QuoteOriginally posted by 450 marlin:
Picked up a 1959 Kodiak Special..silver coin
70" 50#  serial #5VX26

Nice way to celebrate the middle of its 50 th year.
LH or RH?

Roy, based on the serial numbers on the other 59 Specials listed, you may have a 60.  

When I look at the pictures in your other thread, it appears that the belly of the sight window is wood instead of glass, which would make it a 59.  

Maybe a closeup of the riser's belly would define whether it's a 59 or 60.

Trap

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A few more pictures Serial #5VX26 Silver Coin
22 stamp (maybe a carry over to 1960)

I bet that's it.  Cool

Looks to be in great shape.

Trap

Can this thread be given a sticky and be posted at the top of the forum?  Great thread

Finally -

It only took 4 months and 5 days to get this photograph of these

1961 - 1967 Kodiak Specials - all 66"

Just loaded this photograph on the first page of this thread so the most important information is on first page.

 

Wade, any thoughts on the 70" 50# KS that Roy posted pics of above?

Nontypical serial number for a 59 KS, but no glass on the sight window belly which would make it a 59 KS, unlike the 60 KS which had glass on the belly of the sight window.

Trap

Trap - Roy's 70" KS is 1959...

First and foremost is the frame or form a bow is built on.. Roy's bow is built on a 1959 form...

It has the 1959 riser configuration and the 1959 narrow grip...

Those things mentinoed above are permanent and not cosmetic.

Cosmetic features, such as serial numbers and coins can be anything, especially if the bow is made during the period when one year's model is transitioning to the next years model.

As I have said many times, anything could have been written on any bow by anyone at any point in time... There are dozens of reasons that a serial number might not fall in line with other 1959s... mismarked on purpose or by accident, refinished, not finished until later, special order, bow set back and found later, then finished with different number, and the list goes on and on. A bow like the 1959 KS with the flaired inset, could have been started and routed for the inset, then much later could have been completed.

If you can dream up a crazy reason for a mis-marked bow, it probably really happened.

The bows that do not fall in line with the other serial numbers, only prove the point that some bows were marked differently and all do not fall in line, which is the legitimate reason not to place much store in serial numbers for dating bows.

Truth is stranger than fiction. Odd things that happen in a factory environment are stranger than everyday life.

Talk with a retiree who worked in the same "built from scratch" manufacturing factory their entire life. They will tell you stories you never dreamed could be real about items that made it out the door as legitimate products and lunch box specials that went out the back door, or worst yet, stuff that was sold as scrap but purchased by employees who knew the products were really good.

Then talk with customer service or or the technical support personal who are out in the field and see the products that do no comply with with specifications and return those products to the factory and exchange them.

Thanks Wade,  

The bow fits really nicely on the rack with my other 59 Kodiak Specials.  One to go.  A 68 incher will complete the set for me.  

Then maybe I can work on all those 59 Kodiak variations    

Trap

Trap,

If you are going to put together one complete year of Kodiak Specials, 1959 would be my first choice too.

You are starting to make me feel sorry for you because you don't have a 68" Kodiak Special and I have two. I would send you one, but the risers of these two bows have different woods, so would hate to sell either bow.

When you get to the point that you feel you are desperate, let me know. I will loan you the 68" with golden rosewood slabs until you can find a 68".

Keep me posted on the vitals reading on your "desperate" meter.

Whats the chance there is a "61" in zebrawood out there looking for a new home.

 I run a shelter for wayward, neglected or unwanted zebrawood riser bows and there is a few openings for those most in need.

 Right now I have a Grizz, Tigercat, Bearcat, Cub and a Littlebear in zebrawood and would like to get a model of all the bears offered in zebrawood.
                         
Thanx, Shep

Shep,

These are some extra bows, let me know if you are looking for zebrawood bows that need refinish work. The 61 KS at the far left of the photo is 32#, 66" and is a candidate for a new home...

 

Wade, what's the story on that upside down early 59 in the pic above?  Refinnish candidate?  Wall hanger?  

Trap

Trap,

The upside down 59 story, 60", 55#, purpleheart SW, crack in lamination at lower limb right at the fadeout and into glass on back. Was supposedly "repaired" by someone. Have strung it and drawn it, but I don't trust it. If used as a shooter, it would probably become a basket of splinters in short order.

Just another one of my many questionable bow investments that turned out to be less than what it was thought to be when acquired.

:(  That blows.....or would  :(  

Trap

If someone gets into the 59  Kodiak re-limb-ing business, I will have some work for them...

Wade...as Glenn would say about the 59...."I'll give you 5 bucks for this "...Hink..  :p

And just like my standard reply to Glenn's $5 offers, my reply is ...

"I'll give you $10 for yours".

Wade
Mike Macready of Maddog Archery is redoing a KS  for Ray Roan.
He does nice work.
      Kurt