I'm considering buying the 50th anniversary takedown (b handle, 64" AMO) and I haven't been able to find many reviews of this latest model.

For anyone who's shot the 50th anniversary model or the other late model takedowns, what were your opinions? Are they as accurate as other bows in the $1,000 range? How was the quality overall? Pros and cons?

Is it worth it? Purely subjective. Some people like Corvettes, some don’t. That means some like them, some don’t.

As for a review, the 50th is shaped (grip) like the original, so it is not like the recent era T/D’s. Having owned, and currently own, many Bear T/D’s of all eras, I like my originals and the 50th best.

Yes if that is what you want

I've got the maple b handle with #3 limbs for 64". I'm drawing it about 31 1/2" and getting about 56 or 57lbs from it. She smooth as silk and quiet enough to not need silencers at 7 1/2" brace. For some reason Bear suggests a lower brace on the b riser than the a. Anyhow I only got about 5 hour and a half shooting sessions so far but so far she's a keeper. The shelf is cut 1/8" above the grip so it close to the hand. And it has the horn at the base of the grip like the 1969 1/2 had which I like cause my hand doesn't slip on it. I haven't chrono'd it but it seems as fast as my customs. I not really a Bear person but I like this one alot. P.s. fit n finish is perfect so far.

Bows are't accurate. That's up ti the shooter.

The Bear takedown is imo the best bow Bear makes.I would NOT pay extra anticipating "collector value".

Btw the limbs taper down nicely to small pointy tips.

Ive found the 50 yr TD to be a great shooting bow. The bow can shoot better than I can shoot it. The craftsmanship is super nice, pretty much flawless. Is it worth the price? I`m not someone that can afford to buy expensive bows. This is the 2nd new pricy bow Ive bought in 45 years, probly the last. It was alot of money for me, but I`m glad I got this bow. I got the B #1 limbs even though most my life I shot a 64" bow. Recent years I shot a 60" Kodiak Hunter with the same grip that I like. I`m not ruling out some #3 limbs in the future:)

I have a buddy with a older B #3 limbs, the 64" is super sweet to shoot.

There has been tons of posts on here about the 50 TD. If I had to have 1 thing I dont like, the shelf is cut super low to the grip where my fletching was cutting my hand, so I put a weather rest on it, which Ive always used on all my bows anyways. Perfect!

Yes thier worth it IMO.

You can pay way more for many other custom 3 piece recurves.

The Bear T.D is a very quiet,smooth and accurate bow in the right hands.The T.D system is virtually unbeatable and extra limbs are not cost prohibitive.Second hand limbs are also typically more available than other bows.

With a few sets of limbs and a couple risers you can have a bow that will do anything you need other than being a longbow.That can fixed by buying a longbow.

I have an A and B riser and 4 sets of limbs.The B riser with #3 limbs that you asked about is a very nice setup and particularly well suited for longer draws.But will work fine for guys with shorter draws.Pick up an A riser for those limbs and you got a really smooth shooting 60 inch bow for times when you need that.It wins the Most Versatile Player award in 3 piece bows.Other than ILF.But I prefer the Bears personally to ILF.

I really like the Bear take downs and have several. As already posted, you can get limbs easy enough for whatever you want to do. One of the biggest things not yet pointed out is the fact that they seem to hold their value pretty well. They are pretty "shootable", but no matter how you slice it, it is still a stick and a string. I wouldn't look for anything fantastic or incredibly different in a positive way when you shoot one. They are reasonably fast and very smooth and quiet as bows go. Best of luck!!!!

The 50th anniversary T/D is a shooting machine with it’s narrow limbs

"I would not look for anything fantastic"Quote by msinc.

I think thats a fair statement and could be made about any bow made essentially.Unless your just looking for a burner like a super curve that can shoot really really fast or one of the fastest longbows.

As far as just being a really well balanced bow with an excellant design that can do anything you really need a bow to do it excells.It has it all except the very high end speed.But it is fast enough!

As primitive sniper says the new limbs are really sleek/narrow and also have nice pointed tip overlay work that are attractive.I have always had a thing for narrow deep cored recurves.The older limbs do perform excellant IMO.I have 2 sets of newer limbs and 2 sets of older limbs and am happy with all of them.

The Bears are now real fast, nor are they the slowest. The biggest thing is how you like the grip and balance. The do stand behind their bows. They have a near cult following.

There is no downside to a Bear T/D and the new grip is as nice as the old Grayling risers.

Your real problem is finding one.

I've owned a lot of bows over the years. My go to bow right now is a latter model B TD with #1 limbs. I really like it. I really appreciate the take down system. So convenient, no tools required. Works great. They hold their value better than a lot of bows. I'm happy with mine. No regrets. I did pick mine up used and saved a little money that way.

