Ooooh, the 50's recurve! Good question. They are really collectors and tough to find in the mid fifty pound range. The '57 Bear Kodiak is the King of all hunting bows, and not just the 50's bow. Everyone tried to copy it and, as has been posted, people still are. The '57 kodiak is light, fast, and efficient. I own a 60" 55#er and a 64" 58#er...killed two does and a buck with them this year. Check out my posts in the field journals and you can see some cool kills from carp to deer if you are interested. They are a pleasure to hold and really ahead of thier time. The rests on the kodiak come down nearly on your hand (desirable of course) and the riser is light...a bad thing, however, for the forgivness of the bow. The '57 Kodiak was the first or most center cut designed bow for more true arrow flight and "down the middle" arrow flight performance. I buy them to use them, but most just collect them I guess. The Kadiak and such are good replicas from what I believe, but if you want a true investment for your money the the absolute best recurve bow ever made, pick up a Robertson Peregrine Recurve. They are modeled after the '57 Kodiak, with a little more limb-tip recurve. The purest and most efficient recurve ever made, period. Check out his website at:
www.robertsonstykbow.com
You can pick up an original '57 Bear Kodiak in the 50-55 pound range for around $280-$350 bucks on ebay if you can ever find one. I looked for 2 years. The '59 Kodiak (different handle section)is supposedly the most sought after and go for well over a grand though. '58's are virtually the same bow with a little more belly and can be more affordable and will shoot the same as the almight '57. I you don't care to collect, wait for a Robertson Peregrine...they bring from $250-500 used and depending on age and will probably give you more shooting life. Any age is good, the newer are just fancier and the older can't use fastflight. Who needs that FF anyway. His new Peregrines sell for over $750. Stickbow.com usually has the most Robertson's.
Have fun and good luck. Shoot one if you can. If you are ever in NE Montana, look me up and you can shoot one of mine if you feel like it. We'll chase some arrows!
Luke Strommen