Fred Bear Kodiak Magnum

[Piddler]

Hey Gang,
I was just recently gifted a Kodiak Magnum.
This bow is in really good condition and supposedly only shot very few times. The Info reads KU 1496 which I'm thinking early mid 70's.AMO 52" and 50X# which I'm assuming is #50 at 28". It has Gray wood with the purple stripe
Questions I have are,
1: Can anyone pinpoint year
2: I did some googling and found that the string should be 49" Is that correct. Also said that D 97  would be a correct material. It also has some type of overlay
3: I can flemish twist a string or should I get one made with the loops served. (I can't do endless strings)
Just some background. Started on compounds long time ago then switched to Primitive and started working with wood bows so this is the first fiberglass traditional I've ever had so arrow choice ETC would gladly be helpful
Thanks,
Piddler

[woodchucker]

Sometimes wood does some funny things as it ages...? In the 1970's Bear went with 2 tone risers made of dyed maple (ie... Actionwood) They would have a green/brown,or brown/gray, with a blue stripe in between starting in 1976 for the BiCentenial. Later, in the mid 1980's they used a red stripe, which is still used today on the Bear takedowns. I don't remember a purple stripe? Perhaps it may be a red stripe, or blue stripe that has faded, making it look purple?

As for a string, I would only use a Dacron string on anything even possibly being Pre-1990, and a Flemish twist string will work just fine!! 48-49" will work and a brace height of 8-8 1/2 inches.
Last but not least, a serial number off the grip would be helpful!

[wadde]

The 50X means 51 pounds at 28 inches of draw. The serial numbers all started with KU from 1970 to 76. The medallion would be raised from 1973 on and the woodwork was green futurewood from 1973 and later. Your bow would fall into the 1970 to 1972 range, all had grey glass during that time. The only way to narrow it down from 1970 to 1972 is the woodwork. By the way the stripe is likely blue. The 1970 had Pao Ferro and African Bubinga, the 1971-72 was Shedua and African Bubinga.

[woodchucker]

There ya go!! Thanks Steve!!! Old brain ain't what it used to be... 

[Piddler]

Thanks fellas,
The riser is actually green and the stripe is blue. My color vision is not so good. The medallion is raised so I'm guessing that puts it between 73 and 76. I had a couple of flemish twist strings already made up at 49". One B 50 and one D97. I put the B 50 on which mage the brace height around 6.5" from handle throat. I can twist that up some and maybe get to around 8" if not I'll make a new one. I did shoot it a couple times with a 2315 and a 350 carbon arrow. Seemed to shoot to the right so maybe raising brace height will change impact some. Haven't had time to play with it much yet.
Thanks again for the comments.
Piddler