From: John Ryan
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Date: 03-Jul-15 |
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I've been wanting a Bear 59 reproduction for about a year now, and finally have the cash. I've heard they have a thin longbow type grip, which is fine with me. Heard too their strings are not too good, and that's fine, I use my own. What I'm wondering about is how they shoot, depth of cut at the shelf, fit and finish etc. and lastly if they are pretty quick or a dog. Not gonna hunt with it, just maybe some 3d. Already have the hunting rigs. Anybody have any thoughts they would like to share?
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From: Biathlonman
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Date: 03-Jul-15 |
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I would't hesitate if I got a good deal on a used one, but for new prices I'd go with one of the smaller makers doing reproductions.
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From: George D. Stout
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Date: 03-Jul-15 |
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John, they are neither the fastest bow on the planet, or a dog. They are very good performers. The question "how they shoot" is open to a lot of variables, but if they fit, you are golden. One of the best bows ever made in my opinion. As for strings, it is like it was in 1959...you are buying a bow and getting a string. Mostly you can make a better string, but the one you get will work fine.
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From: fdp
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Date: 03-Jul-15 |
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What George said....only thing that MIGHT trip you up is they are pretty light physically compared to some more modern bows. Sometimes that trips folks up a little.
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From: John Ryan
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Date: 03-Jul-15 |
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Thanks guys. good information. I've shot a lot of bows of most brands, shoot longbows and recurves, so that's not an issue. They look light in physical weight, and that has been confirmed. I can get a good deal on one, so appreciate that too. As far as speed, I'm not a speed freak, but I've owned a few that I could outrun the arrow. That, and handshock are two negatives for me.
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From: Phil Magistro
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Date: 03-Jul-15 |
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They are very good performers and a pleasure to shoot. Because of their light weight you may notice a slight bump in your bow hand on release but it isn't unlike a lot of light mass weight bows. I have a 1960 Kodiak in the same weight and this bow with the same type string is a better shooter for me.
I paid full price for mine shortly after they came out and it's one bow I will never get rid of. If you know how many bows I've bought and sold you'll know that's about as high praise as I can give.
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From: John Ryan
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Date: 03-Jul-15 |
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Thanks Phil. I too have owned enough to fill a large archery shop. I was hoping to get responses from guys that have shot/owned them. I 've had so many that didn't fit as George mentioned, and wanted to get as many opinions as I could. I snatched up a 67 1/2 Super K last year for a very good price, and it was awful. I tried my best to love it, but no dice. I fought that thing at each shot. The grip would roll in my hand no matter what I did. So I passed it on to a collector friend who could appreciate it. I don't mind light physical weight, and I don't mind a bump at the shot either. Had some bows that would jump a bit, but I know how to handle that. The 59 is about the only Bear I haven't tried, so I figured I would give it a shot.
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From: Frank V
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Date: 03-Jul-15 |
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I have never shot one, but I sure like the looks of them.
Some have said they are light, I don't think they could be any lighter than a longbow & a lot of us do pretty well with them? If I had the money I'd sure grab one.
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From: John Ryan
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Date: 03-Jul-15 |
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Yeah Frank, I think I'll pull the trigger. Been wanting one ever since they came out, but just couldn't justify another bow. I have too many now. The rest of the story is that my employer gave me a large gift card when I retired. Some new archery gear is the only thing I could think of that I want. And I have only one place that I can spend it. So, guess I will do the deal.
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From: Gray 59'er
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Date: 03-Jul-15 |
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I've owned several custom bows from several different makers and my favorite bow hands down is the 2013 Bear '59 Kodiak. Excellent fit and finish and I found it very shooter friendly. It would be the last bow I would part with. I cannot imagine you will be disappointed.
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From: boonie
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Date: 03-Jul-15 |
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I liked the first one I bought so much I bought a second one. now I have started looking to collect old original 50,s kodiaks. I love them.
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From: boonie
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Date: 03-Jul-15 |
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I liked the first one I bought so much I bought a second one. now I have started looking to collect old original 50,s kodiaks. I love them.
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From: John Ryan
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Date: 03-Jul-15 |
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You guys are twisting my arm. I checked and the one I want was in stock. Even the wife said I need to do it. Now that's pretty unusual!
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From: goldentrout_one
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Date: 03-Jul-15 |
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I bought one (using a gift card from my employers!). I have to say, it's a very nice bow, fit and finish are very good, and it's a good shooter. Like George said, not a rocket launcher but not a dog either, just a good, well-balanced bow. I don't particularly care for the narrow grip, but that's more of a personal preference thing. My bow is very quiet and stable for such a light-mass bow.
I like the Bear 59 re-issue better than my original 1959 - however, I like my 1960 kodiak better than the 59 re-issue. Mostly, I think the 1960 has a fatter grip area and deeper shelf, and the limb design is a bit different. But I'm splitting hairs here - the new 59 re-issue is pretty nice.
Regarding the string, I bought mine from Big Jim's, he includes one of his own custom strings with every new Bear, and the string he provided was top-notch in my book.
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From: John Ryan
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Date: 03-Jul-15 |
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Yes I've heard good things about his strings. I'll try the factory string first before I get too excited. All of my previous Bears were good performers. I expect this one will be too. I don't care for a fat high grip, so this one should suit me just fine. The only FAST bows I ever owned, were ILF with premium carbon foam limbs. Speed isn't everything. If a guy wants a rocket, then a compound is the way to go.
