My stars aligned just right today while at stopping at the mail box today. The ole guy who lives across the road was picking up his mail. Having seen practice butts out behind his place I asked if his grandson was still shooting. He tells that it was a visiting nephew, and asked if I shot a bow, and when I said yes I do, he asks if I'd like another bow? Well, Yeah!! So in a few minutes he comes back and hands me a well used Damon Howatt Hi Speed 58" 50#s @ 28". Thanks! Need lots of TLC and a string, doesn't appear to have any twisted limbs, got a verticle crack below the stabilizer bushing. What string length does it want? What brace height? Read a post that said 7". It has a curved accent stripe, black glass, and the drawn bow decal. Did a search and similar bows are 73 ish, that about right?

My stars aligned just right today while at stopping at the mail box today. The ole guy who lives across the road was picking up his mail. Having seen practice butts out behind his place I asked if his grandson was still shooting. He tells that it was a visiting nephew, and asked if I shot a bow, and when I said yes I do, he asks if I'd like another bow? Well, Yeah!! So in a few minutes he comes back and hands me a well used Damon Howatt Hi Speed 58" 50#s @ 28". Thanks! Need lots of TLC and a string, doesn't appear to have any twisted limbs, got a verticle crack below the stabilizer bushing. What string length does it want? What brace height? Read a post that said 7". It has a curved accent stripe, black glass, and the drawn bow decal. Did a search and similar bows are 73 ish, that about right?

Sorry about the doubled text, just tried to add second pic.

Congratulations! Very nice bow. Most likely a 1974. Brace it around 7-3/8" and fiddle with it from there. My '72 has a very narrow throat on the grip and I like it a lot. Enjoy!

I think it is a 74,if I learned well on this site.

I am pretty sure that bow will be unsafe to shoot...how about you send it to me for some extensive testing over the next five years or so and then I will send it back to you if all is well...you can trust me...I pose as a Doctor on another site

DDave

Dave, thats the funest thing I've heard today, right after "hey would you like anotyher bow?"

It's a 1974...the curved stripe Hi-Speed was only made for around three years and the first number of the serial number is a 4 so that indicates the year...I have a 1973 that's a tack driver and very quiet...agree with Ambleman that the grip has a narrow throat that suits me too.

Here's a pic of mine...

Closeup of the riser...

Bought one in 1976, a 55#, 1975 model. Still have it. Every time I've thought of selling it, I couldn't seem to find anything that would serve me better. Now we have too many shared memories to part company.

Anyone know how long the string needs to be to reach a 7 1/2" brace? It sure has small tips, wanting to know how long to make the top loop, its got some deep hooks, how far down the limb will the top loop need to go to unstring the bow?

Elk, I have a Hi-Speed same weight and length. Probably the same year, the numbers on mine are HS41378. Mine takes a 53-1/2" string from end of loop to end of loop.

Don: My Hi-Speed likes a 7-3/4" brace. String length at that brace is 53-1/2", just like Robert's (his is indeed a 1974) and the top loop is 1-1/2"...plenty of room to slide down top limb 7-1/2" which lets you unstring the bow. I have a different string and silencers on my bow now than when the pic was taken...wool balls. You will really like this bow right from the first shot! One of my absolute favourites...quiet and quick! Peter

Don, I sent you a p.m.

Thanks guys. Ambleman and pdiddly, you guys are right,mine has a narrow throat as well, measured around it with a string, it's 5" exactly, my thumb overlaps my forefinger. Keefers, Thanks again, still can't find that site that you mentioned. Blessed Bowhunter, I wonder how many Hi Speeds did Damon Howatt make a year, your serial # HS41378 and mine HS41596 ( I think thats a 9 ) are 218 bows apart. How many folks have a 1974 Howatt Hi Speed? Theres five mentioned in this thread. You other guys care to chime in with your serial number? Really cleaned it yesterday, had a lot of years of grime on it. Sure is a pretty little thing! :)

Mine is HS 4951 OR COULD BE 4961 Very hard to figure out if my 5 is a 5 or a 6...My number is wayyyy lower then yours...Did they make that many a year?

[QUOTE]Very hard to figure out if my 5 is a 5 or a 6...My number is wayyyy lower then yours...[/QUOTE] I know what you mean, I'm guessing that is a 9 between the 5 and 6 in my hi Speed's number. Was you bow 635 or 45 bows before mine? If that only made 1600 a year, that would be around 134 Hi Speeds a month. How many differnt models did they make in 1974? How many years did Howatt make the Hi Speed?

Here's a quote from Larry Hatfield from another thread on when they built Hi-Speeds:

" We built the hispeed from 1958 until 1975. in 1958 they were made with walnut and had clear glass. from 1960-65 choice of wood and glass color from 1967-1975 they were bubinga and rosewood, (east indian), and black glass only."

They built the Hi-Speed in 54" and 58" lengths...of course the Damon Howatt company did not produce as many bows as Bear annually but I think production of 1600 bows of one model annually would be expected. Mr. Hatfield might wade in here and let us know.

BTW, the serial number on my 1973 is HS 3365, so 365th bow in 1973.It's 47#.

The 1975 Hi-Speeds and Hunters had a curved stripe riser as well...I think they look very classy.

Mine is HS 5019. Wonder how many were made that year?

Wit till you see the "Ultra" Hi- speeds Don...

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