Am thinking of getting a Bear 59 KODIAK reissue to try for myself. With a maple I beam in the riser.Yeah and in 40# with gloss finish. I have no desire to even try the intended feather rest as I shoot only off a rug.I will be taking the feathers off and fitting the shelf with a rug. (sorry all feather rest purists) So I ask here,is the 59 shelf cut low to compensate for the high feather rest? Or just like 61 Kodiak that I know was intended for shooting off a rug? Have any 59 Kodiak shooters here done so? Swapped the feathers for a rug rest? I look forward to reading many replies on the subject. Thanks Much ,Mark

I dunno, I like a feather rest better than a rug, on any bow.

Any chance you can fondle one before buying? Reason I ask is what is a low or high shelf to you might differ from my or someone else’s ideas. I had my my 62 Reproduction made with the Fred Bear style low shelf. I have used both rug and feather rest on it. Only difference I had was a slight nock point change.

I wish Thomas. was just wondering if the shelf hight was the same as a 60, 61 or 62. And as you say, I am sure I would nock much lower.

For 2019, based on the Bear website, it appears that Bear will no longer offer the gloss finish, and it appears that the maple I-beam goes away too. So, if you want that bow, you may want to start looking.....

Had a buddy that replaced the feather rest with a rug, shot great that way.

Here's one on eBay. New, gloss, maple window, 40#.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Bear-59-Kodiak-Gloss-RH-Maple-New-40-RH- Recurve/183563246913? hash=item2abd38dd41:m:mMimJKPEcZewL0L0ikgvP5w

Yeah Kodiak, that I saw. I want an older one any how. They seem to have more of a J hook to the belly side of the shelf. I want that J hook and that bow has it

There's more than enough room on the shelf to shoot off a rug.

The 59' was the first bow i have shot with a feather rest. I really thought I would replace it with a rug test but have to admit I like the way the arrows come off of it. I really don't think the height of the feather rest is too much different than the rug rest I use (with a piece of match stick under it to give it a small bump). I'm sure either set up will work and will just depend on what you like.

I just purchased a #50- 59 Reissue in the beginning of October. Satin finish maple I beam, feather rest. Excellent shooting bow.

Have one of the first , love it !

I picked one up off the classifieds here that had a rug rest on it. It shot fine. But I replaced it with a feather rest.

You do realize that the height of the shelf in relation to the center point of the bow, or the pivot point of the grip is irrelevant when it comes to the rest you use right?

Would you not hold lower with an elevated rest? Hmm.

I purchased a maple sight window '59 with the gloss finish in late summer. I liked it so much that I ordered in one with the maple sight window in satin finish a week or two ago.

BTW, I had planned on removing the rug rest as soon as I received the bow and put on a rug rest. I set the bow up and gave the rug rest a chance.... Love it! I have been hunting with it all season and actually ordered in three replacement feather rests to have as spares.

Stykshooter..... that is one purty bow!!!

Thanks, they both are. The first one is the gloss finish, the second photo in the satin finished one.

Stykshooter, does your gloss model have a longer sight window? Thanks

Guess they are two different bows.... my small screen smartphone isnt the best LOL.... have to say I prefer the maple over purpleheart.

No, they are identical except for the poundage and the finish. Just a trick of the shadows I guess.

Yeah, I definitely prefer the maple over the purple heart. Just a classy looking bow and I was surprised at the performance. The '59 is just as fast and even quieter than my Bear T/D's and all of my ILF bows. The narrow limbs and tiny little limb tips contribute to that I'm sure.

Correction.... I typed " I set the bow up and gave the rug rest a chance.... Love it!"

I meant to say that I gave the feather rest a chance and love it.

