History Lesson: The Bear Tamerlane

[Mohawk]

Dang interesting read Kirk! I'd never heard of the Bear Tamerline before you started in on them, now I'm rapidly gaining interest!

Thanks, Jim. I'm just getting warmed up.
I had never heard of a Tamerlane either until someone over on Archery Talk brought it up a few years back. The more I read, the more I became intrigued up to the point at which I knew I had to have one, and found the HC-300 on eBay 2 years ago.

So then, that's how this works huh?

[Captainkirk]

So then, that's how this works huh?

Bingo.

[Captainkirk]

1966 Tamerlane

Pretty much the same as the '65 model, Brazilian rosewood with high density caps, available in the same 3 lengths; 63, 65 and 69" AMO with draw weights from 25 to 50 pounds at 28". While sighting options remained the same, you could now order an optional 'pistol grip' handle. Laminates this year could be ordered in black/white/black or medium brown/white/medium brown. Flush mounted standing bear brass medallion, creamy white limbs. Serial number prefix began with "6"

1966 Bear Tamerlane...Google Images

[Captainkirk]

1967 Tamerlane

1967 (the "Summer of Love", remember, all you hippies?) was a year of developments for the Tamerlane line. This year, risers were available in Brazilian rosewood or the new 'blonde' model in Michigan hard-rock maple, both with the dark high-density caps. The 'Blondie' is a real stunner if you like light woods. Another difference was the available lengths; the Rosewood version was available in 66, 69 and the new "Daddy Longlegs" 72" AMO lengths with draw weights remaining at 25-50# at 28". The 'Blondie' version was only available in the 66" AMO length. New for this year were the 'Action Core' limbs. Sighting options remained the same as did the flush standing bear medallion. Limbs remained a creamy white color and sight options stayed the same. There was also a new inertial stabilizer available as well. Overlays were available in black/white/black. Serial number ranges began with 7B, or 7F for the 66" versions.

1967 Blonde Tamerlane-credit Google Images

[Captainkirk]

1968 Tamerlane

NOTE: While the basic Tamerlane model was built through 1970, my information source stops listing anything past the 1968 version as far as details go. I will attempt to track down this info and edit the thread as I go

The 1968 Tamerlane had many of the same options such as sighting options and draw weights, however, wood combinations were again Michigan hard-rock maple with rosewood caps (blonde) or East Indian rosewood and African bubinga. Again, the blonde version was only available in the 66" version while the rosewood version was available in 66, 69, and 72" AMO versions. Limbs were creamy white with black/white/black laminates. The medallion was again flush mounted and was the brass standing bear. Serial number ranges began with 8b, 8E (69") 8F (66") and 8D (72").

No image available at this time

[Captainkirk]

1969 Tamerlane

(to be updated as information becomes available)

[Captainkirk]

1970 Tamerlane

(to be updated as information becomes available)

[Captainkirk]

PART III-The High Compression HC-30

The HC (high compression) series bows were introduced in 1965 with the exorbitant price of $175.00...no paltry sum back in those days. They featured a new riser made of a high-compression phenolic (Formica) to increase mass weight, reduce hand shock, and to offer a sight window that was cut 1/8" beyond center.


1965 HC-30
The 1965 HC-30 Tamerlane featured a Formica riser. It was available in 66 and 69" AMO lengths with draw weight range 25-50# @ 28". The Bear brush rest and nylon arrow plate came as standard equipment with optional Premier bow sight. Limbs were a cream white, the overlays were black/white with black tips. Serial number ranges began with 5C or 5D.

1965 HC-30 "Black Beauty"; credit-Google Images




1966 HC-30

The 1966 HC-30 was much the same as the '65, with the addition of a 63" AMO bow that year, and the option to choose from the standard or pistol grip handle. Serial number runs began with a 6A prefix for 69" bows, and 6B for the 66" versions. Limbs were cream white with black/white/black tips.

