Hello,
I just picked up two Bear Alaskans, and am curious if anyone could help me figure out what year they are.

#1 is a 62", 48#@28" Alaskan. It's a dual shelf model with dark green on the back, and light green on the belly. There's no coin.

#2 is a 62" 43#@28" Alaskan. It's also a dual shelf, but with a thicker riser section and grip and a silver coin. This one has black backing, and an orange belly. It also has a more pronounced limb design.

Both bows are what I'd call a semirecurve, the string does not contact the limb when strung. Any idea of what year they are or any other info you can give me on the Alaskans would be helpful and appreciated.

Both of the bows shoot very well, and I was surprised at their performance, especially the black and orange one.

You might put the serial # here also it might help with the help You receive.  

#2 sounds like a '59-'60. Not sure about the other one.

I have quite a few of the dual shelf Bear Alaskans. They are good shooting bows.

Most of mine are the black and orange glass, dual shelf, with the silver coin. I have one with lighter colored glass (light green/ pea soup colors).

Curious to see what others have to add.

I have one with light gray glass and no coin. From what I've found out it's an early '58, but I'm no expert or collector. Check with Rich Lopez, he seems to be up on the Bear years and model variations.

Kevin, yours is a '58 Grizzly.  Gray glass, single shelf, deflexed slightly coming off the handle, tiny, tiny tips.  One of my favorite Bears of all time.

As others have said, the orange and black Alaskan is a '59 or '60.  Nice bows.

The Alaskan was introduced in 1958 as a dual shelf 'semi-recurve'... what we'd call a r/d longbow today.  No coin. The glass in all I've seen was slate gray on the back and belly, though with age the finish will make the glass look greenish.  That's likely what you have (pics please    )

If the glass is actually dark green on the back and it's a double shelf, then you may have yourself one of the transitional/prototype '61 bows... the '61s were typically single handed with a coin though.

I prefer the way the '58 Alaskan shoots to the '59... it handles my 30" draw a little better.  Both are great old bows  

Jeremy, mine's an Alaskan, dual shelf, in near mint condition. No coin, a little staining of the leather and some wear on the strike plates. Here's a couple of pics

 

 

 

 

I shot it a couple of times to see how it performed, but then I just put it away. Figured I'd keep it in case I wanted to try shooting lefty sometime. No stress lines, the finish isn't even faded. Best yard sale find I've ever come across.

Sorry about that Kevin... I could have sworn I remember seeing you post with a Grizzly.  Age is catching up to me I guess  

They don't call it "Oldtimers" for nothing    :D

I need to get some arrows with the right spine and see how hard it is to shoot lefty this winter. For $23, I couldn't pass it up.