Bear Archery in 80's

[OldSkoolArcher]

There is alot of talk about Bear Archery in the Grayling Years and some talk about the newer Bear Products, but there is never much talk about 80's Bear Bows.

What trad bows did Bear produce in the 80's and what is the general opinion on the quality and shootability?

[TommyBoy]

My first bows were 80's Bear Kodiaks. They were nothing fancy - most of Bear's resources were being put into compound development (the Delta V abomination comes to mind). I had two in a row break on me - same spot right - above the riser.

They were good shootable bows, but the quality was mediocre at that point in time though.

[Hud]

Bear brought the TD back in 1980-81 after they moved to FL. in 1978. The TD was Fred's bow and it was produced in 1969-72 in Grayling. Fred Bear tried to buy the company back before his death in 1988 but was unable to get the owner's interested.

 http://www.fredbear-online.com/

There are a number of books out, and they produce a DVD on Bear Archery.

[lpcjon2]

Sorry but back in 1980 I was 11 yo and had a Ben Pearson fiberglass jet bow.

[Jeremy]

Quality, in general, in the early 80's was better than what you see in the 90's and the current decade.  At least from what I've seen.  I know my '80 T/D riser is better in the fit and finish dept. than my '98 and '05 risers were.  The SuperK and Grizz I've had my hands on were nice as well.  Tips were slightly narrower than today's bows, so performance may be slightly better as well.

The Signature Series T/D was right after Bear started making the wood risers again in FL... those are some of the most stunning Bears ever made.

[TommyBoy]

At $1400 a bow the Signature Series better be stunning!  I agree that the new Signatures are great looking and I would love to have one - but at that price??? NOOOO THAAANNNK YOOUU.

[George D. Stout]

The 80's takedowns were as good as Bear made, and they shot very well.  I had several early 80's Custom Kodiaks and they were great bows; I liked them better than the early 70's originals.
Nothing wrong with the newer models either; they are made with plain old American maple and birch...not pretty but still great shooters and nearly bomb proof.

[hawkeye n pa]

The very early 80's takedown limbs had a gel coat on them and it didn't hold up well if shot alot.  I return mine a couple of times for free replacements and ended up a "green striped" riser and a much better finished limbs.  IMO one of Bears finest.

[bawana bowman]

I have 2 early 80's Kodiaks which I purchased new.
55# & 65#, have owned them for almost 30 years, have killed many deer and pigs with each one. Both are smooth drawing and as accurate as any bow I've ever shot. Never had any problems with either one. If I'm not shooting a long bow usually one of these two will be the recurve of choice. Also have a Bearcat T/D with the magnesium riser and slide in limbs, have limbs in 48#, 50#, and 58# this bow also is a very good shooter. Some may look down on them but I've found this little Bearcat to be very accurate, easy to pack and very reliable.
Have had 1 upper limb collapse on the Bearcat, but out of 4 sets of limbs I guess thats not to bad considering the design of the bow.

[VA Bowbender]

Here is the second Bear bow I ever had. The first I got was in 1987 and it was exactly the same. After about 2 or 3 years the top limb broke. I still had the original box and reciept so I packed it up and sent it off to Bear in Gainsville with a short letter asking if it could be repaired. I never heard anything else from Bear for a long while. Then one day the UPS truck pulls up with a box. Bear sent me a brand new bow, no charge, no questions even though I had modified the shelf to a crown. I killed my first bow kill with that bow. It still shoots real good, is straight and has never let me down. I also have a magnesium TD with white tip limbs from Grayling and a Fred Bear Custom TD from Gainsville, a Grayling K-Mag, 2 Grizzlys from Grayling and a real old cub. Ya know they all shoot good and all kill game just as dead as any other bow.

 
 

 

 

 

 

[GRW]

Speaking of Bear Archery in the 80's.  i have had these catalogs in my gun case for a long time.  As a boy, I would flip through the pages, dreaming what it would be like to tag along with Fred Bear.  Here are some snap shots of some of them.  Enjoy.

 
  I wish I would have obtained the missing years.

 
  " The Abomination"

 
  God, I hope I never looked like that!

 

 

 

 
  My favorite image...

[Jeremy]

Tommyboy, the Signature series isn't what's being made now.  They were made only in '82(?) and the price tag was high.  Gold-plated latches and a variety exotic woods.  Clear glass and yew limbs.  Simply stunning and they'll go for upwards of $6K now.

The Supreme Series T/D is what Bear is making now.  I've owned one and the quality is the best I've seen from Bear since the early 80's.  I'm still not a fan of the overbuilt tips on the limbs, but that's why I'm shooting the RoseOak limbs on my '80 Bear T/D riser.

[TommyBoy]

Thanks Jeremy. Now that you mention it, I remember what you are talking about, but have never seen one in person - only pictures.

And thanks GRW for bringing up that horrible memory!!    

I remember drawing one back once at a local proshop.  The thing must have weighed 15 pounds.

[OldSkoolArcher]

Originally posted by GRW:

 
 

Can you tell me what year catalog this image came from?

The Kodiak I just bought is that style.

[GRW]

The picture of the above Kodiak bow is from the 85' catalog.  Congrats on getting a fine bow.

[Blackstick]

GRW, Would you be so kind as to post a picture of the CKTD from your 1988 catalog? I have one I bought new in 1990 and I have been trying to nail down the year it was made in. Thanks!

[OldSkoolArcher]

Originally posted by GRW:
The picture of the above Kodiak bow is from the 85' catalog.  Congrats on getting a fine bow.

Thanks for the info.

[VA Bowbender]

Originally posted by Jeremy:
Tommyboy, the Signature series isn't what's being made now.  They were made only in '82(?) and the price tag was high.  Gold-plated latches and a variety exotic woods.  Clear glass and yew limbs.  Simply stunning and they'll go for upwards of $6K now.

The Supreme Series T/D is what Bear is making now.  I've owned one and the quality is the best I've seen from Bear since the early 80's.  I'm still not a fan of the overbuilt tips on the limbs, but that's why I'm shooting the RoseOak limbs on my '80 Bear T/D riser.

Bear Archery (1982)
Bear "Special Limited Numbered Edition" Take Down
Autographed by Fred Bear (1980)
Includes 22 karat gold plated limb mounts, clear glass and custom display box.The limbs are Yew wood with clear glass. The Yew for these bows was cut and seasoned by Earl Ulrich, at age 91. Earl selected Yew for bows all his life in the high mountains of Oregon The riser is made of Brazilian Rosewood with decorative fiberglas tips.