I love my Bear Kodiak Takedowns. All of mine are B-Risers with #1 Limbs. They are great shooting, and hunting bows. I like the no tools takedown system. The Bear Kodiak Takedowns has never let me down on the 3D range or when hunting.

Are they worth the money is up to the individual buying it. What I paid for this 1984 factory camo Bear Kodiak Takedown was worth it to me. I absolutely love this bow. :)

Can't speak to the 50yr specifically. I absolutely love my A Riser. It's a 2018 production with the thin, high grip. Whether that's what a person likes is subjective, of course, but it's the best grip for my hand that I've shot. I like bows on the short side. I've been shooting it with #3 limbs for a few years (60" bow) and am now giving some serious workout to a set of #1 in the same weight. The #3 are just enough smoother and quite that I notice as soon as I put them on, but not so much better that the #1 are disappointing. They feel a slight bit "zippier", though that's probably all iny head.

All that's to say that if you like it, I'm sure you'll love it.

Would like to own one someday if the price was right

I have several of the bear take downs, as a matter of fact the photo posted at the start of this thread is of my two anniversary issues. Over the last 30 years I have owned and shot bows from most of the better known bowyers. I picked up my first Bear takedown back about a dozen years ago and have since moved to the point that almost all of the bows in my house are Bear takedowns.

I like the anniversary issue bows, and the anniversary limbs are outstanding performers. Very quiet and forgiving. The grip on the anniversary bows is definitely different than the ones on the bows leading up to its release. But then again, you can pick up a wooden riser Bear takedown and the grip feel a little different than another one that was made at about the same time. The grips are hand finished and two different guys can put their own spin on what they think the grip should feel like. That's why you see a lot of guys give some very good advice, hold and shoot the Bear before you buy it if you can. If you look at the first photo, you can see that even the grips on my two anniversary bows are a little different. The black maple one has a smaller, and lower wrist grip. I really like the looks of the black accent stripe in the anniversary bows and feels that sets them apart.

I also have a couple of the new mag risers and have nothing but good things to say about them. A very nice riser that makes for a very quiet bow. One of the advantages of the mag risers is that all of the grips are of course the same.

As far as being worth the money. When compared against another semi production bow like a Black Widow or Bob Lee, they are an outstanding value, and as was said above, they hold their value well. I've owned bows in the past that I had to practically give them away in order to move them on. If you're not happy with it they sell quickly and usually at a good price point. You rarely see a Bear T/D of a reasonable draw weight stay listed for more than a day or two.

I now own six of them, my latest set up is the camo mag riser with #1 limbs. All of mine are the A riser except for one C. riser. I have wood, the old magnesium and the new aluminum models. All are excellent. Good enough in fact that the camo riser with the shorter limbs will replace my K.mags which I have used for hunting since 1968. Are they worth the price ? They sure are to me.

here are 2 older green stipes,,,,,

I’ve had 3 over the years and personally think they are great bows! I prefer a low wrist grip myself, can’t comment on the new 50th anniversary model.

I was always doubtful concerning the Bear T/D. After looking at them for more than 20 years I traded for one from the swap and trade thread. Wish I would have gotten one earlier. It's a very stable and comfortable shooting bow. The grip fits my hand perfectly. I now have a dilemma, shoot the Bear T/D or the Widow T/D. I've a lot more invested in the Widow but the Bear is so sweet. What to do, what to do? Frank

I have several Bear T/D's including the new A Mag. I like the 50th anniversary the best. The handle shape fits me better than the others. All have been great bows, I prefer B handles and #3 limbs. I don't think that you would be disappointed.

I have owned three Bear Takedowns. A newer A mag camo riser, a 2018 A wood riser and a 2014 wood B riser and I had three sets of limbs to mix and match. By far my favorite has been the A wood with #3 42# limbs. Second was the B with #1 limbs. I never warmed up to the Mag A riser and sold it not long after getting it. Now to throw a wrench in the mix, I traded for a 45# 2020 59 Kodiak reproduction and I shoot that bow better than any bow I've owned. Absolutely love it and it may take center stage when deer season opens in a couple weeks. As far as the bow being worth the price, I think they are especially if it's what you want and makes you happy. I bought all of mine used though so I did save quite a few dollars. I have only held one Anniversary riser and it was nice. Everyone seems to like them more than the std wood risers.

I sure love mine and I've owned a bunch of customs.

My comments were for the 50th aniversary model. I've sha t a few others but never owned one to compare to. Frank I know tge feeling. My brand new BW Pmax has been sitting ever since the Bear came in. After the newness wears off that may change. We'll see.

I've been shooting sticks for more than 60 years. Couldn't afford a Bear TD when they first came out back in 69-71, but now it's the only recurve I own, and I've owned and/or shot most of the other high end recurves during that time.

It's a very stable bow, plenty fast enough, and, since they've been made for the past 50 years, there are a lot of reasonably priced older limbs on the market. Only modern ILF rigs offer more options.

