ok, finally got around to digging the Traditional Bowhunter mag, April/May 2004 issue. the article titled 'A Look at the Grayling Bears - part 1' states the following.
Kodiak Special (1955-1967) Introduced in 1955, the Kodial Special was Bear's first "tourament-grade" bow. by '59... with white glass backing and rosewood inthe riser.
inside the same article there is a section 'How old is that Bear?"
i am not going to type the whole thing but parts I think will be of interest.
'Beware "1953".Often you'll see bows advertised as "1953 Vintage!" Well, not so fast. In 1953 Fred Bear was awarded a Canadian patent for the working recurve limb. All bows made between 1953 and 1972 bore the Canada 1953 patent label: this label simply refers to the patent date, and does not necessarily mean the bow was made in 1953.
Coin Medallions: All Grayling bows had inlaid coin medallions from 1959 to 1972. late 72, switched to metal plated plastic which sat on the surface of the bow.
coin material:
copper - 1959
aluminum - 60-61
pewter - '62
brass '63 thru '70
nickel silver - 71-72
Serial numbers for many Grayling bow aren't much help. Two rules do pertain, however.
Bows made between '65 and '69 had serial numbers beginning with the last digit of the model year. for example, a serial number of 6U4512 indicates a bow made in 1966.
beginning in '70, serial numbers began with the letter K.
