My 2019 super kodiak is my go to rig this deer season. I’ve been nothing other than impressed with this bow since I got it. So show off your super kodiak new or vintage! Here’s mine after polishing it for a gloss finish

This is my favorite and undoubtedly the highest condition original bow I own...says 60 pounds under the strike plate, but it is clearly marked wrong, as it pulls about 70....

My '70.

45#@28"

My 1972 factory camo Bear Super Kodiak.

My other 1972 Bear Super Kodiak.

My 1997 Bear Super Kodiak.

67 thru 76

Norm, you never cease to amaze me.... Beautiful collection!

1967 ½ Super Kodiak

Same bow dressed for the occasion.

One I let get away from me. :o(

71

I have been fortunate to have gotten several over the years. The 67 1/2 black beauty will always have a special place in my love for bows.

Super Kodiak eye candy!

A 68 I ended up selling

Sweet bows!

Wow fellas those are some awesome bows!!! I need a vintage one to go with mine! I’ve had a ton of bows but this super k is great

My favorite Recurves made are the Super Kodiak and the Super Grizzly . I have owned a lot of bows and I have not shot any Recurves better in my opinion. Shot and owned some that cost lots more but not shot any better. Great bows !

I agree barber! Bears new super grizzly is a fine bow! Very fast and very smooth!

I've never been a fan of the plywood version of the SK (OP's bow), but polished up with a gloss finish, I have to admit that's a sharp-looking bow!

I have a few SK's, all 60" - honestly though, I've come to the conclusion that the 60" version is borderline for a 30" draw. I've never shot a 64" version, but I'd like to one day.... I just don't need another bow :(

Best looking one piece imo.

goldentrout, you will love a 64 inch Super Kodiak if you ever shoot one. My draw is 29 1/2 inch and the 64 inch is butter smooth . I wish I still had my 64 inch, it was a black phenolic . Awesome bow I sold in week moment . Lol

My 1970 I think

I will post my 72 when it comes back from Rich Lopez. I do have another, a “plain Jane” early 2000’s with the freddy kruger coin. I needed a spare bow and my friend had it for sale. Gave me a great deal. The bows’ grip was fat, the shelf was to high. So I took my saw and lowered the shelf. Then to a belt sander and made the grip to my liking. A little finish and it’s still my spare. It an’it pretty any more, it and I took a tumble in the rocks and I couldn’t hold on to it. So now it has some “battle scars”. Darn bow shoots as good as any other bow I own.

Ok, I'll play - this is my 70s "blue stripe" with blonde horns. I am told these are 'uncommon', but I've never seen one like it in person or online. Yes, this is a blue-stripe, it is not a 70 or 71.

SOME BEAUTIES!!!

evworld, If the color is correct, that's the most awesome SK I have ever seen.

1969.

Awesome looking bows. I’ve always liked the Super Kodiaks.

A 1998 I just picked up. Purchased at Anderson Archery not long before they closed their doors.

Apologize, my bow pictured is not a super kodiak, but rather a kodiak!

Nice looking bows!

"Apologize, my bow pictured is not a super kodiak, but rather a kodiak!......."

No need sir, that is one of the finest and smoothest shooting bows ever to come out of Gainesville. They might call it just "Kodiak", but it has the exact lines of a Super and it shoots super too. I had one and it was very fast. Wish I could find another!!!

Beautiful bows.

Don't have a pic handy but my red stripe '73 has long been my favorite one piece recurve. Everything about the bow feels right in my hands.

Some practice last night!

I swear these SK’s have a soul. I made a comment at the range this AM about parting with the newer SK to help build my “war chest”. After that the arrows magically started to find the kill on the targets. This has happened a couple times now.

Yep there is something about a super k that is just magical. I love the grip on mine I’d love to find a vintage model with a slim grip like mine

My favorite, Grayling Green Kodiak

Always liked my Super Kodiaks and for some reason I don't have one anymore, would love a 1970-1975 version because those were the years of the 3 I had. This thread reminded me that Hillbilly King hasn't been heard from lately, Is he ok?

Glad this thread popped up again...here is a recent acquisition...the darkest 73 I have ever seen. Even the couple I saw 40 years ago!!!

I have been looking at a new one, But curious if the new Bears get stress cracks like the old ones or have they changed the finish so the bows are not as prone to that problem? Yes I know any bow can get stress cracks just curious before I order a new one. I have a 92 in 60# but I can no longer shoot it because I got old and weaker but I sure do miss shooting that bow.