In B risers, I like the green stripes, which are physically a bit lighter than the more recent models, with the exception of the 50th anniversary model, perhaps. I have a 50th anniversary black maple A riser, and it is considerably heavier than my other A wood risers. Though I don't own a 50th anniversary B wood riser, I expect it's quite heavy in the impregnated black maple as well.

I like the beefier grip on the 50th anniversary A model riser, though I find the grips on older risers to be comfortable as well.

The Bear TD is just a very versatile, solid bow. Not bad in the looks department either. I think they're worth the money.

In the late 70's, my brother and I used to ride our bikes down to the local sporting goods store just to look at the Bear T/D hanging over the counter. I don't think we were ever even allowed to touch it. But several times we'd ride down there to see if anyone had bought it yet. We were that enamored with the bow. I always knew I'd own one someday.

For whatever reason, that day didn't arrive for 43 years, when on Monday the two components of my Bear Custom Kodiak Takedown arrived - a B handle from 2006 (courtesy of a kind member here) and a pair of brand new 50th Anniversary #3 limbs. I have $800 in the combination.

I think they are one of the top three best-looking recurves ever made. They are also lighter than I was expecting, which was a plus to me.

I am very picky about the grips on my bows, having shot target archery now for 18 years, and within a day of receiving my B handle I went to work on the grip with a wood file and sander. I now have it where I want it - or as close as I can get with that narrow handle. I was going to buy a 50th anniversary handle but didn't like the looks of the grip at all. Maybe I should have if they have a thicker grip, so I would have had more material to work with. Regardless, what I have now is shootable and yes, that bow WILL shoot.

I've been blessed to own a number of high-performance traditional bows and ILF recurves over the years. I'd put this Bear T/D right up there with the best of them for shooting performance and manners. It's the closest non-ILF bow I've shot to my beloved pre-ACS Adcock Takedown longbow that I have found, and that is very high praise indeed.

I was concerned about it's smoothness at my long draw, but in the 64" configuration, it's plenty smooth for my 31" traditional draw length.

I spent last night modifying an old side-mount quiver to fit my handle, and it's going to work out really well once I finish it.

The bow looks fantastic and shoots as good as it looks. I have no idea why I waited so long to be honest. They just always seemed so expensive to me, and I've had so many other bows over the years I guess it just was one of those "someday" things. But then I woke up a few weeks ago, smelled the fall air and said to myself "John, you ain't getting any younger... time to get a Bear Takedown."

I'm glad I did. It sits alongside my Adcock longbow on my bow rack as the only non-ILF bows I own, and they compliment one another really well. I can't wait until hunting season begins.

John

I have the A and also had the B

The B had a super chin my grip didn’t care for it. The A is ok but like my 2017 Red stripe better.

The TD in my opinion is the best bow out there if you can look past a few minor thinks.

Fit and finish on some are better than others but will say both the 50th were decent.

I have had many risers a d not two have been the same. In the grip etc. in.

Best option is to handle a lot and choose one however that’s not a real option for most of us.

As a lefty it’s been a game of hide and seek. Won some and lost some.

I always wanted a Bear Kodiak Takedown but couldn't afford one. After I got out of the U.S. Army I had a few bucks saved up and I got a good job with the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections I decided I'm buying one, so I bought my 1989 Bear Kodiak Takedown. In 1992 Gene Wensel signed it for me at one of his seminars.

When contemplating a Bear T/D, don't overlook the new mag risers, With a set of the anniversary limbs they make a very nice bow, at an attractive price point. I like the character of the wooden risers but these aluminum risers are really growing on me...

I can see how these bows can become an addiction. I was shooting mine just now, in the dark with a light on my bale across my driveway. Drilling the center almost every shot. Now I want to try one of the newer Mag risers - mostly bc I know the grip will fit my hand straight away without modification.

My next purchase will be a 40# set of limbs to go with my 45's.

Damn these things shoot good.

Many moons ago, I would occasionally have "late night talks" with late Al Reader over the phone. Of course, the conversations revolved around "Anything Bear", the man's knowledge was immense. And, Al flat-out told me he felt the Bear Mag risers (particularly the A and B risers) shot better than the wooden ones. And this was coming from a man who had 150 Bear takedowns-- each in various models!! I own three wooden handles, all B risers, and four Mag risers. I had to agree with Al on this point. For those discerning archers, Bear takedowns are a fine and beautiful addiction... Shoot Straight, rare breed

I feel the Bear TD is not perfect but is the best bow I've ever shot. On my A riser and #1 limbs, the workmanship was cosmetically perfect. The bow is as easy to hit with as any bow I've ever shot and is the quietest bow I've ever shot! Speed is excellent. No slouch at all. After about 2 months of use, mine did develop the clicking sound on the draw. I fixed it, in about two minutes, but I wasn't happy about it. I'm thinking a quick spray of Plasti- Dip, just on the ends of the limbs, at the base, should be a permanent fix and only take a minute to do. I'll do that after the season. For now, I placed tape on the ends and totally eliminated the click. Overall, that was a little flaw in the bow, considering how well it shoots!

