How do I date my Dammon Howatt Super Diablo. I am pretty sure is is a late 70's bow. ESD 1235

With a 1 at the beginning of the serial number it is not a late anything bow...the 1 is the last digit of the year of manufacture...if your basic idea is right it would be a 1981 bow...they are well known for blowing up for no reason and should be sold to people like me who will hang them on the wall and just admire them...you can trust me...I play a Doctor on television, ask anyone on the Wall...well other than Mr. Stout who knows better...oh yeah and a whole bunch of other people too...okay so just enjoy shooting a sometimes underrated bow...Larry Hatfield sometimes posts here, the man designed and built those bows, and he is clearly one of the best bow designers ever to walk the planet

DDave

Something 1.... could be any decade without a pic!

I will take one. It is the Zebra wood riser with the gray action wood stripe through it. It also has the black and white accents on the rear of the handle.

I 'd say 1981 ... I had a couple of those. Nice bows!

Here is a bunch of pics. This bow shoots awsome! Do they really blow up? What year guys?

More like '91 if it's a Zebrawood model.

Just kidding about them blowing up...kind of a standard joke we use on here when we know someone is not going to sell us a great bow...one of the most bullet proof bows ever built...pass it along to your grandchildren...that is not only zebrawood, that is a bunch of really nice zebrawood, both riser and limb veneers

DDave

I have heard nothing but good about he pre martin diablos. I have been admiring this bow for sometime, and if finally got it. I am a longbow guy, and could never find a recurve I really like untill I shot this super diablo a few months ago. It is 60" 60#@28". I draw 26.5" It darts my 60-65 Douglas fir tapered arrows with 225 tips with serious authority! I think it might have to go hunting with me this fall!

I know! It is in awsome shape! And pretty! I like me some deep grained wood.

Is there a website that I can go on to find out? I am coming up empty

1991

Larry posted here that the SD was made from 66-79 in Rosewood and stopped . Then the SD was started again in 85 until 94 with Zebrawood. He then redesigned it in 95 and made again till 99. The new Martin Archery started making them again after Larry retired, but, that may be a redesign again. So, there should not be a 1981 SD if his statement is correct.

So, it appears that it is an original 1991. It does have the black and white on handle, so it is not a Martin.

Right?

I think it is a 91 . But I have a 91 that does not follow the guidelines. It was supposed to be one of Gail Martin's personal bows. A 1991 Rosewood custom bow. Rosewood riser with white trim and the limbs are black glass. I originally thought it was made in 2001 or possibly 2010 by the serial number. Also, it only says Martin on it not Howatt. And yours only says Howatt? Interesting. .

I had one just like it and made the mistake of selling it. It is definitely a martin and like you said, it would shoot a very fast arrow. I shot all the way through my first bear with mine.The zebrawood is gorgeous.

My bow is identical to yours. Mine is a '93 model. It says Damon Howatt on the sticker. Everyone that has handled and shot my bow has wanted it. I was almost foolish enough to sell it once, but I have since come to my senses! Great bow! Fast, quiet and accurate.

So the 90's are pre martin? When did martin take over?

Howatt almost always made the bows even after Martin bought Howatt . I think that was in about 1976. Howatt still makes the Bows for Martin. When I mentioned the new Martin, the company was sold in 2012 or 13 after Gail Martin Died. But Howatt still makes the Traditional bows for Martin. Sorry for any confusion. I think Martin did actually make some bows before 76, but not certain about that. Martin did their name put on many of the Howatt bows in the late 80"s and for a while thereafter.

Martin bought Howatt in about 1976. From that time on any Martin or Howatt traditional bow was built in the Yakima factory by the same bowyers. In addition, the Howatt factory at one time I have HEARD (don't know it to be true) made many of the compound limbs.

Gail Martin was involved in archery as far back as the '40's, but started the business about 1961 I believe.

I have the same bow as yours in 60lb. and it is my "workin" bow now that I have retired my Groves Spitfire.

I've owned 5 Super Ds, including 2 of the Zebrawood models. All absolutely awesone bows! I do personally prefer the Rosewood ones, but that's really just a cosmetic preference. They all shoot fantastic.

well, I love this one.

I agree yours is of 1991 Martin/DH production. The Howatt archery plant had been under Martin ownership since 1976 as already mentioned. Damon Howatt retired in 1962 after selling to Bob Paisley & died in 1965 following an automobile crash. Martin's traditional line of bows continued to be made & DH Branded at the old Howatt plant until 2013 when Martin closed. I bought my 1st SD in 1972.

The former Howatt Plant in Yakima, Washington and the coresponding DH logo was closed/phased out towards the end when Martin moved everything to Walla Walla about 2011.

Great looking bow. Have always wanted to get my hands on one and try it out. Regards.

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