I think the new ones are fantastic!! The ones I have owned and shot were fast and quiet. Honestly I'd take any of the Super Kodiak bows over the years, but the newer ones are probably made with a little bit better materials. I have not seen any of the newer bows develop so-called stress cracks. I am not real sure what "stress cracking" really is...I have a 59 Bear Kodiak Special with no stress cracks, both my red stripes above have zero evidence of any stress cracks, yet I see a very little bit just starting on a 99' year SK. I think a lot of it is in the finish. I have refinished several bows that were taken down to the glass and the "stress" stuff was gone. I also listen to the comments of the folks that run down Gainesville bows and I think they are the type that would complain if you hung them with a brand new rope!!!!

My only complaint with the new SK's is the two piece riser instead of the three piece...it just is kind of a cheese out to me...how much more can it cost to make it right, like the originals???

That 2019 looks really nice, I wish they’d go back to the white glass caps though.

Got one of the 64inchers from big Jim headed my way. Looking forward to it.

I totally agree with msinc about the new ones. I'm sure they shoot fine but those 2 piece risers do nothing for me.

A '72 S.K.

Thank you for the replies, Looks like a new one is in my near future, If the 2 piece riser is cheesy I guess I will have a cheesy bow, I am liking the black one pretty good.

Don't get me wrong...I don't think the bow, by and of itself is cheesy at all. I think it is a fine bow as bows can go. I think it is cheesy that Bear decided to cut a corner rather than stick with what we all knew and liked well all these years, just so they could save what, ten cents per bow??? Had the Super Kodiak been made with a two piece riser from day one nobody would even blink, but it wasn't and they dropped one of the things that made it such a great bow to a lot of people.

No offense taken at all. I appreciate your opinion, I am pretty stuck on a black one in 64" I like a longer bow. I never noticed the lack of a 3 piece riser. The gloss model sure is purdy to me But I would feel like I was carrying a mirror when I am hunting, The old brownings I had in the 70s were pretty shiny too Hmmmmm, Killed plenty of deer and elk with those shiny buggers, Darn now I have to think some more.

I’d like to shoot one. Never had the opportunity.

I love my Sper Kodiak look except the performance is slow

75 Super K with quiver and limb covers

A Black Beauty that started it all beside a Kodiak that ended an era.

DDave

Perhaps the finest mass-produced recurve bow ever made. Did I say "perhaps"...?? The Bear 19671/2 Super K Black Beauty was THE most gorgeous mass-produced bow to ever grace the field. I own two {both 64 inchers} Shall never be equaled... rare breed

I have a handful of 69 SKs, 64", and 2 all bubinga ones. I adore the vintage bows. But I have to admit, this 2016 35# 64"er with a gloss finish is one of the most elegant bows I've had.

The 68&1/2 and 69s are the sexiest hunting weapons ever made, IMHO!

A 64" 1969.

The flat laminated two piece Super K was a cheaper option that was available during the same time they offered the 3piece laminated. They didn't do away with the 3 piece at that time. It was just a separate option.

I did a side by side comparison between a super k and two other bows that were toubted to be fast. Using equal perameters on similar weight bows, the super K blew the other two a way.

Would love to know how some people determine speed of a bow. There is only 1 true way and that is with a chronograph.

BigJim

70’ Super K that I refinished. They are just very comfortable for me to shoot.

These are the finest looking factory made bows out here, old or new. I have to get my hands on one someday. I have always loved them. A 13 pt buck with one has to be top level satisfaction!

I love my '69 SK - I also think they're the most beautiful bows made! Driver - that is one gorgeous buck!

Bernie

Thanks Bernie, I’ve had quite a few Super K’s , including a 69’, that I have let get away. Now I’ve come full circle and am back to shooting them, lol! I would like to get another 68’or 69’, they are just a good looking bow.

Correction - ‘67.5 & ‘68

I have a 2019. I don't care for the 2 pc riser and had to lower the shelf. But it sure does shoot nice! It shoots aluminums like they were made for each other. When I was at the bow store and tried a sK I was really impressed with it and the arrow shelf was pretty nice. I ordered one in a heavier poundage and it came through with a pretty massive arrow shelf. A few evenings with the rasp and sand paper and now it is comfortable and shoot where the rest of my bows do. Tedd

Until someone proves otherwise, I will always suspect that Bill Stewart was the man behind BOTH phenolic-risered "black beauties"in 1967-- the Super Kodiak and the Wing Thunderbird--and that he really got it right with the T-Bird.

If Bill Stewart was the man behind the Super Kodiak then he really got that right also. :)

Brand new to traditional archery, but picked up a super kodiak blem and could not be more impressed with the looks and feel of this thing. Very excited to keep practicing and learning. Hope to kill a deer with this someday.

I have to ask because I honestly don't know but have always wondered??? I've had a few '65 and a few '66 Kodiaks and when they wento the "Super" Kodiaks something changed, but they look very close in form. Please enlighten me - i had a 64" Super K and it was a Gainseville Green model that was a great bow - reminded me of my favorite '66?

