I am interested in owning a 56 Bear Kodiak. I know very little about that bow. I want one because that is the year I was born. I would like to shoot a deer with one. Just because. Is the 56 a dual self bow? And would it be hard to find one? And about what is the cost normally on one in decent shape? Thanks for any information. Arrowflinger.....

Dual shelf, can be 60" or 64" long. They come up on eBay, sometimes here. If it's in good shape, anywhere from $200 to $350. Sometimes a little beat up or cosmetic issues about $150.

I believe the last year of the decal was 1955. The 1956 were dual shelf with a silkscreen. The 1957 had a single shelf.

The 1956 was a double self but has the silk screen not the sticker which was a 1955 also double self. They came in 56" (hard to find) 60" and 64" You can find more information in the Collecting/Collecting Kodiaks in the menu list.

Correct.

For whatever reason, many of the 1956 Kodiaks on the market in the last year or so appear to have unrealistic seller expectations tied to them. Good bows but there's nothing magic about them. Oddly enough, the 1955, which is the exact same bow, materials, design/form, just a different sort of decal, hasn't been so afflicted.

I love my 56. The grip is awesome

Those grips look nice I think I need to find one in 40#. Have 2 Alaskans. Did they make a 1958 Kodiak?

Those grips look nice I think I need to find one in 40#. Have 2 Alaskans. Did they make a 1958 Kodiak?

It was my first Bow, that's why my handle name is 56' Kodiak! Fantastic Bow, since it can be shot off both sides.....dual shelf

The 1958 Kodiak is also a nice bow, not dual shelf, and the white glass wasnt a big hit with some bowhunters, switched to carmel colored glass in 1959 and 60.

I have only seen ONE 55 Kodiak come up for sale (right here on the LW, never seen one, ever, on eBay- far more 54 "Compass" K-2's out there).

I jumped on it immediately, 40#@28" - best 40# bow I've ever gotten. Virtually identical to my 56 bows. 54, 55, & 56 Kodiaks are all my fave recurves, my shooting styles require dual shelf (or no shelf) ambi-capable bows.

They are not all that rare and frequently show up on Ebay. They are nearly identical to the 55, saver for the silk screen versus decals. They are awesome shooters, and I've said before I think they are one of the best of the pre 1960 Bears as far as performance goes. Mostly you will find them under $200.00. To get over that they would need to be almost mint...not shot.

If you check Ebay, don't look at the high asking price of some sellers as the price they are going for. Most of those don't even get sold. Look at the 'completed listings' to see what they really sold for. Green numbers signify selling price...black or red are not sold. And, green numbers with a line through means that was the asking price but they took a best price offer, and the actual selling prices is not shown.

Too be clear, it's the 56's that I have seen the most of; I even saw a couple that came up and never even got bid on & were withdrawn. (I already have too many!) And 3 54's -but only 1 1955. I'm too damned old to get a "Birthday" bow... ;-)

George, thanks for that "Completed Listings" tip. Never knew about that.

I thought I would bring this thread back up and thank everyone that responded. I received a 56 Kodiak in the mail yesterday, complete with a quiver from that era. It is in very good shape and I'm very proud of that bow. 49 @ 28. Should draw about 45-46 pounds @ my draw length. I have been thinking about a birthday bow for a long time. And no, it's not for sale.)

I forgot to mention the AMO length on the bow. It is a 60 inch bow. And I intended to say birth year bow. Arrowflinger............

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

(Don't worry, I won't try to buy it from you. But if it was 49# in the 64" long model then I might! ;-)

Congratulations, great bow.

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