Joe

If you get one with no issues yes. Hoyt Satori is a safer choice.

To the op's question yes. Been shooting one since 1983. Even before that with mag riser.

This shouldn't even be a question. Yes, there is always a 'better choice' in someone's mind, but it's been a viable and reliable weapon since 1970 when Fred first offered the takedown in their catalog.

I've owned three of them (wood risers) and several mag risers too, and wouldn't hesitate to buy one if I wanted one again. I certainly would value it as much as any custom made today, it shoots just as well and has that Bear nostalgia/history that modern customs can't even approach.

Let's see some more Bear Kodiak Takedown pictures.

Here is a few of mine....

Here is a different angle of the squadron.....

Back view.....

An extra A riser that don't have "it's own limbs"....no place to really put it so I hung it on a Reynolds trapper backpack I made. Yep that's the ones that guys put taxidermy on.....There is also a Quillian Patriot riser with it.

These ones I shortened to fit.

Super K's in any style are a great looking bow for sure.

I was lucky enough to secure two sets of RER limbs for my Custom Kodiaks.....these have static tips, I think they are bocote under clear glass and they are very fast. Unfortunately they are no longer made, but as aftermarket limbs go they are one of the best for the Bear take downs!!!

If you like a bow enough to spend your money on it(and it doesnt break) then its "worth it."

If you were to use some sort of performance metric as related to price - then many bows(including most Bears) arent "worth it."

Won’t be too many pics Nemo. Seems you own all of em. ??

Won’t be too many pics Nemo. Seems you own all of em. ??

Sorry for the horizontal photo, oh well.

After owning my first, I could easily see how these bows could become an addiction. Then Styk proved me right. LOL

Are they "worth it" in terms of performance? I'd say yes and no. Not many bows, even the most expensive customs, are going to out-shoot a good ILF metal riser with quality ILF limbs. So for around $600-700 you can get an ILF rig that will hang with any bow made, regardless of price - if you're just talking performance.

But when you combine the history, the looks, the light weight and the performance, I don't mind that I have $800 in my Bear Takedown. I don't feel I overpaid. Not when I see that arrow zipping into the middle time and time again.

I hope to get one one day. Love seeing all the pictures.

Yeah, I guess I have a bit of a problem.

I agree with what Limbwalker said. I also own several ILF bows that may shoot a couple feet per second faster than my Bear T/D's, But I don't know that any are more "shootable". By that I mean forgiving, for my style of shooting at least. Once I have one set up and tuned I can stand there and drop the arrows where I want them time after time. Even when I get that glitch on a shot, usually the arrow drops in. I've shot a bunch of different bows and I haven't had that benefit with other bows.

Styk all I ask is that you give me the dates and GPS coord's to your garage sale someday. :D

After 18 years of target competition with recurves, I know a good shooting bow. And you're right - this Takedown I have will drop arrows in the spot with any ILF bow I've shot.

Kinda makes me want to get a magnesium "C" handle and set it up with these limbs as a full Olympic rig, just to see how it would do. Based on what I've seen so far, I think it would do quite well.

Limbwalker I used a C riser for FITA all through the mid to late seventies and shot a lot of scores over 1200 that were pretty good for the time. Still have mine set up with 35 lb. limbs, a check it sight, and the original stabalizer for it and of course my clicker. Can still do low 290's indoors with it. John Williams (1972 Olympic gold ) convinced me to go to a Hoyt T.D which I did but never shot that much better with it. Vic Berger sure shot them well for sure, it was an excellent target bow and will hang with anything they make today. Hey, Styxshooter lives close to me so I got dibs on his garage sale, heck I have already bought a couple off him for my collection and use.

I hate noisy bows and my bear TD is whisper quite! It shoots as good as ANY bow made IMO. Mine is an all bubinga (sp) and real skinny grip. Only negative is shelf is cut real low ,so feather cuts me sometimes.

Absolutely worth the money.

Darryl/Deni you're tempting me now. :D

I like what George said in his last post. Pretty much sums up my thoughts as well. If not in a hurry you can find some deals. I bought my riser (like new B wood handle) for $425 and after some horse trading, got a set of newer limbs for under $200. I like mine as good as any bow I've owned. Love the take down system. Great bows, and have good resale value. Looking to buy a mag riser sometime. It's addictive.

Just bought my 2nd set of #3 limbs (40#, 50# at my DL) for my B handle. They shoot as good as the first pair (45's, 55# at my DL). Should cover me for whatever I feel like hunting from now on.

I still can't get over how light this bow is for a takedown recurve. Zippy as hell too. Love it.

