh.....well sucks to hear someone drilled into this beautiful bow....but oh well. I never intend to let this bow go so its all good.

You can put a drop of stained glue into the holes. If you are good at it they almost disappear, at least enough so they don't irritate you and keep the weather out. I have seen a case where a shooter on a Super K used it as an opportunity to get artistic.

stained glue huh? Well its got the green limbs on it. So I would imagine matching the green wold be rough. But I will give it a try on paper with a few different shades and use what matches best. Yet again....great advice from TG. Thanks all. This bow is a dream! Shoot it for the first time tomorrow!

I picked up a 1970 Grizzly recently.  My first 56" Grizz.  

I was pleasantly surprised with the performance of the 56" 1970.  It's quiet and fast for the weight.  I am not a huge fan of short bows, but that little bow is a treat.

Good luck and congrats!  I agree, it's hard to beat a Bear Grizzly!

I read somewhere someone used crayola wax to fill holes.Lots of colors to choose from.Kip

Kyle,

If you do a search either here or the history section you will probably find a few threads on the best methods for filling holes left from sights and quivers. If the holes are in the limb glass I first chamfer the edge of the hole with  a larger drill bit twisted in my fingers. I usually epoxy a peg in the hole leaving it just short of flush. I fill the void with more epoxy that I have color matched using artist oil pastel colors that you can get at Michaels. After it dries I sand it flush with fine sand paper and then seal it with polyurethane.

sounds great. I will dcertainly try that. sounds like a solid method. I like the wood peg idea.

Another one would be to sand the belly glass, fill the holes and superglue a thin wood veneer on it with some moderately light clamp pressure for a few minutes. Round it out and taper it nice and then refinish the area.

So time for my "after shoot review,"  I love this bow! Smooth, Fast and very good looking! This 41 year old bow feels stronger (no scale used yet) than my 7 year old impala (also love my impala). Incredible bow. For some reason my windage is always right on but my elevation tends to hit low. Havent figured out why am shooting low yet but oh well. practice practice practice!

Well, don't think I am out of line stealing this thread, but. My daughter just gave birth to a baby girl. Mom and baby are doing fine. She had the baby at her place and was delivered by the property owner. The baby came fast. He shoots a compound and is thinking about switching. He has a 14 year old son that doesn't have and bow and he wants a recurve.  The 42 pound 66 Grizzly I mentioned, a back quiver and a dozen arrows will be going to his 14 year old son.

Back when i was a teen in the 70's i had a bear grizzly.I dont know what year model it was or even where i got it from.I have many fond memories of that bow.I had beagle dogs and across the road from our house there was a large pond with brush all around it.My dogs would run rabbits round and round that pond where i would be standing on an old oak stump waiting.I shot my first bow kill deer with that bow too.Sounds like you have a good one,,enjoy!

I have a 69 Griz, 56" AMO, factory camo green, and it has the Silver medallion.