What "changed" was the material, not the basic shape. The jump from Kodiak to Super Kodiak was in the 67 1/2 catalog when they went to phenolic. In 68 Fascor was used on all the Super Kodiak bows. There were always subtle differences in riser size and shape and the way the shelf was cut.

Actually, Fascor was first used in 1970 and only on select models. It became more widely used in 1973. The only real change between the 67.5 and 68 was Rosewood was used on the caps, and that was the way S.K.'s stayed until 1973. 1969 was the last year Bear used phenolic in the riser as well.

Actually, Fascor was first used in 1968.....Page 114 of Jorge Coppen's book "Bear Archery Traditional Bows, a Chronological History 1949-2015" second edition.

Interesting enough Mike they didn't use Fascor in the bow you just sent me...the thin layered glass and wood combo seems to me to work even better!! I haven't chrono'ed the bow yet, but it sure seems faster than any of my other SK's.

Thats kind of funny, because on pg.150 of Coppins book Jorge says that Fascor had been used on select models since 1970. But, you're right, on pg.114 he say's 1968.

Yes sir, he cant seem to make up his mind how to address Fascor in his book...on page 93 he states that it was first introduced in the catalog in 1969. I think it was added to "select models" at different dates. Take downs, HC-300, and bows with the word "super" in their name all used it. It's too bad that Bear Archery didn't keep better factory records like some of the old gun manufacturers. They had the serial numbers to do it. But, then again I guess that would have just cost a lot of unneeded money. And still maybe they did and we just don't know it.

You know, I gotta wonder, just how good Fascor really was. I have to admit to not having tested a lot of Fascor v. other limbed bows over a chrono. It just seems like more of a sales gimmick to me. I mean, how much epoxy resin can you get to impregnate hard rock maple...which is a very dense, very close grained wood to begin with. If you consider "futurewood" which is the same wood impregnated with colored dye and all the so-called birthmarks...which are nothing but an entire area in the wood where they were unable to get the {much thinner than epoxy} dye to penetrate at all. I am not a bowyer and don't claim to be, but I have always heard it said that glass will make up for the worst cores. It just seems like a little more glass would have accomplished way more than any Fascor limb core.

msinc, Bear didn't use stabilized limb core materials. That would have been a bad idea. I suspect that Fascor is nothing more than a marketing plan or a misnomer. Also none of that stabilizing is done with epoxy. Futurewood is stabilized and not just dyed. They use a form of polyester resin and mix the dye with the resin. For the most part, the maple takes the resin well. Only a small percentage of blocks have birthmarks.

Some people don't like the birthmarks others love them. Give me a bow with a unique birthmark any day over one that looks like 98% of all the others. BigJim

Yep gotta love them bear bows !

I may be wrong but i think the fascor was laminated maple cut on its edge like a butcher block.

Fascor was maple that was stabilized/impregnated with some sort of resin.

It usually looks greyish brown in color.

Whether or not the exact same acrylic resin that was used for the futurewood risers is unclear.

Fascor didn't necessarily increase the performance as the name implies.

The name was more of a marketing thing.

I think the material was primarily intended to make the limb core more durable, and also made it less effected by moisture absorption, which can cause vertical stress cracks in the limb fiberglass.

They stopped using resin impregnated Fascor limb material after they moved to Gainesville.

'68 Super Kodiak.

'69 Super Kodiak.

'69 Super Kodiak. This one was too heavy for me so it went down the road. A very pretty bow I refinished.

Bunch of nice Super Kodiaks fellas.

OMG, you guys are really killing me here. Did Big Jim put you up to this? I have to have one of the black beauty's shortly. Can't right now, but am pretty damn close to just pulling the trigger on one. Beautiful bows, and the last Bear I had in my collection broke.

Love my 1970 Fantastic bow!!

Do the Black Beauty's weigh a lot more than a wood bow?

My 2018 Phenolic Super Kodiak weighs a considerable bit more than my 66 Kodiak, which is a wood bow with the same shape and dimensions of a Super Kodiak. I haven't weighed them, but I would guess maybe twice as heavy.

New to me 73/74 Super Kodiak purchased from Footed Shaft LLC. Love the grip and feel of this bow right from the get go! The grip is the slimmest and most comfortable of any Bear I have shot to date. I am very pleased with this bow.

Great score heat!!!! Congrats. That’s a beauty

I had a '69 with a severely slanted grip that badly needed a refinish. Owned it for several years, but could not bring myself to make the "Fred's Grip" modification and refinish. Traded for something that I don't remember that I traded for something else and wound up with a T/C Hawken. Still got the Hawken.

-Joe

Beautiful bow Tom. It's a keeper

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