How rare are Little bears?

[Rick P]

Saw a little bear on a auction site that looks just like it's bigger brother. Good looking wood not a fiber glass stick just 48" long and 20#. I would love to have one of these for my son but money is tight and he's only 2, if I wait, will I see another of these before he's say 5?

[Blackhawk]

I'm actually surprised we do not see more for sale considering the user outgrows them quickly.  They are cute little bows, but their rarity may be because the production numbers were low.

Prices I have seen are pretty high...say $100-150, about the same as a Grizzly. However, a good clean one at that price will keep its value.

[Waterhole-Ike]

The Little Bear Recurve is not rare except in certain configurations. Because Bear Archery didn't waste anything they would use the small pieces of the exotic woods that were left over from the production runs of their larger models and use them as risers in the production of the Little Bear model. That's why you will find them with risers made of rosewood, bubinga, zebrawood, etc. Bear also used up the left over pieces of colored fiberglass so you will find different colored glass on their lower end models. You should have no problem finding your son a Little Bear when that time comes. They usually sell for around $100.00 for the ones with maple risers.  Keep in mind that other manufacturers also made scaled down bows for kids. Wing Archery made the "Little Wing" and Browning also produced a nice kids bow, who's model name escapes me at the moment.

[Horney Toad]

I have one and have seen a lot of them on auction. There are 3 on the bay right now.

[Earl E. Nov...mber]

Rick,
My grand kids have not out grown my "Little Bear" but they have out grown the little Long Bow I have for them.
Shoot me a me if you are interested.

[wadde]

Darton also made one and they were every bit as good if not better then the little bear or wing. Be patient.

[Shleprock]

I have bought several off the auction site. The cheapest being $40 the most $80. 15# or 20# you can get in good shootable condition around $60 to $80. The odd weights like 12,16,and 18# along with the nicer woods are easily $100 plus. I have seen a mint rosewood go for over $200.

[Shleprock]

I met a man named Ken Heck who used to own 2 archery shops near St. Louis who said he would give them away to the kids when their dad bought a bow. He said he used to get them in by the case. $9 each.

[wadde]

There is a Darton Dart on that site now #270286363436

[Rick P]

Earl thanks very much but Gunther is only 2 (or will be 11-02-08) and I think I'll wait till he's a touch older, might even make his first bow myself.

Wadde thanks! The Darton is really nice as well, also saw a mini Pearson at my freinds shop that was really cool.

[D.Sheppard]

Just picked this one up from another site for $75.00. 16#@24" I think its a "65" if the Bear dating rules apply to Little Bears.

[Jon Stewart]

Anyone know the story on the Little Bears that have the nylon peg that goes thru the riser so you can shoot of either side of the bow instead of have a shooting shelf.  I bought one from a guy on this site last year not knowing it was made like  this.  Its  in top notch shape but I would have bought it if I would have known about the shooting peg. The grandkid didn't care as much as I did.

[PAPALAPIN]

I picked up a 20# for the new neighbor kid to get him started. It was about $60.00 including shipping.

Watch e8ay.  They are on there all the time.  Depending on the weight, the condition, the riser wood, and how many are bidding, I have seen them go from $40.00 to $150.

Other brands have semilar models.  Pearson had the Bronco and the Maverick.  Darton had the Scout.

Bottom line in my opinion is that when buying a starter bow for a child, is there a point of spending big bucks for something that he is destined to outgrow soon.

Get the cheapest bow you can get that is a solid shooter.

Just my thoughts