When I got back into traditional archery in 1990 after a few years of training wheels, I traded for a Bear Kodiak Mag 55# with factory camo.  I took the rest off and discovered a green riser with a blue stripe underneath.  I decided to strip the bow of it's factory camo finish with steel wool only to discover it was finished twice.  It had 2 sets of silkscreens,one on the camo and one underneath.  It turned out to be a nice looking Kodiak Mag but 20 years later I wish I had left it factory camo.  I haven't seen any like it since but I'm sure someone has one.  I'd love to see a picture if anyone does.   Anyone else have regrets over the way you treated a bow?

"B" in the photo is a factory camo Kodiak Mag 50#. I had thought about stripping the camo but I've seen so few that were factory camo that I thought I'd better not.
I have heard that the factory camo bows were 2nd's for some reason or other and that's why they were camo finished.

It's my understanding that factory camo Bears were bows that had some sort of bemish through handling. I have a '64 Kodiak that was factory camo'd and I can see a couple of nicks in the riser,nothing major, it shoots great.

It should read "blemish"

No regrets. I consider scratches from hunting, character marks....badges of honor.  I don't beat my bows, but the sure do get scratches....and they keep them too.  I want my bows to look like bows...not vases, or urns.  A bow that is not scratched, is a neglected bow.

Under the strike plate it read blemished but I didn't see much if anything so i stripped it.  Mine was olive green camo. Looking back, it was pretty cool an I wish I still had it original.  I still have it and my son used it to take his first traditional deer.....just like me.  

I love to have a factory camo Kodiak myself.  My friends MigraBill has a nice '64 and Raineman has a nice Cub (I think).

I don't think there are very many around.....has anyone else seen many of them?

I just got a 1966 Kodiak Mag that is factory camo. It is 56 # @ 28 and has seen some action. It still has tape residue from a tape on quiver but is a dream to shoot. I just came if from taking it out stump shooting and it shot great !
From what I read some the first factory camo's were seconds or "plain jane wood" but when they became popular you could special order factory camo as an option for a few extra bucks. At that point they just camoed em as the orders came in .

It wouldn't be a big deal to put it back like it was.A lot easier than refinishing a gloss finish.Al H here,has replacement decals.Take a photograph of the hand writing and get an ultra fine point,permanent black drawing pen with something like a .1 or so,micron tip and you can redo the writing.Olive drab paint shouldn't be hard to find or apply.

I thought about that.....but it's just not the same now.   It's a good looker and I can't bring myself to paint it.  I'm sentimental too, since we have taken game with it.

I have 2 factory camo Bears.  A 1967 Super Magnum 48 and I just picked up a 1966 Tigercat.  I have been told by a friend who has talked to guys that worked at the Grayling Bear factory that most factory camos were to cover a blemish but some were custom ordered as camo.  In this case, they would often just grab a bow "off the rack" and camo over the top of the regular finish.

I have one and have never seen another untill this post.
52" 50# @28

Tim

I picked up a 1966 48# factory camo in a package deal a few weeks ago. Second one down from the top. I have gotten three other Kodiak mags recently too.