My go to bow for years was an 86 greenstripe. After an injury I had to switch to L/H....so can no longer shoot it. But at 800.00 just for a riser I guess it's relegated to a wall hanger with lots of memories. The pricing these days is ludicrous! Nobodys wages has gone up tenfold! Especially Soc.Sec., which a lot of us are trying to survive on.

SB is right. Wages have not kept pace with inflation since 1980. Everything is grossly overpriced. I traded for my bow or I wouldn't own it. That said, it's the best bow I've owned.

Joe

A Blast From The Past: Fred Bear developed the Kodiak Takedown for his various hunts. Beyond the marketing magic, it became his personal favorite. A truly gorgeous bow. (Many moons ago, I happened into Hugh Rich Archery when he had his amazing shop on Brand Blvd. in Glendale, CA. Hugh had a Bear takedown "prototype" hanging on the wall, took it down and let me handle it) Fred - along with many other archery greats - would often send their prototypes to Hugh to "field test". He ran them through the ringer, beat 'em up and shot the dickens out of them in all kind of conditions-- a real no bullshit guy. Then, he would give "notes" on their performance, the good and the bad. I saw a number of other well-known takedowns hanging on those vaunted walls (bow quivers, too) It was a veritable "archery museum". I've owned a number of Bear TDs over the years, and without question, they remain the best mass-produced takedown ever produced. Shoot Straight, rare breed...

SB where are you seeing $800 for just a riser? That would be ridiculous. I found a minty 2006 riser for about half that.

Best mass-produced takedown recurve ever? I can't disagree with that now that I have one. I knew they were good bows. If I had known how good, I wouldn't have waited 43 years to get one.

Risers aren't even close to 800. I'm thinking mine was just under 600. The whole bow was just under 1000. Most so called customs are from 1300 and up.

600.00- 800.00. Whats the diff...havn't got that kind of money laying around! Bought my greenstripe with 2 sets of limbs in 1993 for 250.00 from Lamont at The Footed Shaft. Never had a tenfold pay increase since then...

When did they make the red stripe version? I never knew there were that many variations in the takedown! My collecting over the last 30+ years has mostly centered around the kodiaks and Super Kodiaks.

Ya...I used to have a job!..and did side work in the garage on weekends for "mad" money! Retired in 2010...havn't bought a bow since then.

I have paid over 200 bucks for some specialty bass rods with out batting an eye. Still have them, and they have paid for their self 5 times over. A beautiful bow like the Bear take down would be well worth it to me if that is what I really wanted, and had some spare change to buy it. Would be nice to get one in your hands to try it for fit.That is the most important thing about buying a bow.

My 2018 riser is a red stripe.

Joe

I never get tired of the Bear bow threads! My black stripe is a year old already! Its been my full time shooter, and no complaints.

I bought my first Bear Takedown in 1984. Since then I've had one on my bow rack most years. Some wood handles fit me better than others. Sometimes I'd sell one to buy another. I never shot a mag takedown in all those years so recently I bought an A Mag in camo and paired it with #3 limbs. There has been continued improvements in limbs by Bear. I shot old red tips and white tips for years (with low stretch strings)but the new limbs are smoother and noticeably better performers.

Eventually, when a deal comes along, I'll add a B riser because I like the bigger sight window but I have to say that I'm impressed with how smooth an A is with longer #3 limbs.

Stykshooters caught my eye. Never seen one like that!

Doing what it's made to do.

SB, they started the red stripe/black riser version in 2011 and as far as I know, it is still available today...the only change was in 2011-2012 the black riser wood was "dymondwood" which is a trademark of the Ryland plywood company. That outfit burned down and was unable to recover. Bear went to a solid dyed black maple riser after that. If you go back up to stykshooters post he has a nice B riser with the dymondwood and in my post the A riser is also dymondwood. You can tell because it is a lamination and shows a different grain pattern. The solid dyed maple is just that, solid wood that is black and subject to "birthmarks" where the wood refuses to take the stain.

...justlike previous "futurewood" models which I believe started to appear in 1976! Didn't they have a couple recent Phenolic models?

SB, that is an all Bubinga riser. They offered it for a year or two starting about 2012. If you look at the photo of the bear hanging on my wall both of the left hand bows are all Bubinga, an A and a B.

That particular A riser with #3 57 pound limbs is one of my all time favorites. It has hunted with me in nine states so far.

Back on the 13th I said that I'd pick up a B riser when a deal came along. In today's market deals are not easy to find. Plus the more I thought about it, the more I was interested in the new "old" grip on the 50th Anniversary model. I've had more than a few of these bows and the grip I liked the best was on a Type 1 I owned a few years back.

So I found a dealer that had three Bs in stock for $599 with free shipping. Should be here Saturday. Can't wait!

Heres my old 84-85 greenstripe. Has killed a lot of deer. I just can't shoot right-handed anymore...but its made a lot of memories and I can't get rid of it! 3 sets of limbs and a now wrong handed riser!

