I missed an opportunity to purchase a Kodiak Magnum in the 80's in Spokane, WA. Made an offer but it was not enough. And ever since I have been looking for my Bear Kodiak Magnum Bow. I have 2 now that came thru eBay. The short version of Fred Bear's bow is very light, elegant and simple in design. I like the brace height that Bear Archery recommends for their bows. Everyone tells you that the short bow (mine are 52 inches AMO) are better to use in tight corners, like stalking in the brush, ground blind or some tree stands. I just like the short bow, though I have never shot a 48 AMO Bear Kodiak Magnum. My 27 1/2 inch draw just does not make "pinching" a problem for me. Some persons with a 30 or 31 inch draw might have trouble with pinching of string and fingers on the release. The quality of the Kodiak Magnum is excellent in every one of these bows I have seen, nice wood and backing on the bows, with some interesting color combinations. But my favorite is the green colors for hunting. With the Kodiak, I do not feel I need to have a camoflage cover for hunting (even though in the 60's thru the 90's I did use such a camo cover for the limbs of my other bows). In my experience, the Kodiak has better cast, and velocity than other brands of recurves. Recurves do not shoot the same as a longbow. I feel that the recurve is easier to use and shoots a flat trajectory of the arrow more so than any longbow. And in my mind the Bear Kodiak Magnum is one of the best traditional recurve bows.Read full review
Mid 70's model. Great bow. I bought this bow because it is short and I will use in a blind and tree stand to hunt whitetail deer. I have already set up my blind and it is very easy to shoot this bow from inside the blind. I put on a new string and silencers, the bow is smooth and quiet. The bow is 52", so of course I will not compare it to my 60" custom. I have not shot any other bows this short to make a comparison. All I can tell you this short bow performs. The bow is also light and lays nice in the hand. Note: my draw length is 27", smooth and no stack.
I bought this bow to use in a blind or tree stand and because it has a more manageable bow weight. I have three Kodiak Magnums and the other two are 50# and 55# and are not as easy to shoot consistantly because of my progressing arthritis and age. I have 8 bear recurves and a bear longbow and I can still shoot the 45# weights better than the 50-65#ones. Any recurve bow less than 52inches seems to stack up badly when you have a 30inch draw and the Bear Kodiak is about as good as it gets. The auction price was another contributing factor because lately prices on these bows have become unreasonable in my opinion.
Excellent recurve for hunting and pure beauty! This bow may be one of the finest recurves ever made. Short and smooth. Excellent craftsmanship ! A must have for any recurve enthusiasts collection. I am a professional compound archer ( 20 years) and have always had an interest in recurves as well.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
i bought this bow cause i am intrigued w old recurve bows ..especially bear bows ..i am very excited to find one like this in pristine condition for $125.00 ..i havent set it up or shot it yet but i did also find some port oxford cedar arrows on e-bay also..i will be deer hunting with this bow next & will be extremely proud of any size deer i get with primitive weaponry! if you dont believe me ..try bow hunting !! fred bear used this kind of bow almost exclusively on his exotic hunts over the world & i am always excited to read about his exploits!!
This is my favorite hunting bow. With only 43# this bow has mucho power and can be held back in a draw while finding my shot. Very quiet, smooth and accurate.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Great bows, with lasting quality and craftsmanship in an old Bear product you cant go wrong. My 12 year old son and I both have Kodiak Magnums and love them. They are a bit trickier in my opinion to get down but once you do you cant beat the size and shootability of the Magnum.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Thank you so much, it's not easy to come across a Bear bow in Sweden, finally I can add a Kodiak Magnum to my collection. Thank you Sir
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
I got a second hand Is a bow that has a smooth accuracy when shooting And very fun shooting
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
The Bear Recurves have defined the shape of modern hunting recurves. Even used ones, thirty years old or more, are often perfectly serviceable. If you consider bidding on one, ask if the limbs are twisted or if there are stress lines. Slight stress lines are not a problem, though. But remember that an old Bear is not designed for Fast Flight strings. Use dacron! And no ultralight carbon arrows either! This is a hunting bow designed for wooden arrows with broadheads, so you can use carbon, but stick to the heavy, sturdy shafts. These bows are accurate, fast, and because of their little mass and forgiving geometry seem to almost follow moving targets.