I swung by the Compton Convention in Kansas City yesterday, I tested quite a few bows and I have to say I was very impressed with Bear's remake of the '59 Kodiak. It's light, smooth and pretty. It shot very well for me. I like the overall look and feel of the bow. When I saw what a great job Bear has done with the '59 remake, I realized how unAmerican I would be without a Bear bow in my collection! I felt a little ashamed of myself. I better get one before my wife notices that I don't have one! ;)
The entire line of Bear bows on display were impressive. The Rep that had the display knew his stuff about the bows.
I could easily see a new Bear in the stable.
bretto
Lynn I will let you know what I think of them after I shoot mine that's coming this week....... :)
very cool stabow! look forward to pics of it. I would like to shoot a new 64" Grayling Green Super K to see how it does
just picked a Kodiak 45 @ 28" . Very nice bow, smooth to shoot, seems to launch 525 grain aroows pretty well too.
Hawk I had the same problem as you. My 1st bow was a fiberglass bear red fox. After shooting a 59er at the kazoo show here in mi. I felt I needed a bear back in the rack. Big Jim sent me a beauty the other day.
I just received my new 59 Kodiak in 45# from Big Jim and my overall impression was excellent. Grain in the riser wood of bolivian rosewood was very nice with dark swirls and some character.
I thought it was very quiet shooting some 2016's w/o silencers on the string and it put the arrow right where I was looking with authority. It feels a pound or two more than 45# and that's just fine.
The leather grip was good and not near as bad as some of the reports had indicated. I put on my Montana pitch blend and it changed the color just perfectly for me.
Overall, the bow rates a 9.5 on my scale of 10...and will be a keeper I believe.
One thing I was wondering Lon is what tone those leather grips were when they were new 54 years ago...they may not have been much different from the current ones
DDave
My only issue with the new 59 Kodiaks is what I regard as poor leather work on the risers. Looks like a 5th grader put them on. I tried one at the KY TradFest but wound up taking a sweet little Cheyenne home with me. Just to avoid being "unAmerican" by not having one Bear on my rack. :D The little Cheyenne is a pretty impressive bow and a great length for shooting from blinds (another handy excuse to buy it....even if I don't own a pop-up blind). :saywhat:
I have never tuned a bow with a feather rest before and I am finding that interesting in comparison. Any hints?
D.P.
QuoteOriginally posted by The Hawk:
I realized how unAmerican I would be without a Bear bow in my collection!
I don't know if it still is or not, but Bear was originally a Canadian company wasn't it?
QuoteOriginally posted by Arkansas Osage:
QuoteOriginally posted by The Hawk:
I realized how unAmerican I would be without a Bear bow in my collection!
I don't know if it still is or not, but Bear was originally a Canadian company wasn't it? [/b]
Nope. The earlier bear bows had a Canada patent number on them but that is all.
Got one ordered from 3rivers, waiting patiently. Didn't ask how long it'll take, anyone heard? Only the second brand new trad bow I've ever bought.
QuoteOriginally posted by tuscarawasbowman:
QuoteOriginally posted by Arkansas Osage:
QuoteOriginally posted by The Hawk:
I realized how unAmerican I would be without a Bear bow in my collection!
I don't know if it still is or not, but Bear was originally a Canadian company wasn't it? [/b]
Nope. The earlier bear bows had a Canada patent number on them but that is all. [/b]
Ah, good to know. Thanks.
They are beautiful Bows, I have not shot one yet, its a little hard to find one that is left handed.
QuoteOriginally posted by Dave Pagel:
I have never tuned a bow with a feather rest before and I am finding that interesting in comparison. Any hints?
D.P.
Set the nock point and shoot it. It's just an elevated rest that's much more forgiving than the flat wooden shelf.
Trap
That is pretty much where I ended up. It just seems so strange to have my nocking point where it is. I typically shoot off the shelf and like that shelf cut close to my hand. I will try this for a while, but I may end up back on the shelf with a rug rest or simple piece of leather.
D.P.
I have a '61 model Kodiak. I think it's a '61, it has the green glass. Anyway I have a feather rest on it and it is different. I've not gotten real good arrow flight yet although I've really not shot it that much. I'm thinking of going to the old reliable Bear weather rest. Maybe this summer I can get it tuned in. That is if I can pry the '69 Super K 64" out of my hand. That bow is by far my favorite and the smoothest shooting bow I own.
The feather rest compresses on release due to downward pressure. I'm usually about 5/8" above the shelf.
Trap
Trap, Should I set my nock point at my regular 5/8 while the arrow rests on top of the feather rest or do I have to consider the compression. I have a lefty on order with Big Jim. JIm
Jr, if you are normally 5/8" above the shelf when you are shooting off the shelf, try 3/4" above the shelf when shooting off of a feather rest.
Even though the feather rest is 1/4" to 3/8" tall, your nock doesn't have to be that high.
Hope that makes sense, Trap
Trap, Thanks for the advice, I'll try 3/4" when I get the Kodiak. I ordered a few from you last year but have not installed as of yet. I switched to lefty due to shoulder issues and cannot presently shoot my rightys so they just sit on the rack. Thanks again, Jim
I have shot lots of bows with the 3 Rivers Feather rests. I found that if you shoot split with a narrow heavy shafts like a 1918 or a thin carbon with a weight tube you cna get by with it nearly paralel. If you shoot a moderate weight fatter cedar it should come up to about an eighth inch. the narrow heavy shafts tend to sink into the feather rest a bit. I wish someone could talk my wife into how much i need that '59 kodiak.
I've got a Bear Grayling Green 60" Super Kodiak. I had to do a little tuning on the bow but it is definitely a shooter. Very sturdy and reliable. I use it when I go pig hunting down south as it takes a beating. Not as sweet as my Bob Lee but it didn't cost near as much either. It's 50# at 28" and 55# at my draw length (30"). I think I'd go with the 64" bow if I had to do it over again.
Thanks for the info Trap. I really wasn't sure which way to go with the feather rest.
Ross
I like Trap find with a feather rest I need a bit higher nocking point, now with an elevated Bear weather rest I shoot with the nock point at only 3/8ths of an inch. I got to shoot one of the new ones yesterday and it shot very nice, I would still rather buy an old one or a copy like Big River than the new ones. Shawn
I love this place. It would have been so much easier in the early years if I would have had this great resource of knowledge to draw from. Once again thanks everyone.
Ross