After a week of USPS delays my B riser showed up. The grip was just as I hoped. I have #1 limbs on it. 45#.

I like this riser a lot but think I prefer the A risers a little more. An A with #3 limbs is a sweet shooting bow.

That's beauty Phil congrats!

I've had mine for almost two years now. 2019 Two tone bubinga and phenolic A riser. It is my nicest and best shooting bow for me. Plenty of combinations from 56-64 inches in bow length. Resale value seems pretty good and it performs well for me. I would definitely say they are worth it. Found a used riser for $400 and new blemished LES limbs with bubinga veneers and clear (streaky) glass for $400. Those are #1, also have a basic set of #3s in a lighter weight. Thinking about getting or trading for a Mag riser for the adjustable sideplate. Also would like to get my hands on some newer #2's at some point.

Nice Phil!...thats the one I'd want ..in L/H....but I don't have a year to wait for one. .

Thats what I waited 9 months for Phil. Then gave up and accepted a black riser. Its prettier than I thought it would be. Btw nice quiver!

SB, you can get a left hand A right now. Just contact Jerry DeWeese. He's in Maryland - a great guy. He has a store on eBay - stickbow supplies - and has one left hand A in stock. Not sure about the B.

Heat - I have a camo A Mag with #3 limbs on it. After handling the B, the A Mag almost seems like a youth bow, very slender and light.

GLF - I like the looks of the black maple. I may look for an A like that sometime down the road.

Ya...A too short!

Ya...A too short! But from the ones I've handled they have a nicer grip for some reason.

I have a green stripe and a 50th anniversary, I like both, but may like the green stripe the best, just because the grip is slightly smaller and the shelf is lower, right down on my hand where I like it.

I wish I had bought a Bear TD, many years ago.

Personally I like the 1970 with b riser,and early model green stripe!

I just bought another Bear Kodiak Takedown. This time a 2011 all bubinga wood B-riser with #1 limbs. I own seven Bear Kodiak Takedowns now, three of them are greenstripes. If the posting pictures ever gets fixed, I'll try to remember to post a picture of my 2011 Bear Takedown.

I really like mine after a modification .

Pictures not working again :)

They are OK. I’ve been a Bear collector a long time and a huge Bear fan, but I’ve never liked the Bear takedown very much. I have owned several old and new, and they were noisy. The noise can be fixed sometimes but still, there are way better bows made by Bear. The Kodiaks and Super Kodiaks are phenomenal bows, as are so many Grizzlys and Kodiak Specials. If you’re into collecting or buying an original takedown, they are not hard to find at all. Just pricey. For what they cost you can get a custom bow that shoots way better IMO.

I'll have to politely disagree with you. All six of my Bear Kodiak Takedowns shoot quiet. Four of them shot quiet with no tinkering and two I had to tinker with just a little bit. My 1980s greennstripe I'm shooting now is extremely quiet. A couple times when Supernaut and I were shooting he even commented how quiet my 1980s greenstripe I'm shooting now was. I haven't shot my 2011 one yet so it's still pending. As far as customs shooting way better, I've owned two Robertson Montana Falcon Takedowns, two Schafer Silvertip Takedowns, a Morrison Cheyenne Takedown, a Mahaska Recurve, two Susquehanna Longbows, to name just a few I've owned in the past and my Bear Takedowns shoot just as good, at least for me. And my Bear Takedowns have never let me down at 3D shoots or bowhunting, I've killed quite a few whitetail bucks and a couple elk with them. Grayling Bear Takedowns are harder to find than the Gainesville ones "except" for one which I own. In 1996 Bear Archery made a Bear Takedown in a finish called traditional camo. Less than 25 Bear Takedowns were made in that finish. The bow itself isn't rare, but the bow with that factory camo finish is.

As far as price yes, they are on the pricey side for not being a custom. I know the price is triple or almost triple since I bought my first Bear Takedown in 1989. It all comes down to personal preference and how much you want to spend on a bow. I like my other Bear bows also, but I like my Bear Takedowns a lot. :) JMO

It’s all good, You don’t have to justify the takedown to me, it’s fine if people don’t agree lol. I know they are good bows. We are all entitled to our own opinion. For what they cost new, I wouldn’t drop that kind of cash for a Bear, and that’s not easy to say. Bear had major quality issues, and if you buy custom bow for a little more depending on what brand, it’s almost guaranteed you won’t have problem after problem. Fred wouldn’t tolerate the type of issues Bear has had the last 10 years, I’m not trying to bash Bear I’m just being honest. Even as a huge Bear fan and collector I can’t recommend any new bear bow with 100% honesty. If they fixed their quality issues, then maybe I’d try one again down the road. As far as the Greenstripes, IMO those were the best takedowns made hands down. I think Fred wanted something to really be proud of after the move to Gainsville, and those takedowns are slick. Glad they work well for some guys.

