We just got in a 45# RH Black phenolic Super Kodiak and now we have three different Super Kodiaks so I was wondering, what is everyone's favorite model? Oh, and if you want to buy one of these, call Lost Nation Archery at 888-800-7880. 3/25 we got a 50# black beauty in!
(http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq215/lostnationarchery/Super-Kodiak-Trio.jpg) (http://s449.photobucket.com/user/lostnationarchery/media/Super-Kodiak-Trio.jpg.html)
Left and right hand bows trip my string. Larry, should have said the right and left bows in the picture-not looking for a dual shelf. If I tried to shoot left hand God only knows where the arrows would land.
Sorry, Tom. It has been over 50 years since Bear made an ambidextrous Kodiak and they never make a dual shelf Super K. I will agree, they are fun.
Close your eyes, pick one at random, send it to me, and I guarantee I would be happy.
I thought I heard the Grayling Green SK are being discontinued? I like the black SK!
Whatever the middle one is
The middle one is the Super Kodiak in Dymondwood which is no longer being made since the mill where it was made burned down. I hear no plans are in the works to rebuild. Too bad because that is a beautiful bow.
Larry, what is the riser the one on the right is made from? Is that the future wood riser?
Glad to see some of these are shipping out. Definitely the phenolic Super K for me.
I held that phenolic today wow is all I can say.
The riser on the right is bubinga and yes, the Grayling Green with bubinga riser was discontinued this year. I happened to pick one of from another dealer who was going out of business. David, I had not heard anything about the dymondwood factory burning down. That would be huge.
Original note from a supplier:
"Special Note to our customers: Dymondwood is manufactured exclusively by Rutland Plywood Corp at a single facility in Vermont. That factory was destroyed in a catastrophic fire in late August 2014. "
http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/2014/08/21/firefighters-battle-blaze-rutland-business/14377305/
There all nice. Wow
All very nice looking but I would have to go with one of the ones on the ends. Widow
You have them displayed in order of my preference, left to right. 1st would be the phenolic, then the two tone followed by the Bubinga.
I guess I will buck the trend. I actually think the one in the middle is not very attractive. Sorry. Bubinga first, phenolic second, dymondwood last.
I just heard from Neil Byce at the Bear factory. He writes:
the dymondwood is a thing of the past as it manufacturing plant burned to the ground. We have been transitioning to impregnated maple on everything that was dymondwood. Most of the bows have been converted but some dymondwood remains in the bow pipeline.
Hard to beat the Phenolic.
Larry, any idea what the impregnated maple looks like colorwise? I have a Super Kodiak like the one in your picture that has to be replaced and Neil said it will be with the impregnated maple. I am a bit disappointed because I really like that Dymondwood riser. I am not disappointed in Bear service though. Not their fault that the Dymondwood is not available now.
All 3 are great looking bows, but I would go with the middle Dymondwood. It matches my Bear Patriot longbow.
QuoteOriginally posted by zepnut:
Hard to beat the Phenolic.
I like the looks of it the best as well.
Phenolic for sure, have always loved the '68-"69 SK
David, I wish I knew. I just went to their web site and the Dymondwood Super K isn't even listed. I also have to wonder what all the other bowyers are doing. I'll push on my connections to get an answer.
I also notice on Bear website that 2015 Patriot description says Futurewood riser although photo still shows Dymondwood.
Yes, the only Super Kodiak they show now on the web site is the phenolic model, but he told me my replacement bow will be impregnated maple. Maybe they are in process of replacing the Dymondwood with the impregnated maple and just not showing it yet. :confused:
I've seen them to be very slow on updating pictures in the past. I hope yours is gorgeous.
Thanks, Larry. I have seen a picture of the Grizzly in brown Futurewood--a 2015 model, so I guess that's what color they are using. We'll see.
The pic below is of a 2015 "A" riser that I rec'd directly from Bear, it is a replacement for an older riser that was still under warranty. I think this is the maple they're using in place of the Dymondwood. Often turns out streaky like this but not always.
I like the phenolic, about my favorite of the Super Ks.
(http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b619/dugly51/IMG_2692_zpsjlyppmdi.jpg) (http://s1294.photobucket.com/user/dugly51/media/IMG_2692_zpsjlyppmdi.jpg.html)
I love the looks of that A riser take down!!!
I like the one on the left - more phenolic in the riser will make it a bit heavier in mass weight - I like that feature too.
I like the one on the left the best. More phenolic in the riser will make it a bit heavier mass weight - I like that feature too.
I like the one on the left the best. More phenolic in the riser will make it a bit heavier mass weight - I like that feature too.
I've always wondered about the making of Bear Future Wood, or Predator Future Wood, or Ram Wood (Bighorn Bows)or Wonder Wood(Shakespeare Archery). I assume they vacuum impregnate the blocks of riser wood with the dyed resin before any sawing or shaping is done. Otherwise, how could you make a two-color riser. It's hard to imagine the color going uniformly all the way through the thick block of wood. I'd like to watch the process.
I have a Bubinga Grayling Green.
I don't have a Black Phenolic one.
That may be about to change.......
Since the 56-66 Kodiaks are among my favorite Bear bow, I like the bow on the right and bought a 60" when first introduced. While the piece of bubinga and finish is lacking on my particular bow, it is one of my favorite shooters. It is deadly on 20+ yard bunnies.
(http://i1370.photobucket.com/albums/ag252/caputo_art/3b5cfcda619f3f89d6aa68b2cfb9e646_zps3d8078ca.jpg)
All three of the Super K's are gorgeous and I would be proud to own any of the three and tickled to death to own all three.... As for the Takedown riser..... WOW.... I like that better than any of the new ones I've seen.... ;)
Today I was looking at the bows on the rack in my shop and I realized the last Montana to arrive has the resin impregnated riser instead of Dymondwood. It is the same color so I never noticed it before.
The phenolic is a beauty but the Grayling Green is my personal favorite.
I made some really good hunting shots with my Super Ks, I should not be looking those pics. Do the new phenolic Super Ks have a deeper grip than the originals? I think that they are one of the bows versatile hunting bows ever produced.
Bear had a video of its operations back in the 50s or 60s, I think it was titled " Rural Route Grayling" or similar. In there was a brief overview of how they made bows, including how they made futurewood. Of course, it was brief, but to the point. I was totally impressed by his machinery.
ChuckC
Love the one on the left ...
Just got a 50#'er!
Please post some pics if you can Larry. Looking forward to seeing some views of both sides and the gloss finish on the limbs. Got a 55# on order but it's weeks away yet.
Thanks,
Dave
Sorry, Dave but I haven't had the time to take pictures lately. Will see what I can do.
Sutts I have some pics posted on another thread of the new Super K that I brought back to the top for you to look at.