Bear spring arm quiver, good, bad, ugly?

Bishop · January 09, 2012, 07:59:00 AM

I found an old Bear spring arm 8 arrow quiver. Are they good, bad, or ugly?

Whip · January 09, 2012, 08:11:00 AM

A lot of fans of the old Bear bows still use them. I don't have any personal experience, but if you ask this question over in the History/Collecting forum you will find a bunch of people who do.

I do know that there are different lengths of quivers that were made for shorter or longer bows, so you do need to have the correct quiver for the bow you are trying to put it on.

Bishop · January 09, 2012, 08:23:00 AM

Thanks Whip. I wasn't sure where I would get the most response. I'll put it there to.

I have a Kodiak, Kodiak Magnum, Grizzly, and a Kodiak Hunter. I have several lengths covered

RkyMtn Joe · January 09, 2012, 11:35:00 AM

I used one many years ago when they were first introduced. At the time they were a great advancement in hunting equipment and after using one, I have always loved bow quivers.

Over the years, bow quivers have evolved and while the old ones may not be as "spiffy" as some of the newer models, they worked really well for me and I liked them then and still do today.

Joe

OS · January 09, 2012, 02:23:00 PM

They add a little more weight than many of the newer quivers but if the rubber is good there not a bad old quiver. I still have a couple I throw on when I'm feeling Fredish (Yea I know 42 and still pretending I'm Fred Bear lol

L. E. Carroll · January 09, 2012, 02:27:00 PM

I feel for nestalgic reasons and to have one in your collection, they are great.

Would I use one on my bow with the spring arm attachmant system? NO, I feel they are noisy, terribly un-balance a bow and can leave marks on your limbs.

I'm sure there are other great one's I have not tried yet, but Bear spring arms are not one of them.

Gene Carroll

JimB · January 09, 2012, 02:45:00 PM

They are OK.I used them for many years.It takes a little work to quiet one down but it definitely can be done.

My biggest gripe was,you had to constantly check your arrows as they would back out after a few shots.A loose arrow in a quiver makes noise.I used only 11/32" arrows for this reason but they would still back out.

If you need to carry a lot of arrows and have inserts for a bolt on quiver,the Delta 7 is a better option.Bear sells it for their TD but not by that name.It is lighter,quiet,has more adjustment for length,different gripper sizes are available and it holds the arrows very well.

These days I like a lighter 4 or 5 arrow quiver.The EFA is a great one.

reddogge · January 09, 2012, 03:53:00 PM

Heavy, noisy, awkward, leaves marks on your bow. What's to like?

smokin joe · January 09, 2012, 10:06:00 PM

I have a 4-arrow model on my A-mag. With a little fiddling I got mine to be very quiet, if I leave the 4th slot empty. But 3 broadhead arrows are enough for me for a hunt. I have used the 8-arrow model as well, and got it very quiet with 4 arrows in it. With 8 the fletching touched each other and made too much noise for me. You do have to mess with them to get them quiet, but they are great once you do.

Sure there are things that are better, lighter, etc. But, to my mind, Bear old stuff has some good mojo.

stagetek · January 09, 2012, 10:13:00 PM

They are not bad or ugly. They're very functional. Look great on a Bear bow and work as good or better than many others.

bear1336 · January 10, 2012, 07:05:00 AM

Still us a 4 arrow model on my A mag and love it.

Ray Lyon · January 10, 2012, 08:15:00 AM

I've got the 4 arrow spring arm top, fork bracket bottom quiver on my '71 Super Kodiak. The arrows are very snug in the quiver (I only keep 3 in right now while shooting) and no noticable noise and arrows don't back out. I agree with the above, it's very nostalgic and "cool" looking. I'll be hunting with mine next fall from time to time.

Roadkill · January 10, 2012, 09:07:00 AM

I only shoot longbows but may have one still around in my collection. They are fine but take a little tuning. Can be done. Makes em look original

buckeyebowhunter · January 10, 2012, 09:50:00 AM

They are tough to get quiet, and also leave marks on your limbs. This is why I do not use mine for hunting, but rather as more of a decorative piece to go with all of my bear stuff. They are funtional and look great on bear bows but just too loud for me to use in the woods. heres a few pics of mine.

Bishop · January 10, 2012, 10:06:00 AM

Nice Buckeye!

30coupe · January 10, 2012, 10:33:00 AM

As you can see from the picture, the springs clamp over the working part of the limb. I think that's where most of the noise comes from. Mine is the double spring model that has spring clamps both top and bottom. I used it back in the day when it was about all we could get, but it's a wall hanger now. As others have said, they are heavy and noisy. They are also kind of a pain to put on and take off.

There are a lot better, quieter, lighter quivers to be had. EFA is one of my favorites. If you want more arrows and don't mind some added weight, the Thunderhorn Linx model works great as well.

stagetek · January 10, 2012, 12:55:00 PM

Great photo's Buckeye !

JimB · January 10, 2012, 01:12:00 PM

The noise comes from vibration of the wires where they contact each other.

If you want to quiet one:

1.Loc Tite and tighten all screws

2.Wrap small pieces of molekin around the upper arm where it contacts the frame wires.

3.Shoot some silicone in between the two flat pieces of metal that are attached to the gripper.

It takes just a few minutes to quiet one down.

On models with a lower spring arm,it isn't a bad idea to put a velcro or other type strap around that lower bracket as it can vibrate loose after several shots.

Ia Hawkeye · January 10, 2012, 02:01:00 PM

Bear 8 arrow were somewhat adjustible so they would fit different length bows.(about 4" or so if I remember right."