I just got this 1961 Bear Kodiak Magnum from a friend last week. Got her cleaned up and put a rest on it. The strike plate is original to the bow. Always wanted one of these first year production bows. It will be shot later today when I finish the string. Thanks for letting me share. Lance

Another...

Full profile. Thanks. Lance

What a beauty. Like it just came off the factory floor. Congratulations on a fine acquisition!

That's the same year K.M. (first year) that Chuck Kroll is using in "The Oldest Game" video from Bear. It's a beauty, Lance.

These are going on an original Bear Dacron string made for this bow. Lance.

And strung. I'm going to work my way from 8" B/H to find the sweet spot. Lance.

Wow

Bow sure doesn’t look like it’s 56 yrs old.

MP

Great looking bow. My favorite 52" bow. The Oldest Game Bear video the best. Todays videos/ shows cheap fenced in baited animals.

Nice!

Very nice and just my draw weight too. >>>----> Ken

Sweet!

I like it!!!

Lance... There must be a mistake...I am pretty sure your friend wanted to send the bow to me ....but I might be wrong!!!! :) :) Very Cool !!! Congratulations !!! "Whitie"

Looks powerful. Good score.

The 61 is a great bow. It's the same design as the '62 but with different wood and glass. The '61 sports the nicest tips of any mag, hands down no contest.

Glass problems that year but if you can find a clean one they're tough to beat.

Nice 1961 Kodiak Magnum. I like the african rosewood riser and green glass.

Nice!

Very nice Lance.

Someone has done some great finish work on that bow. Lucky you. I have a '61 in the shop now that was rough but cheap. I should finish working on it this week.

I like it.

Very Nice Bow. Gotta ask the question. Do the brush nocks on the end of the string help very much? Sort of a string silencer when they contact the limbs?

-Bones

Bones- I'll answer the brush button comment of yours. Yes, the "super" size brush buttons, when the brace height is properly adjusted, are all you need for a deadly quiet bow. I'm talking about the old beige buttons as shown here. I also use the Kwikee silencers on one bow, but I cut the arms shorter and cut slits, lengthwise, into them.

Joe

I have always had a soft spot for Kodiak mags,that one of yours is a beauty for sure.

Thanks for the nice comments. This bow is in such great shape because my friend took such great care of it. The credit for it's condition is all his. All I did is clean it and wax it. He told me that the bow hadn't been shot in a long time. Until today! It's a shooter for sure. Lance.

Wow wow wow! Liked the looks of that bow when I first saw it in an Archery magazine when it came out.

So much so, I saved some money and bought a '62 K Mag the following year. Sure loved that bow and bet you will really enjoy that one too.

Nice bow Lance...I have a BCY-X string on mine and it really whistles an arrow. That riser looks like bubinga to me...what do you think? Oh, does it have the i-beam in the riser? Does not appear to but hard to see from the pics.

Peter, It's rosewood and doesn't have an I-beam. If I'm not happy with the stock string I'll make a B55 for it. Lance

Sure hate to rain on the parade but are you sure bow was not refinished ? Script doesn't look factory and side plate is a repo.

If original should have a gloss finish

Bear had about three dozen or more bowyers, along with myriad finishers so the lettering was not just done by one person...and it was hand done. They also were turning out about 30,000+/- of those K.M.'s per year. Looks like the real deal to me. If they replaced the side plate, that really doesn't matter either. Great bow.

That's a beauty and an awesome find. Enjoy that one.

-Leonard-

Nice friend, nice bow, Lance. Few things are more enjoyble than taking a long morning stroll with an old K Mag in a fun-to-shoot weight and a quiver full of arrows. Bunnies beware!

Wow, that's a beautiful bow! You'll enjoy it a lot!

Bernie

It’s a stunner Lance, beautiful wood.

I am 95% certain that the bow has been refinished. There are some tell tale indicators of a refinish that this bow exhibits three of. We had an interesting discussion on one of the Bear Facebook pages this past weekend. One of the largest collectors in the nation was calling a finish original and I said refinish. I ended up buying the bow just to find out.

Well, were you right? lol

I think this particular bow is probably refinished too, it looks a little flat/satiny. Looks great though, either way. Wish I had it.

That's a nice one, 42 pounds us a perfect weight.

Ok, I'll try to settle some things here. It has a gloss finish, it may be the camera. I was incorrect before by saying that it doesn't have an I-beam construction: it does but I had to get it into natural light to see it, it matches that well! I just tried to call my friend, who bought the bow in 1961 to see if it's been refinished. No answer, so I'll let you know later after I speak to him. Meanwhile, what do you think of this new photo? Period correct quiver and Bear Converta Point arrows, or no? All help is appreciated and discussion is always a great way to learn something new. Thanks. Lance

I just talked to my friend, that I bought this bow from, who purchased the bow new in 1961, and was informed that it has never been refinished. He doesn't remember if the strike plate was replaced or not but I concur that it looks more like a reproduction that an original. Thanks, Lance.

Sweet.

Great bow lance! Richard

She's a beauty Lance, congrats. I'm feeling a little green, lol.

He must have kept it wrapped up in a blanket in a dark closet for it to look that nice. I have a few bows from the early sixties that the finish is flawless on. I do wish that I knew how they were stored. Some of the bows that I purchased five or six years ago have gone downhill quite fast just hanging on my walls.

Here's the I-Beam on mine one the right. They did some in purpleheart. 1962 on the left.

Very glad your bow has one Lance...they had issues with the earlier risers but yours will be a strong with that piece of wood in there.

That is nice wood on that bow...like to see more pics of the off-side.

Really like the quiver combo! Classic!

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