It is marked Damon Howatt, Hunter, 50# at 28” draw, with 62” limbs, serial number HH41221. The H's are written with a flourish, and it is possible that the 4 is an H as well. Which would indicate HHH 1221 as the serial number. Mar 21, 2005 The bow has a brass coin and the serial # is 8R3397. I found info on the net saying that a brass coin and that serial number means it was made in 1968. I'm hoping someone here can tell me if that is the case, if not, what year was it made?
A compound bow uses cams and pulleys to assist with the bow's draw. This is helpful as it makes the draw easier than a traditional recurve bow on the draw, preventing fatigue during hunts or target shooting. If you are shopping for a used compound bow or have other needs for knowing the year the bow was produced in, find this information on the bow's serial number sticker or etching. If you cannot decipher the information use a tested method to pinpoint the year of the bow in question.
Read the serial number stamp. Most stamps are found near the bow's lens, more commonly referred to as the handle or grip. If the lettering is small, or etched onto the handle, use a magnifying glass to read it.
Look for any lines indicating date of production. Some compound bows use an encoded serial number to provide the date. For example, Martin Archery uses a code for the serial number that is similar to an auto vehicle identification number (VIN). If you have a serial number with no date, write down the number or take a picture of the stamp.
Find the maker of the compound bow and email the picture or serial number to the company, asking for a confirmation on the bow's year of production. Lists of compound bow makers are found at websites such as Hunter's Friend.
Check a Bear bow (the name of the maker) for a series of different criteria to determine its age. Bear bows have been in production for decades and use a slightly different method of dating the bows. Among the criteria are medallions stamped onto the grip. Copper coins indicate a bow from 1959. Aluminum coins were used for the years between 1960 through 19661 while pewter was used for 1962. Brass coin medallions are on the bows from 1963 through 1970 and gold medallion coins are on Bear bows from 1971 through 1972.
Find any patent marks on the bows. Patent marks are represented with the year the patent was issued and are useful in determining the age of compound bows. Like all markings, find patent marks on the serial number stamp near the lens.
- Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images
Bear Recurve Bow Serial Numbers
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
Bear Kodiak Recurve Bow Serial Numbers
Nickel-Silver - 1971-1972ALL 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
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
Tigercat 1964-1978
Bearcat 1964-1971
Black Bear 1972-1978
Little Bear 1965-1978
With this information you should be able to get really close to dating your Bear Bow if not pin-pointing it to the year.