Sorry

I shot one, it shot great. I managed six consecutive arrows inside a 3" bull at 20 yards at the archery shop with it, the salesman was impressed. I went to pull them and he said let's just leave those for now, I said I could do better he said nobody around here can do better!

you will be very pleased! I know I was with my 59er I had...it was still the smoothest bow ive ever owned and shot quick...I wish I would have kept it and went with a built hump on the shelf instead of the feather rest...I never liked the feather rest

I don't see myself shooting my '60 Kodiak without the feather rest. Actually I went ahead and my Super Diablo and Ben Pearson Predator got one.

The small distance in height will not matter. The arrow will sit slightly lower, so you will knock slightly lower. They are a beautiful bow. I think you will be happy. I heard mostly good things about the 59'er remake. Probably the best remake of them all. I wish I could say that about the SK remakes. I have had, and heard of some bad eggs. and no J hook with them!) Good luck with your choice, and always keep in mind the vintage 1961, and 1962 Kodiaks with original rug shelves. -69SK

you will be fine.

Stykshooter This one is my favorite is shoots fast and quiet narrow tips maple center satin finish i traded a 67 Kodiak for it .

Mike that one is new i remember you posting about it when you bought it , they are good shooting bows .

Joe Yes its the new one. Great shooter. Glad I pulled the trigger on one.

Guys...the location of the shelf on a bow is an absolute non-issue. Regardless of where the shelf is on a bow, your fingers on the string are in exactly the same place relative to the arrow regardless of whether you are shooting from your knuckle. or am elevated rest. Because of that when you draw to your sighting reference/anchor the arrow is in exactly the same place relative to your eye.

I like feather rest because I don’t like shooting using a flat shelf. It can work without it? Maybe, but is not what I like.

Gorgeous bows! What length string are you guys running on your Bear '59 Kodiaks? Thanks.........Nimrod

Pretty bows guys.

I am having my strings built at 57 1/2" and Ten Ring Strings. I tell Allan that its for a '59 Kodiak and he builds the loops a little smaller since the tips are so small.

Allen from Ten Ring Strings. He made me a real nice one to match the bow.

The reason I never wanted feather rests on my bows is they appear fragile and vunerable while out in the elements. Hook a wet one while easing through the thorns and I'm sure it will need grooming. More of a fair weather gadget . Oh I've shot a few old Bears with them, I much prefer a rug.

Hope this photo helps. A '61 Kodiak and a 2013 Kodiak.

Not much wood in the new 59'er risers compared to the '61's and '62's. Was taken back by how skinny the riser was when the '59'er arrived, but the one I have is one beautiful bow and shoots hard for its low draw weight and quietly too. Should be able to shoot off the shelf just fine. My newer one will shoot three under or split with the feather rest just as fine as my older ones do with a rug rest (a'61 and '62), so it should shoot anyway you want it to. The 59'ers are fine bows.

I have had 50+ trad bows in my 25 years of shooting and still keep around 25 trad bows.I didn't need to get anymore with all the bows I have or had.My buddy got a new Bear Kodiak 59 40# and I shot it and it shot so well for me I just had to get me one! I mean at 40# it handle a variety of my arrows,I shot CE Fatboy 150,ACC 440 Prohunter and GT Trad 35/55.They were a miss matched spine for a 40# bow but all shot amazing well out of it.I bought a used 7 month old 45# one,it looked brand new and love shooting it.The only thing I didn't care for was the string.It was a 16 strand D97 and the loops were way too large.I twisted up a padded loop 10 strand Ultra Cam for it and made the loops smaller to fit the bow better.Love the Classic looks and the way it shoots!

If a right hand 1961 or 1962 Kodiak in 38#-43# in original condition were to a rise for sale, I surely would not hesitate my choice.

Just about any rest will work if you tune to it, and there aren't many still around that would fail easily. Even the fragile looking Hoyt Super Rest will last till you just take it off; I've never broken or lost one in the field/woods. Now I mostly use home made stick-on rests.

The feather rest looks great for sure and that's important to a lot of folks, and it is also very functional. I don't use them because I don't change many things that I've found to work well. My longbows are the only bows that I shoot off the shelf itself.