1966 Bear HC-30 Tamerlane; credit-Google Images





1967 HC-30

The 1967 HC-30 touted some improvements like Action Core limbs, and the new Quick Connect inertial stabilizer. The Bear Premier sight is now standard equipment though it can be ordered with the plate and brush rest or with neither. Available AMO lengths for this year's models were
66, 69, and 72 inches. Serial prefixes for these models were 7B (66"), 7E (69"), and 7D (72"). Limbs were cream white with black/white/black tips.

1967 HC-30 with case, sling, and Premier bow sight; credit-Google Images

[Captainkirk]

PART IV- The High Compression HC-300

Much as the HC-30 with it's all Formica (phenolic) riser was drop-dead gorgeous (IMHO), the HC-300 took it a step further, melding the Formica handle with gorgeous rosewood caps beginning in 1968, replacing and superseding the short-lived HC-30 (1965-1967). Dropping the all-phenolic riser meant shedding pounds as well, the HC-300 weighed in substantially less than it's predecessor, and Bear claimed it to be faster, smoother, and more stable as well. This was to be the King of target bows in it's time, and lived up to the reputation.

1968 HC-300

The '68 HC-300 was available in AMO 66,69 or 72" lengths and like it's forebears (pun intended) was available in draw weights from 25-50# at 28". The Bear Premier sight was now standard equipment along with the brush rest and adjustable arrow plate and also included a quick connect for the optional Bear stabilizers. The limbs were still cream white and the riser had the standing bear brass medallion flush mounted. Limb tips were black/white with black tips. The riser was Formica with rosewood caps. Serial number prefixes were as follows; 8C (66") 8A (72") 8D (72") and 8B (69"). The upper belly limb now bore the distinctive "Tamerlane HC-300" silkscreen.

Tamerlane silkscreen; Captainkirk photo



1969 HC-300

Here's one I know a little about...
The 1969 HC-300 featured Fascor treated limb cores with cream white limbs, phenolic riser with rosewood caps, standard equipment Bear Premier bow sight complete with Bear brush rest and adjustable nylon arrow plate, or it could be ordered with just the sight window plate, arrow plate and brush rest as an option. Available draw weights were still between 25 and 50# at 28" and available AMO lengths were 63, 66, 69, or 72 inches. The bushing was installed on the frnt of the riser for the Bear Omni-coupler stabilizer (optional). The brass standing bear coin was still flush mounted on the riser, and tip overlays were black/white with black tips. Serial number prefixes were 9L (63") 9B (69") and 9C (66"). There is no designation listed for the 72" bow in my reference source but one would assume it would be 9(X) with the X being different from the other three letter designations this year (L, B, C). (My HC-300 bears the designation 9B and is a 69" AMO bow.) The 1969 HC-300 was considered the pinnacle of tournament bow achievement at the time.

HC-300 showing the optional window sight plate, brush rest and nylon arrow plate-Captainkirk photos



Close-up of the sight window plate. While the phenolic appears green due to the flash, it is black in color



Close-up of the serial number, prefix "9B" denoting year of manufacture (1969) and AMO length (B=69")

[Captainkirk]

1970 HC-300

The 1970 HC-300 featured a riser of brown and black Futurewood, available in AMO lengths of 63, 66 and 70 inches. The overlay was black with cream white limbs and the brass standing bear coin. Serial number prefix on the 70" version began with KA-. Draw weights were standard in 25-50#. New for this year was a magnetic retractable arrow rest and an optional Bear-Jeffrey Omnni bowsight.


1971 HC-300

The 1971 Tamerlane came available in only 2 AMO lengths; 66 and 70". It featured a Futurewood riser, cream white limbs, overlays were black/white with black tips. This year featured the nickel silver standing bear medallion flush-mounted, and draw weights were the same 25-50# standard. Serial number prefixed were (again) KA- for the 70" version and KC-for the 66" version.