I'm not justifying anything. I'm just voicing my opinion from fifty-four years of shooting and hunting with Bear bows and thirty-four years of shooting and hunting with Bear Takedowns. Half of my Bear bows are Graylings and half are Gainesvilles. My newest one is a 2016 Bear Takedown. Bear has had some issues in the last 10 years I agree, but they make a whole lot of bows so some will sneak past quality control. Or maybe they need some new inspectors inspecting the bows. But I have to say I have never had a problem with any of my Bear Takedowns, but I did have an upper limb break on one of my Robertson Montana Takedowns which at the time cost more than a Bear Takedown. Dick said it was a bad glue line but no big issue because Dick Robertson replaced the limbs for free, which I got in about a month. No bow production or custom is beyond a malfunction. Sometimes crap just happens. The greenstripe Bear Takedowns are nice. At least my three are. Everyone likes something different, find which bows make you happy and have fun. Enjoy life, it has an expiration date.

Sounds like you are throwing out years and numbers. It’s not a huge deal, we can have different opinions lol . That’s OK trust me.

With 15 T/Ds still hanging on my wall, I have to agree with Eric as to Bears QC in the last 5 years, it just plainly sucks. 3 out of 4 of their high dollar LES have been unacceptable to me.

Love mine Shoots great and looks beautiful.

I do regret I didn't buy a 2007 to 2010 Bear Takedown Supreme with the zebrawood/rosewood riser. Guys that have them don't want to sell them.

My Bear red stripe takedown is one of my favorite bows. Having said that,I have to agree with a couple others here though. The grips can vary from bow to bow of the same model. I have thirty some emails back & forth with Bear about their quality control until they cut me off. Bear makes some fine bows but look at & feel the one you want before you buy. I sincerely hope they have changed & that was the point of my discussions. They were letting too many things slip through. >>>----> Ken

The Bear TD problem -- thread caused me to come back to this one. You might want to save some money on a Bear takedown. That is how I got mine. I bought a bear riser in need of TLC then bought new limbs for it. It was a substantial saving & the only way I could justify the price of one. I love the bow now. >>>>------> Ken

As far are they "as accurate as". There isn't any recognized accuracy standard, or method of achieving it in archery, last I heard. No 1 MOA from a benchrest for a 5 shot group kind of deal.

Fred Bear started the modern archery business, and he reaped the rewards. Selling tons of mid market bows. Most nobly, some of his patents seeded an entire industry, or multiple industries.

They are collectible because they were bought by so many people, with most ending up in the landfill. Fred Himself shot custom bows made by his best bowyer, at least in some pictures they appear to have a different limb shape and certainly different grips and rests. I took that as my signal to do likewise. As I assume many others did when the custom market took off.

For me, Bear Archery died a long time ago.

If I was investing today, I would find the best way to spend 1K on a bow that was made when Fred was still in charge. From an investment point of view, I think a huge break has occurred in consumer patterns, and I am not sure that many things that were traded for decades by successive generations will remain tradable in the future. American Culture is highly fragmented and discontinuous, from what I can see. But I have no crystal ball in such maters.

We'll now u can make it a longbow. Bear just came out with #2 longbow limbs. I love my a and b risers.

I have owned at least 12 just off top of my head. They are good bows when you find the right one. Grips etc vary one to the next.

As far as value for the money, only If you buy used. I have a brand new left hand 50th with $1100 invested in priced for $800 shipped and honestly guys act like $500 would be too much.

just sold all but 4 and lost my tail. Bear resell values are terrible right now.

Moral of the story buy used or plan to keep it.

Bowl, very well said.

I wish we could post pictures. I just bought a 2011 red stripe all bubinga riser Bear Takedown. It's flawless, not a mark or defect on it. It is a beautiful bow. I always thought all bubinga risers didn't come out until 2012 but mine is clearly marked 2011. Maybe the year was miss marked, who knows. I paid $500 + shipping. Since new Bear limbs are around $400 alone now days, I didn't think it was too bad of a deal. As soon as archery season is over I'll set it up and shoot it.

Boker is right. I’m having trouble selling one. Although it is 64#. On a good note they look and shoot great. My 45# is my favorite. Shoots so smooth and it seems to like me. That 64# shoots good but it is a beast to draw. I Can’t shoot it for very long

Bear Takedowns have historically had ebbs and flows in the used market. There have been times that you could sell them in a day for a premium price and there have been times that you just had to wait through a lull, possibly for many months, to get a good price.

Hope the price does not go down to much, I have a 45 pound right hand Rambo model I am going to sell very soon, great condition bow but I have five others and it may be time to thin a few. I have found I like the aluminum risers the best except for my 2018 two tone A riser that fits my hand perfectly.

I just installed some, new to me, 52# red tip Grayling limbs on my old Green Stripe, tonight, with a brand new B55 string from Stilldub. And all I can say is Wow! This old Bear Takedown shoots very good and handles my heavy Ashby class arrows with authority.