With the right grip....a perfect bow. A lot of variations on grips bow to bow since they’re hand finish by I assume multiple workers. Other than that, Bear knocked it out of the park with the 59 reissue.

I wonder if they have a special stock of wood for these risers. Everyone that I have seen in person has had exceptional grain in the riser.

Since I was supposed to be heading to Missouri last week and had to cancel due to a wrist problem, I took a drive to a big Sporting Goods store here in north central Michigan about 50 minutes north of me to ease the disappointment.

They had about a dozen of them in stock in various weights. I had my heart set on a Maple sight window but they only had one in stock and at 45@28 it was a little more weight than I needed for my wrist rehab.....Brought this one home 40@28, I draw 30". Worked out great, it had the best grip out of all of them and they were on sale for $100 off.

Win, win.....

Yes Sir thats a fine looking bow.... Congrats!!

Go for it! I just picked up one on this site and love it! Removed the cheesy factory grip and replaced it with one I made. Tuned and set up with rug rest and tied adjustable string nocks. At 60" 45# @ 28" she is just a pleasure to shoot!

Well done!

Thanks Much everyone, now that looks right flatshooter.

I picked one a couple months ago at a discount. Shoots great and very quiet. I left the feather rest on it and glad I did. Wasn't sure I'd like it but its great, gently cradles shaft against the strike plate. Agree the leather grip leaves a lot to be desired, but I'm pretty sure the glue on technique is period correct. Squishy goat skin not so much. But as with the feather rest I left the leather grip as is. From a comfort and grip standpoint its fine, I actually like the feel. After I wear it out I'll probably stitch on an equally soft piece of elk or deer hide.

Yellow dog, how did the 60” bow like your 30” draw? Do you normally shoot 60”?

Greg.....Super, the few times I was able to draw it with my screwed up wrist. If I lay a #3 takedown limb down next to it the working limb length is almost identical. This is my second one, the first I bought about four years ago, that one is 48@28. A little more than I can handle right now. Never thought to check it to a #3 limb until now when you asked about it, the light bulb went on.....

Shoot #3 limbs on my A risers. I prefer a 60” bow.

You guys are making me jealous, have always wanted Bear 59 KODIAK... Luv their feel and I was born in the year 1959...

Might be an optical illusion but here’s a pic of a Bear A riser with #3 limbs hanging next to the reissue. The Kodiak does appear to have a longer working limb.

Wish I could figure out this sideways pic thing. From another angle.

I picked up another '59... this one used for a decent price. Marked 45 pounds, scales 47.

I had a 2015 59er with a less than desirable glue job on the leather grip. I got a 2018 that was done correctly and I'm much more satisfied. Maybe they listen to us.

I had a chance to shoot one fantastic shooting bows.

I’d like to find A 40 Lb satin Maple Sight window.

Too bad they don't come in a 64".

Older thread but in case someone is searching. I have two 50 shoot both off the shelf with bear hair rug and the shoot great. Putting a small bump under rug isn’t a bad idea i sometimes use a piece of paracord running side to side just above the throat of the grip under the rug.

I had one and it really shot great, but the poor craftsmanship just bothered me so that I passed it along. The upper limb was MUCH narrower than the lower and the tips were lop-sided. The back of the shelf was rough and unfinished looking. I fixed the shelf by beveling and radius but the tips were so small that I didn't dare work on them much. I bought it really cheap so no harm done. If I had paid full price and got this bow in the mail, I would have been really upset.

Bear does have issues. I been lucky as most of mine have been ok.

Had one once and was flawless. Wish I had kept it. I got a a lot of arm slap which is odd for me so I did give up on it and sold it. Love the looks of them though!! Specially the caramel color limbs.

Had one once and was flawless. Wish I had kept it. I got a a lot of arm slap which is odd for me so I did give up on it and sold it. Love the looks of them though!! Specially the caramel color limbs.

I have one from Vintage Works, 50#. It's for sale if you are interested.

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