I got a new K-4 today and I really like the bows looks and feel. I know there is a lot of talk about Bears quality control sometimes. This bow has a fairly long crack in Carmel glass that you can feel with your finger nail. I have emailed Bear and asked if the crack will grow or cause problems in the future. What do you guys think?

I'd send it back.

Yup. Send it back.

Send it back. Shouldn't be that way.

That's a shame, but yeah, by all means send it back for another.

A new bow with a crack..... send it back!!

Every manufacturer has Q/C issues, some more than others, I agree with the previous posts, I'd be disappointed.

Hope it gets sorted out to your satisfaction.

Elderly OCR thats FUNNY!

I would want a new bow.

too much of this goes on, I would be very hesitant to buy a new bear without being able to handle it first.

That's not good.

I'd be PO'd if I received that. Terrible.

Send it back, they will make it right. I had to send a bow back last year, not the fastest about getting your new bow to you but they will make it right. I will admit I got a little impatient toward the end of the wait but they sent a perfect bow for a replacement.

It arrived like that. I first thought it was just some streaks then I ran my nail over it and you can feel it’s a crack.

Sounds like you already know the answer to your question and are already handling it..maybe posting about it speeds things along.

Unacceptable! I would send it back and make sure they covered shipping.

Everyone ooo's and aaa's over Bear bows but I was never impressed. Their recurves shoot good enough and their longbows are just painful.

Yep it is a Bear. sorry. >>>----> Ken

I was just wanting some input to make sure I wasn’t over reacting. Thanks for the replies.

I feel your disappointment, as I would be too. You’ll feel better with it’s replacement, but no gloss finish on the new K-4?

Send it back. Bear does a lot of volume and qc occasionally suffers, they will happily replace it under warranty.

That new K-4 is made in the USA, right? I read somewhere that some of the new Bears are made in china.

I wish they were made in China it might be an improvement. Bear has gotten harder and harder to make excuses for.Its not overwhelming demand that excuse is old news.

Coondawg,, I sent you a PM with Neil Byce's e-mail at Bear. He should see this picture. he is the head of traditional bow production and has been a big help to me in the past.

I really like the bow, sorry you are having an issue but I would give Bear a chance to make it right. I have been wanting one of those since I shot one at the Pre-Spring Arrow Fling here in Alabama.

Send it back. No way should that bow have left the factory.

Peco, to me that's the biggest issue. Someone looked at that bow and thought it was 'good enough' to put in a box and mail it to a customer.

Send it back,they need to focus more on quality and less on quantity!!!

Kodiak, true. A few people had their hands on that bow and saw that crack before it was put in a box. I don't buy the excuse of a few slip through because so many are made.

I emailed Mr.Byce and he had Mr.Neidlinger send me a shipping label so the ball is rolling. Thanks for the replies

Nice, and that was fast, coondawg. :o) Neil is the go-to guy if you have an issue.

I would send it back. If I am buying something new, I am paying the full price, I expect it to be free from issue's. Very unsat to me. People wonder why the cheaper "Asian" bows are taking over the market. I believe in buying American, but an American made product should be superior and carry the price tag too.

"Why should American made be superior?" Good question. Who here is using American made electronics to participate on the wall? I would take an Italian sports car over a Corvette any day. For knives, I like U.S., German, or Canadian, not necessarily in that order.

"Why should American made be superior?" Good question. Who here is using American made electronics to participate on the wall? I would take an Italian sports car over a Corvette any day. For knives, I like U.S., German, or Canadian, not necessarily in that order.

Wow, the glass on my '55 static is better than that.

Get your money back!

It is on it's way back to Bear. I hope they have a replacement ready to go soon.

I wouldn't be too hard on Bear guys.

Those cracks probably weren't there when the bow went through QC inspection.

Those cracks probably developed after the bow was shipped out.

That's more of an issue with some of Gordon's glass than it is with Bear's QC.

I'm not saying that Bear shouldn't replace it, but it's probably not negligence on their part.

Stuff like that just happens sometimes.

It's nice that they're issuing a prompt replacement for you.

No one ask this but was the box bent in any way?

the box was in nice shape and reinforced.

I agree with Brandon. Has the look of some rough handling in transit to me. Just a guess of course.

Wood movement is always a possibility after the bow was finished and shipped. Maybe kinda unusual seeing as how thin the cores are ground down to, but you never know. Even though I use to do woodworking for a living, I make no claims as to being a bowyer. I do know however that sometimes it make take a while for wood to 'do it's thing', regarding movement. Probably this isn't it, but I thought I would throw it out there and see if anyone else had any thoughts on it.

Maybe Bear should find another glass supplier? They should use what the Korean's use. I have a Sage I absolutely abuse and it has no issues.

Cracks like that can be caused by the core expanding or contracting, but they can also be caused by the ingredients in the glass being a little off, or by some variation of the curing process when the glass was made.

I had a similar issue with some clear glass a few years back.

The glass was flawless when the bow was first made, then after about 6 months it developed some cosmetic issues (including vertical micro cracks).

The issues weren't caused by use or environment because the particular bow spent most of it's time on a bow rack and it was shot very little (if any).

The glass just degraded on it's own over time.

There's nothing more frustrating than having to remake and replace something that you have no control over.

I got my replacement K-4 from bear today. It looks great.

Thank you for posting the results. Glad you received a new replacement. Shoot a lot and let us know know how it acts.

-Bones

WO , THAT TOOK TOO LONG !

Good deal.... enjoy :)

Funny, the Chinese see American quality as world class. They pay big premiums to own our products..if they can afford them.

Glad Bear took care of you.

I had a 59 that I had to send back and they sent me a new bow. I have a new K-4 and I love it.

Glad to hear Bear made it right for you

Anybody see a new Bodnik bow sold that way? Doubt it. Fred would've been firing somebody.

I didn't know you were left handed Ron.

Nearly All of the old Bears I have had, had stress cracks or finish crazing. Wings, Browning,Pearsons,Hills,and Howatts don't. Is that just my luck. If not it seems like Bear would get it figured out by now.>>>---> Ken

Its posts like this that make hesitant to pull the trigger on a new Bear. I wonder what percentage of bows that they sell have major issues like this.

NEW BOW, send it back for a new one. John

Stoner, he did and got one!

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