looking to gather info on this bow - year and place of origin, much obliged for any scoop!
(right click and 'view image' to see larger pic)
(http://www.tradgang.com/rob/bearpolar/bear_1.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/rob/bearpolar/bear_2.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/rob/bearpolar/bear_3.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/rob/bearpolar/bear_4.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/rob/bearpolar/bear_5.jpg)
Yeah, this was from one of Bear's best years out of Grayling, MI.
That's a 1962 version in zebrawood which looks like a great candidate for a visit to the beauty shop for a make-over.
It was Bear's economy target bow and I believe they only made it in 66" and usually in lighter weights like yours.
I think every model made that year was extra special. I have a Kodiak and Kodiak Special from 1962 and both risers are brazillian rosewood.
At first glance they look like the 61 KS. I spent many an hour looking at one of those.
How is the glass on that bow? I have some paint mixed for the 61 that might match your bow.
thanx lon and brad. the bow's coming to me by way of hawaii later this week and i'll have a better handle on its condition. i plan to restore it as best as can be. much obliged folks!
I never realized that there was a gap with wood showing on the grip underlay. I started looking and I have a Polar like that.
The glass looked green in the picture; at least on my Ipad. My bow is either light yellow or very yellowed white glass with a Zebrawood riser. Mine is 1AY12R 66" 48#.
Forget about the paint, it is the wrong color unless you want to dress the bow up like a '61 Kodiak Special. Mine appears to be in a little better shape than yours but now that I have looked it over, I think that it is a candidate for one of my clean ups. It would be an eye popper with some fresh clear finish on the zebrawood.
i had an alaskan recurve, bought new in '66, and a friend had a polar of the same year. glass was always white on these bows.
Yup,looks like a 1962. I've got a twin just like it that was my brother in laws bow. Probably my next clean-up bow candidate. It's a good shooter with my Allen Shafer b-55 string. Had to do a little limb twist fix on lower limb. Was probably stood up in a closet at one point.
gonna check it out when it arrives, perhaps next week, make sure the glass and lams are good, clean it up, build a good dacron string for it, and it'll be offered in the st jude auction come spring in memory of its original owner who recently passed on.
1962 Polar is one of my all time favorites. They made them all the way up to 50# and they have excellent cast . The glass was very good, few stress lines seen 50 years later.
Yes it is a 1962 zebrawood polar they made them in 66'' and 56''for women and youths.They are beautiful bows and great shooters,they cost $49 in 62 I bought one from RMSG to get me started in traditional archery.I would never sell it ,and have had offers to buy it.
Now a 56" Polar around 50# at 28" could be someone's "Holy Grail"...so who has one? :notworthy:
Alas, the 56" ladies model Polar, a stock item in 1962 and '63 and custom order after that for a few years, was designed for 26" draw and I've never seen or heard of one over 38#.