This will be one of my favorite bows for sure.

My 2011 Bear Takedown I just bought.

One of my 1980s Bear Takedown greenstripes with factory camo I'm hunting with this year.

I really like bear takedowns but I would not spend the money for the cost of a new one. I have had 4 new risers that needed replaced. Their quality is not there anymore. Bear did replace them and treated me well so don’t take this as a bear bashing post. I think they’re one of the ultimate hunting bows given their design and length but with out the quality I have no trust in them.

Yep, new ones are pricey now days. I've only bought two of mine brand new, my 1989 and my 1997. I can't remember what I paid for my 1989 Bear Takedown, but my 1997 was around $500. My other five were used. I didn't pay over $650 for any of them.

Besides a good ASL, I don’t think I’ve missed a year in the last decade (or three) without a Bear TD on a hunt. The way they fit, feel and look make me feel like a kid hunting with my dad and grandpa. Overpriced? Yes. Poor QC in the last 5 years or so? Yep. Still…..

I'm thinking about getting some of Kirk's "Bare" SS recurve limbs for a mag riser. Any experience with them?

I don’t see many for sale. Older risers are not plentiful either.

here is my zebrawood riser,,,,,,,

Here's my latest and my favorite bear.

When I was in Gainesville, last spring, I bought a Bear 50th B riser. It was a second, but I couldn't find anything wrong with it. So far, so good, I have not had any issues with it.

I did notice that out of the handful of seconds, available at the time, the grip did definitely vary from bow to bow. I handled a few and the one I bought was the only one that I liked the feel of.

But I must say, all of my Bear bows have a noticeably different feel between them.

Hell of a riser Chris….

I have a very nice early left handed Green Stripe riser with newer number 3 limbs, 40# on this B riser that I got from Boker on this site and I Love it. The bow has a B 55 string on it, the brace height is at about 8” and I’m shooting Gold tip 600s, last night at our indoor league out of a possible 160 points I shot a 150. The second time around I shot my James Parker Hummingbird longbow and shot a 153, I had one of my better nights. But the old Green Stripe shot right up there with the new Custon longbow. I’d say it’s worth the money, better yet if you can find a nice used one like I did. Kurt

I had one of the zebra wood risers for a while. While a beautiful bow it was just too skinny for me. I'm about to sell a decent older Greenstripe w some heavy limbs for a good price, I think.

I prefer the old mag risers and also have a nice fitting No-Stripe as a back up.

A quick word on the old magnesium risers. Magnesium is 33 percent lighter than aluminum. The extra weight of the new aluminum riser shouldn't be a problem, but I like the lightness of the old risers. The old A riser, in Cardinal Red, was the ultimate hunting bow metal riser!

Joe

But wouldn't the webbing design negate any weight advantage? I like a heavy riser. That's why I prefer a B over A. Also the bigger sight window.

Sunset orange was the ultimate color, red was for girls.

You guys have some beautiful Bear TD risers on here. My two pales in comparison, but I do really like my old Green Strip, and also my 50th. The grips are noticeably a little different between my Green Stipe and my 50th. Neither is objectional, but the 50th has a fuller (fatter) grip on it, as does several of my other Bear bows.

I'm not sure if the new aluminum riser is heavier than the old magnesium ones, but I've been told they are. Either would be great, but the wood riser is far superior in the cold.

Joe

Yep, same thing with guns, it's blue steel and walnut for me, 99 percent of the time. I just like the feel of wood over fiberglass or plastic.

I've got 2 cents not doin' anything. the Greenstripe I think, is in Bears top 5. Heck of a riser with #2 limbs.

oops

Mike, those are nice!

Joe

Those too are cool. I’ll take either one!

Another great thing about Bear TD bows, is you can easily change poundage by either buying or trading for different limbs. If I'm ever forced to drop from 47 to 42 pound limbs, I could find a trading partner and get it done. No extra cost in having limbs factory made to fit the riser. That makes the Bear TDs more economical than you think!

Joe

If you love cumbersome limb mounting system than go for it.

Cumbersome? For two left hands without thumbs maybe.

Options,

Bigfoot Bows also makes a bear takedown riser.

http://bigfootbows.com/b/bows/bows.html

Scroll down to Bare Foot Riser.

I’ll second the green stripe, that’s the best looking riser Bear made. I’m not a takedown guy but the green stripes are pretty.

Just a few that has pasted through.

Boker “ David “. I am sure liking the Green Stripe riser I got from you (3 rd from the top in picture) it shoots real nice, pleasure to shoot. Maybe I can ketch up with you at the Tennessee Classic and say hi. Kurt

Hope so Kurt.

Dave tell Pappy you are looking for me and he will show you where I’m camped, just down from the Shower on opposite side of the road. Kurt

If you have already registered, please

sign in now

For new registrations

Click Here