Let's run a featured vintage archery item every week and we can share what we know about the item and others can chime in with pictures or stories or questions about the week's chosen archery tackle.

It could be a bow, quiver, broadhead, book, photograph, etc. you name it.

There's been a wealth of info shared here in this forum over the years. Guys like Wade, bowdoc, Bjorn, Cam, Rich, Lon, Jack, Ron and others have been generous enough to open up their photo libraries and their historical knowledge to educate and share with all of us.

On Monday, Jan 23rd I will kick us off with something to keep us going a week and then someone else can share the following week.

Almost like a book of the month club.

Awesome can't wait

A great idea!

Great idea TRAP!!!

I like "Firsts"

First broadheads produced by a company, first bow models, quivers introduced for the first time, etc.

For a manufacturing company, much is at risk when something new is introduced.  Will it become a success or failure? Only time will tell. Some "firsts" become highly collectible for several reasons. The item may not be well received by the consumer and therefore no more were made. A small manufacturing run to test the waters may result in less being made initially. Other firsts turn out to be a huge success and in some cases, items introduced decades ago, are still in production today.

This week's chosen archery item qualifies as a First. When you see it on Monday, you be the judge.

This will be interesting.  

     

This week in 1961    

Introduced by Bear Archery in the 1961 Bear Archery Equipment Catalog, the 52" Kodiak Magnum began a 16 year production run from  1961-1977.

With the exception of the Grizzly, I believe that's the longest model run of any Bear recurve.

     

I find it interesting that the 52" Kodiak Magnum ($64.95) sold for a higher price than it's 60" Kodiak ($59.95) counterpart.

Made with Exotic African Rosewood handle and "Grayling Green" bearglas.

I know there are several Kodiak Magnum collectors out there.

So share your KMags and feel free to give the specs on your bows and share any info about it you like.

I think everyone will agree the Kodiak Magnum was, and is still today, a great success for Bear Archery.

I'll post a couple pics tomorrow of a short, "Grayling Green" limbed 1961 Kodiak Magnum

Great choice Trap; not my favorite Bear bow but one helluva a popular one.  Good job.
Shick

Yeah not my favorite either Shick but it was a great move for Bear.

The grips on the 61 and 62 KMags are amazing and they are surprisingly smooth drawing bows out to 28" or so. I've not owned many of the later models so I'm definitely not a KMag expert.  

I'm hoping others will fill in the gaps with later models.

I know there was at least one example of an earlier Kodiak Magnum made prior to 1961. Maybe the owner of that bow will jump in here and enlighten us.

Very interesting piece  of history.  Trap thanks for sharing. No idea on the  kodiak mags.

Love the look of that 61.

Trap,

Great thread idea - a featured vintage archery item every week... Don't know that I can "enlighten" as you suggest, but guess I should try to chime in...

Yes, Prior to the 1961 green glass production models, Bear made at least a few 52" bows. In 1961 the 52" bows produced on the same form, became known as the Kodiak Magnum.

The one I have is marked... EXP 52" 68#..., There are no silk screens on either limb, so the bow was finished without a name designation on it.  

The glass on the back and belly are the same as a 1960 Kodiak and the tip overlays are the same as a 1960 Kodiak. The riser is a laminated 3-piece I-Beam bubinga 40/20/40. In addition to the one I have, I have also seen a couple of others, one has white glass on the back and belly.

The fact that the Bear Bow name Magnum was not introduced until the 1961 Catalog, may leave questions for some regarding the proper classification of pre 1961 52" bows.

Obviously, there is legitimate evidence to refer to it as either an "EXP 52" 1960 Kodiak" or an "EXP 1960 Magnum".

I usually have it displayed as the bottom bow on the display of 1960 Kodiaks as it has the same color glass and to my eyes, it seems to fit nicely in the descending order of lengths, 64", 60", 56" & 52".

However, I make reference to it in either manner mentioned above.

Trap,

Although the 1960 EXP 52" 68# is my personal favorite individual Magnum bow...

1963 is my favorite year for the Kodiak Magnums.

Guess I find the 1963 Magnums interesting because they are so noticeably different than the other years of Magnums, which have remarkably similar shapes.

Awesome information guys. I have a 68   Okay and a   50th anniversary  kmag and they are both great shooting bows. Interesting what me Phillips said about how he has an early run of these bows. That's pretty  neat.

There is a Bear ad at archeryhistory.com that details the 1962 KMag, the only one I would own. I shoot mine with confidence at 30 inches because the ad lists max as 31. Larry Hatfield says the 3M Scotchply glass is the best bow glass he ever worked with.

Hey Dave, does your 62 KMag look anything like this?

Thanks Wade for talking about your 52" EXP 1960 or 1961. Either way, I'd say that's a pretty special Kodiak Mag.  

Have you ever seen film footage or pictures of Fred Bear shooting a Kodiak Magnum? I know in one of Fred's films, Bob Munger and I believe "Valiant Maid",boat captain, Ed  Bilderback were shooting crows with Kodiak Magnums.