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From: John Ryan
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Date: 08-Jul-15 |
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I received the bow today. Guess I'm the odd man out here, but I don't like this bow at all. I was expecting a bow with more mass, like a grizzly. This one is tiny. It certainly is beautiful, but to me it's a tiny longbow with recurve tips. And to boot, the string is way too short. Can't untwist it either enough to get a proper brace height. Sad to say, but it's going back. I didn't shoot it of course, as I am returning it, as I received it, but I can't imagine that I would like it at all. Bummer, because after reading all the hype about it, I just knew that I would like it. Oh well.
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From: 6point
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Date: 08-Jul-15 |
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Sorry I didn't see this thread till just now. I would have advised definetly trying someone else's first. I had the exact same experience as you. I went to a 3d shoot and bear archery had a booth. I thought oh great, now I can try the 59 kodiak repro that absolutely everyone says is the best bow ever. Wow was I disappointed. Buzzy and shocky. I guess I expected it to be like my ilf bows. Not even close. I can appreciate it for the history and looks but the shooting qualities aren't on par with modern bows. ....
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From: Yunwiya
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Date: 08-Jul-15 |
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By the early 60s the '59 style bows were dropped by Bear.
Insane collectors of the real 1959 artifacts made these '59 replicas emerge.
Only thing is, these are new ones are clones of a single bow, and they are being cranked year after year.
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From: David Mitchell
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Date: 08-Jul-15 |
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I absolutely love mine. Bought it two years ago at Cloverdale from Lost Nation. Gorgeous bow, excellent fit and finish and a real shooter! Nothing not to like.
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From: John Ryan
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Date: 08-Jul-15 |
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Well, to take a phrase from George's post, if they fit, they are golden. Sadly, this one just doesn't fit me.
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From: Phil Magistro
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Date: 08-Jul-15 |
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Sorry to hear that John. Each of us has different tastes. Nothing wrong with that.
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From: falcon
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Date: 08-Jul-15 |
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Glad to hear that Jim is sending a good string with the bows from him now the one I got last year was crap but after I got another string on it it shoots well and looks great as good as any custom.
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From: camodave
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Date: 08-Jul-15 |
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Boonie great idea collecting 50's Kodiaks...stay away from those 1960 ones though...dirty job but I will look after collecting those
DDave
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From: Alvis
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Date: 09-Jul-15 |
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well i am picking one up this week for 250.00 canadian... hard to be disappointed at that price!!!!
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From: John Ryan
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Date: 09-Jul-15 |
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Call me nuts, because I had one somewhere between a 60 to 62. Can't really remember. Didn't like it either. Guess I better stay with the modern versions of bows.
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From: goldentrout_one
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Date: 09-Jul-15 |
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Bummer about not liking the bow, but at least now you know... the cost and hassle of shipping is a small price to pay to become educated. I've been there a dozen times.
I like the 1959 kodiak, I like the 1960 better, but I think the 61/62 kodiaks are even better than that. Just personal taste I guess..
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From: Yunwiya
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Date: 09-Jul-15 |
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Hoped that the new Bears would make a end run of 21st Century '59s and start a limited production run of the next year, then the next - or even something new. Follow the lead of vintage remakes that Fender guitar is developing.
Hard to pull the trigger on a retail price '59 replica if you know that many more are gathering dust waiting to be resold for a great deal.
Limited production and variety is what made the '59 originals great collectibles. Bear is now cranking out maple site windows with no end in sight.
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From: John Ryan
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Date: 09-Jul-15 |
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The good thing about it, is that we have the choices. I 've owned probably over a hundred bows in 50 plus years. Dang, I'm old! I've seen quite an evolution in archery over the years. Back then, I never dreamed that we would have what we do today. I now have my favorites in the rack, and the disposable income to experiment. There are so many out there today to try out. Some I like, and in this case, some that I don't. I like Black Widows and a lot of folks don't. We all have different tastes, and that's what makes discussion boards so interesting to me. As long as nobody gets stupid and mouthy,which happens from time to time. But lot's of different personalities here, as well as lot's of different bows to talk about.
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From: bowdoc
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Date: 09-Jul-15 |
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wow sad to see you did not like the bow they are a trimmed down recurve and are not for everyone.I have an original 1959 Kodiak 64" 51# that has work well for me for a good many years bd
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From: John Ryan
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Date: 09-Jul-15 |
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Bow doc, you hit the nail on the head for me, when you said that it was a trimmed down recurve. That's exactly what bothers me. If it was not trimmed down, it wouldn't be going back. I like the riser shape, woods, and overall appearance, but it's so small in my hands, that it feels like a toy or a kids bow. Of course I'm a big guy, and that may be part of it. I probably could get someplace like Vintage Works to build one for me, and beef it up a bit in the riser. If that were the case, I would be all over that. I'm not a collector, I just like certain bows. Year doesn't matter. Oh well, maybe I'll find a similar bow somewhere.
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From: bowdoc
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Date: 09-Jul-15 |
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hey JR those 1960 1961 and 1962 grizzly as just super good shooters they not fast by todays standards and are 62" only rather then 60" 64" & 56" little different limb design then the 1959 Kodiak as well but a great shooter none the less way way quiter way quiter then a 1959 or 1960 Kodiak.The Grizzly's are much larger in the grip and throat of the grip compaired to a 1959 Kodiak.I've seen some of those year Grizzly's going on ebay for around 150.00 + or - 20 bucks ..... great shooting bows and just some food for thought bd
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From: John Ryan
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Date: 09-Jul-15 |
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Yeah, you are right about the Grizzlies. I had an early 70's Grizzly and really liked it. Probably ought to look for a late 60's model. I just like the riser shape of the 59, and thought it might be a bit beefier. Hard to tell when looking at pictures as to what it really looks like.
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