I have a Bear Polar I acquired about 15 years ago. Im dropping bow weight and started messing with this and I really like it. Any Ideas on the year? And could I shoot a nonstretch string?

If you put the Serial # or a picture of it up it would be easier to identify the year made. Until then I would stick with a Dacron string to be safe.

Good luck!

Do NOT shoot a low-stretch string on it. Not sure the year, but I do know that much.

Early '61 model. Dacron string!

Wow, thanks. I had no idea it was that old.

Nice bow. I'm searching for one just like it.

I have a 1957 Bear Kodiak Special that has similar overlays. I use a 15 strand string from Cameron Root. It is made from Rhino and is not a skinny string. The diameter of the material produces loops the same diameter as B-50.

The bow has far less vibration than when I used a B-50.

The advantage is the string does not stretch and Cam conditions his strings at 400 lbs

He makes a beautiful string at a fair price. He was the first person to persuade me to try low stretch four years ago.

Nice tips on all Bear bows in 1961.

That one looks like a dandy.

I have a 1962 Bear Polar ( zebra wood riser, amo 66", 41# @28"). Great shooter. My favorite recurve.

As I understand it (seem to remember reading it somewhere on the internet-so it must be true...), the 1962 Bear Polar was made on the form of the 1961 Kodiak Special.

My grip is a bit more round in cross section than yours. Maybe yours was built on the form of a 1960 Kodiak Special???

You have a nice bow there. Enjoy.

I have 2 Bear Polar's. the only Bear's I have kept. I love the way they shoot. Can you tell me how to age them by the S/N 's I don't have pictures. The main riser wood is Zebra but one has another wood in it also. The newer one has a metal plate with a brush rest in the sight window.Thanks >>>>-----> Ken

I have a 64"Polar 44# @28" Ser.#JN157. I've been shooting fast flite string for years with no issues. The limb tips and over lays on this bow are very strong. What ever you choose to shoot it with I think padded loops are key.

Just talked to my friend I acquired this bow from. He said his Dad bought it at a flea market in about 1980 for 15$. It came in the original box with 3 bear arrows finger tabs and a quiver. Only the bow is left.

The only Bear bows that can be aged by serial number were those built from 1965 to 1969. The first digit of the serial number is the last digit of the year. However this is not even reliable since before that time Bear sometimes used those digits as the first character of the serial number.

DDave

The '63, '64, '66 and '67 had bubinga and zebrawood in the riser.

serial #s for the '65 started with 5H(66"), 5J(63"); for the '66, 6H(66"), 6J(63"); for the '67, 7H(66"), 7J(69"); for '68, 8E(66") and for '69, 9E(66").

'64 was the first year with the plate and bristle rest. bvd

So the one with the plate and brush rest is a 66. Thanks The other is 10AH it is solid Zebra wood.It is slimier and has cream color glass back and belly. Might have been white to begin with. It is 66" Most likely why I shoot it better.>>>----> Ken

The zebrawood bow that's 10AH is a 1962.

Thanks Kodiak. I sure would like to buy a dozen more for $49.95. The glass was yellow so it may have faded rather than darkened. However it is close to the color in the picture. >>>>------> Ken

I use a padded BCYX on mine.

Beautiful bows for sure.

SB said “early 1961 model” so maybe he knows something I don’t because y my reckoning it’s a 1960.

1961 was bubinga and very light blue glass, only 66”

1960 was that wood yours is made of (walnut I think...) with I think bubinga sight window, white glass and 64”

Here’s some pics of my 1960 and the 1961 I’m currently refinishing...

Ok. Top bow is a 1961 and 2nd Down is a 1960.

I’ve got more pics but having technical difficulties... :-//

I’ve got more pics but having technical difficulties... :-//

Here we go again. Butcher block riser. And this is a 1960. 64 inch.

And the back of the 1960 polar riser...

I actually don’t have many pictures of the 1961 polar that are decent and show the little color in the riser color shape. Here’s part of one pic.

Like in the advertisement up above, the blue fiberglass has been washed out here. And it looks white but it’s actually blue. I’m gonna go get it right now and take some pics of it so that folks can see the actual slightly blue color of the 1961 Polar...

These pics should show the slightly blue glass more clearly. This is a 1961 polar. The coin that originally had had a drill a hole through it so I Replaced it with this beautiful desk of a seashell which the owner of the bow gave me for this purpose.

1961 Polar

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