you don't have to think that since most people don't want to shoot that bow it is worthless.it is been designed by Fred with the intent to make the most beautiful bow ever produced a true masterpiece to last the years.He made that to promote the cheaper Custom Kodiak Td,that was reitroduced the same year.Most people don'tshoot their more priced 59-60 signed Kodiak too.This is a bow made to show how sophysticated and precious a bow can be.Not for nothing the biggest collectors own at least one:see Al Reader,Wade Philips and other.people with so much knowledge and taste don't buy a bow they don't find interesting and of some value.

Hi..just to help clear the air I am the buyer of 030.
I felt this would get me a little closer to the great man who was such a big part of the worlds archery history. This beauty was fairley low in the series so I figured surley worth having. Along with a few other collectables it will be a keeper for my lifetime.
Appreciated reading the many comments.

Stormer, Congrats!! Enjoy it. Sounds like you will appreciate it and that is were those bows belong.

Stormer, Good for you   . Enjoy it in good health.     :cool:

Stormer -

Glad to see that you posted that you were the one who got the bow.

Hopefully your post will end the speculation.

I'm certain you will enjoy the bow as much as others enjoy owning theirs.

You have also taken the heat off of me a bit. A year ago I bought the only known 1959 56" Maple Sight Window Kodiak that had ever surfaced in the collecting circles. Many less experienced bowmen questioned the sanity of the person who paid $2,100+ for the bow.

I bet they have now forgotten that bow completely. Actually it seems like more of a bargain everyday when I see bows sell for more.

congratulations stormer !
Beautiful bow , I'm just jealous, could not afford one of those on a mailcarriers pay!
Although I have my share of old Bears I dont really consider my self a collector but more a user and that is definately not a user .
I had previously thought the only bows that would command that price would have been the actual bows used by the archery greats. JMO
Bows like that belong in the hands of collectors some one who can care for them ,share them ,and pass them down so they remain a part of our history forever
Dean

Insure it well !

Stormer my only question would be Are you going to shoot it?

 Congratulations on the purchase!!!

That is one awesome bow, congrats

Many thanks guys for the positive comments and kind advice.As a keen longbow shooter I could not claim to be a real collector as such but have always loved the lines and feel of fine Bows .I am no expert on the great man but have read enough to know how much this great sport owes him and of a life well lived and this buy gets me a little closer as I gather he did his own quality control.4406v 030 will not see to much time strung but a heck of a lot of time looked at.I am a big fan of Bill Foremans masterpieces and they are my main shooters.
Thanks again

Personally since the bow has been shot some I couldn't resist the urge to string it up and shoot it.

It's like the big time collector who drives million dollar Hemi cars.They are cars afterall and meant to be driven.

Stomer -

Before any body shoots a Signature bow, I would like to recommend that they find, read and study a thread by the late Bill Krenz. He wrote a very detailed account of the problems with the Signature bows and how to correct those problems.

Bill was a great guy and a had a storehouse of information that we will miss forever.

There is a guy,member here, that uses regurlarly his signature riser,without the origional limbs!

cacciatore -

What does he use that Signature riser without limbs for... a door handle ???

   Just joking of course...  

I've seen some pretty nice Bear bows used for door handles, but never a Signature riser.

Wade....information re Bill Krenz appreciated will follow up.
Thanks

Wade,this guy bought the riser Signature from Bill,the rest of the box was somehow missed.I know myself a lone riser.They were probably coming off from some Bear employees.

The ultimate in bows.  (2 more just came up)

Last year at Denton Hill a gentleman was shooting one. I didnt know what they were at the time and thought that someone had just "pimped out" there bear takedown.

I owned many signature bows thru the years and have sold them to fellow collectors....But I did keep one!
This particular signature bow handle was Frank Scott's and it was in his office for years until it came to me by accident really.
Long story short, I had Frank come to NY and bowhunt with me and I showed it to him and he was boggled to say the least!!
He said where did you get this? I told him I purchased it from a fellow while collecting Bear archery items and this fellow asked me if I wanted to buy a handle signed by Fred Bear. And I did.
Frank then told me that this handle was his and did not know how it came up for sale by "someone else".
Anyway,Frank later sent me the rest of the bow.....Limbs, case among other things, ect.....

It is my favorite Bear Archery bow and I shoot it once in a while in memory of my friend Frank Scott. I wrote an article in Traditional Bowhunter Magazine about this hunt with Frank Scott. He passed away 1 week later.....Thanks for the memories Frank

Nice story Filippo!