- Serial Number Lookup For Guns
- Fred Bear Bow Serial Numbers
- Fred Bear Bow Serial Number Lookup
- Bear Recurve Serial Numbers
- Bear Bow Serial Number Lookup
You can also shop for a vintage Fred Bear bow, whether you are looking for something from the 1950s, 1960s, or the 1970s. Other Fred Bear Archery items include archery books, patches, and collector's items that are hand signed by Fred Bear.
- Fred Bear Signature Quiver with Mounting Bracket 7 Arrow Capacity+$31.58 shippingMake Offer - Fred Bear Signature Quiver with Mounting Bracket 7 Arrow Capacity
- Bear Archery Limited Edition Kodiak Custom 50# RH Take down 243/250 Recurve Bow+$76.95 shippingMake Offer - Bear Archery Limited Edition Kodiak Custom 50# RH Take down 243/250 Recurve Bow
- $79.995d 3hMake Offer - Fred Bear Cross Bow Signature Line
- Bear Archery Takedown Hunter Recurve Bow Right Hand 60' & 65#+$79.00 shippingMake Offer - Bear Archery Takedown Hunter Recurve Bow Right Hand 60' & 65#
- FRED BEAR Signature Line 7 Arrow Bow Quiver Olive Green No Mounting Bracket+$28.51 shippingMake Offer - FRED BEAR Signature Line 7 Arrow Bow Quiver Olive Green No Mounting Bracket
- Fred Bear 2019 Cruzer G2 Spark Bow Shadow Left Hand Package 5-70# 12-30'+$85.00 shippingMake Offer - Fred Bear 2019 Cruzer G2 Spark Bow Shadow Left Hand Package 5-70# 12-30'
- $32.99Make Offer - Fred Bear Signature Line Quiver
- Vintage Fred Bear Glass Powdered Polar Recurve Bow A NE411 64” 45# Leather Wrap+$40.17 shippingMake Offer - Vintage Fred Bear Glass Powdered Polar Recurve Bow A NE411 64” 45# Leather Wrap
- Fred Bear Module #8 RH 2C-6500 Truth 2 Done Deal 28' Game Over Lights Out 29'+$34.85 shippingMake Offer - Fred Bear Module #8 RH 2C-6500 Truth 2 Done Deal 28' Game Over Lights Out 29'
- Fred Bear 2019 Cruzer G2 Bow Muddy Girl Camo RH - Full Package 5-70# 12-30'+$85.00 shippingMake Offer - Fred Bear 2019 Cruzer G2 Bow Muddy Girl Camo RH - Full Package 5-70# 12-30'
- Fred Bear 2019 Cruzer G2 Bow Moonshine Wildfire RH - Full Package 5-70# 12-30'+$85.00 shippingMake Offer - Fred Bear 2019 Cruzer G2 Bow Moonshine Wildfire RH - Full Package 5-70# 12-30'
- Red Bear Dual Shelf Recurve Long Bow Fred Grayling MI LH/RH 50' Cub Youth+$59.15 shippingMake Offer - Red Bear Dual Shelf Recurve Long Bow Fred Grayling MI LH/RH 50' Cub Youth
There are several features and changes that were made to the bear bows over the years that will help narrow the age of your bow or your potential investment.
1. The Serial Number: These bows usually have, what appears to be a hand inscription on one of the limbs that gives a serial number along with the length and pull weight of the bow. This serial number works very well for dating Bear Bows from 1965-1969 when the first digit of the serial number is the year of manufacture.
For example, a serial number of 5L212 would be a 1965 Bow.
Prior to 1965, the serial numbers for all Bear bows were started over every month, making these bows almost impossible to date by serial number alone. The 'K' series of serial numbers (for example KZ9672) were started in 1970.
2. Patent Mark: Most of the BEAR Bows we have sold have the logo and the US Patents printed on it along with the date of CANADA 1953. This date that is printed on all bows made between 1953 and 1972 is simply the date of the patent for a working recurve limb and has nothing to do with the actual model year.
3. Decals & Silkscreening: In 1948 the small Running Bear decal was first and then was replaced by the large Standing Bear decal in mid-1953. The large Standing Bear decal also has the words 'Glass Powered Bow' under the Standing Bear.
The large Standing Bear decal was used until 1955 when it was replaced with silk-screening the identification on the bows. By 1956 the silk-screening appeared on all bows.
4. All Wood vs Laminate: If your bow is ALL wood (no laminations of any kind) then your bow had to be made before the mass productions beginning in 1949.- If the ALL wood bow has a stamp that reads 'Bear Products' in some form it would have been made before the early to mid 40's.
- If it is stamped 'Bear Archery' it would have been made AFTER the early-mid 40's and BEFORE 1949.
- Also wooden bows with a small 'Running Bear' decal can be dated to 1948
6. The Coin Medallion: Beginning in 1959 all Bear bows had a coin medallion of one type of metal or another. Below are the approx date ranges for the type of coin used.
Copper Coin – 1959
Aluminum - 1960-1961
Pewter – 1962
Brass - 1963 – 1970
Nickel-Silver - 1971-1972
ALL coins were flush with the wood until 1972. In late 1972 the coin was raised above the surface of the bow and came in both gold and chrome covered plastic and are still used in Bear bows today.
7. Manufacturer Location: in 1978 Bear moved all manufacturing and offices to Gainesville, Florida. If your bow shows Gainesville on it then it was made after 1978
8. Model Of The Bow: Check the Model of the bow. Below is a yearly production chart for the most popular Bear Bows.
Wood Handle Take-Down 1969-1972
Wood C-Riser Victor Custom 1973-1975
Magnesium Handle Take-Down A-B-C 1971-1978
Kodiak Static Recurve 1950-1953
Kodiak Recurve 1954-1966
Serial Number Lookup For Guns
Super Kodiak 1967-1976
Grizzly Static Recurve 1949-1957
Grizzly Recurve 1958-1978
Super Magnum 48 1966-1976
Kodiak Magnum 52' 1961-1977
Kodiak Hunter 58' and 60' 1967-1977
Tamerlane 1962-1968
Tamerlane HC-30 1965-1967
Tamerlane HC-300 1968-1972
Kodiak Special 1955-1967
Temujin 1968-1970
Tarter 1968-1972
Victor Patriot 1973-1977
Victor 1972
Polar (recurve) 1957-1970
Alaskan (leather grip semi-recurve) 1959-1961
Alaskan (recurve) 1966-1970
Fred Bear Bow Serial Numbers
Tigercat 1964-1978Bearcat 1964-1971