Help on old Bear Tartar, old quiver

[firsted]

Picked up an old Bear Tartar & hoping someone can provide some info.  Trademark date is 1953 but I imagine it's not that old.  Regardless, it's in great shape.  But I haven't really seen a factory bow quite like it, especially with the ranging add-on, sight pin and brush rest.  Any ideas on what I've got?  The quiver is too cool, no markings but I don't care - the quality says it all.  Anyway, if anyone has any thoughts, please let me know.  Would like to know that I didn't lose money on it!  Didn't pay too much but anything over 400 dollars adds up!  Thanks for any help, & I hope folks drew better hunts than me this year - I got a barely decent muley hunt, and no elk draw.  Dang it!!!  May be CO bound this year.

[firsted]

I looked at my Grizzly (should have done that earlier)& see that the 1953 patent date doesn't mean anything.  So I got that part now.  Anything else?

[jeff w]

At one time I owned a Bear Tarter very similar to yours.   Mine did not have the imbedded sight/brush rest.  Judging by the wood combination, bubinga and shedua, these were made around 1968 and 1969.   The 1953 patent date was carried on bows for some time and are not an indicator of manufacture date.   These were made when field archery was much popular.   the Tarter was probably considered an 'intermediate' bow;  there was the Tamerlane above it, and a couple other models below it.   The bow could be ordered with or without the sight.  I have seen several Tarters on the big auction sight-it's great that the one you found has a complete sight.  I always enjoyed  mine, it was very smooth and fun to shoot.   The quiver looks pretty neat-maybe someone can chime in with some information on it.

[damascusdave]

Try posting this in the Trad History/Collecting forum...also try doing a search for Tamerlane and Temujin which were the other two bows in the Bear target line...my guess would be 1964 to 1969

DDave

[firsted]

Thanks.  I don't know about older trad bows with imbedded factory sights like this, & less about custom quivers.  But I REALLY need a good form bow and anything leather is cool.  Thanks again.

[Jon Stewart]

If it was a 68 or 69 the  serial number would begin with an 8 or a 9.

[monkeyball]

Nice Tartar,and nice beadwork on that quiver. But I have to be honest, the carving on the back of that chair is really nice looking work also.

                                       Good Shooting,
                                                      Craig

[firsted]

Thanks for the follow up, guys.  Yeah, I wasn't sure how the serial # correlated to date - maybe it's a 1963 or so?  Still a sturdy bow, too.  The quiver is likely about the same age but some real time was spent in the beadwork for sure.  Yeah, Craig, that is some nice scroll work.  It's a nice bench w/cedar-lined storage, too.  Sees a lot of use.  
Thanks again guys.

[Jack Shanks]

The Tartar was produced 1966-72. Yours would be a 1970-72 model. I have owned a few and still have one somewhere. The factory premier sight will fit other Bear target models as well and is probably worth as much as the bow alone.

[Al H]

I don't think it's a 70-72 model.  That lower limb decal was used from 1955-1969.  Bear changed them in 1970.

[Jack Shanks]

Al,

Actually, the 1953 Canada patent was changed to a US patent during the mid 1972 model year. I have several 1970-72 Bear bows with the Canadian patent.

Best regards,

[Al H]

Hey Jack,

They sure did but they added the words "OTHER PATENTS PENDING" below the patent numbers and above the Canada 1953.  The Bear Archery decal is a little different as well.

Best

[Jack Shanks]

Al,

Yes, and you certainly would be the one to know the silkscreens. I have had a couple Bear bows with the wrong silkscreens, missing or in the wrong location but I've never seen a 65-69 serial number that started with a letter.

[Al H]

Jack,
That wouldn't surprise me one bit if they had the wrong silkscreens for any Bear bow.  Sometimes I think they used just what was handy.   I did see that the "K" serial numbers were started in the 70"s so I have no doubt your right.  Good eye sir!  I should have checked that serial number closer.

Thanks Jack,

[Jack Hoyt 75]

I agree that the K in serial numbers dates it to 1970 at the earliest.  Nice bow.

Al H makes some great Bear decals by the way, helped me out a while back on a resto project.

[Jack Shanks]

Al,

I agree with Bear using up what was handy. One of the reasons I never use the type of coin as a deciding factor for a year on one of their bows.

I second what Jack Hoyt 75 says. Keep up the good work on those transfers!