I am hoping that Mr. Larry Hatfield sees this post. I recently acquired two old Howatts. The first is an Eldorado Diablo with Conquistador Label Number is DE 35369. Stamped draw weight is 48#. Bow braces at 7" with a 54" actual length string and is 58" measured across the belly. Two tone riser with vertical double stripe separations. Limbs are a gray-brown translucent glass. I think this is a 1950's bow from other posts I reviewed. Second bow is a 62" Howatt Hunter Ne Plus Ultra. Numbers on top of sight window above rest are 62" then below that is HM 66004 and 55# stamped below that number. It has what looks like rosewood additions on the belly side of the riser above and below grip. Limbs are dark red on the belly and black on the back. I think this is either a 1959 or 1960 and may have been the first year the Hunter was produced. I am hoping Mr. Hatfield can narrow down the date of manufacture, who the bowyers might have been, the wood and glass used and any other interesting facts about the bows that he always comes up with.

Another pic

Another view

The Hunter...

Second pic of the Hunter...

Riser of the Hunter...

Last one...

Forgot to post a picture of the label on the Eldorado Diablo..

the eldorado is mid fifties. the bowyer was darwin baldridge. the hunter is a little newer, around 1960 give or take a couple of years . bowyer should be jim hook. nice finds! they look in great shape.

Thank you very much for the reply and info Larry. They are in great condition. Hunter had a sight so two small holes in back of the riser and a few small scuffs. Elodorado looks like it was hardly ever used. The label on the Hunter is barely visible as it seems to blend in with the red glass. I thought it might be a Mamba Hunter due to the HM letters in the serial number but the label says Hunter. What is the wood used in the risers and riser overlays and why was the glass that colour in the Diablo? I am really pleased to have found them as I really like the design and craftmanship of the DH bows and wanted to see how they early predecessors of shot in comparison to the later models I have. ( 1973 Hi-Speed, 1986 Mamba and a 1992 Hunter.) I am going to shoot the Diablo this week (can't wait!) and I am waiting on a string from Barry Hughes for the other. I needed to order a 57" as I measured the bow and it's 61". Thanks once again for your help and info. Peter

Nice looking old bows.

Enjoy.

Thanks Buzz...can't believe how small and light the Diablo is in the hand...lucky that two bows of that vintage appeared in the last couple of months.

the diablo glass had a paper color layer on the exterior. underneath it is bone color. yuo can almost rub the color layer off with a finger. very fragile. the mamba name was a leader name that had a modifier sometimes, like the "mamba hunter".

Thanks so much again Larry...I really enjoy getting these details from someone who built these wonderful bows...we're all very fortunate and grateful that you're willing to take the time to share your knowledge and experience.

I look at these as more than just bows...they're important historic items of great cultural value.

Forgot to ask about the starting brace height on each bow...I usually start high then lower it until I get vibration or erratic arrow flight then twist back up.

Nice to know a starting point...the Diablo sounds pretty good right now at 7" by using the "string pluck" method...shooting it tomorrow night at our indoor range.

6 1/2- 7 1/2 from the pivot point in the grip should have you right there.

Those are two beauties, for sure. Here's my old Hunter (currently on loan to Jack 3006); at 40# draw, it could be the little brother of yours! But it has the same brown paper layer on the limbs as your Diablo... and a red Ne Plus Ultra decal. All three of these bows have way more soul than most!

I agree with the soul content Kerry! The have it in spades! That's a nice bow!

What is the number on yours?

It looks to be a transition between the two models I have as the laminations on the riser are not as prominent but it has the brown glass...does the Ne Plus Ultra decal say it's a Hunter or Mamba Hunter? Mine was very hard to read as it blends with the glass.

More pics would be interesting but likely difficult as it's on loan...

I went to our outdoor range and shot the Diablo today...what a tack driver! Ended up at a brace height of 7 1/4"...no silencing on the bow but it was still very quiet.

Shoots fast and flat with no hand shock'despite its light weight. Very impressive that a bow this old is still 100% serviceable

Hah, luckily I have about a million pictures of all my bow "children" somewhere in this computer of mine... and here's the one! Looks like it was the same bowyer; first digit is a 6 in each of our bows. The label on mine just says "Hunter", but I always wondered if that "HM" wasn't hinting at "Mamba." And I agree; it feels almost exactly halfway between your two. Maybe we should add it to your family when (and if) I get it back!

I haven't yet figured out all of the aesthetic variables that make one bow look sweeter to me than another... but whatever they are, this one has them all; it just always seemed to glow whenever I looked at it. I think it's coming home someday, but I told Jack to keep it as long as it helps him come back from his injuries. For all we know he's terrorizing those Georgia deer with it now.

Whoops... here's that picture...

Nice.

crookedstick, your bow was likely made by t.j.stewart. he was the main bowyer back then, early to mid fifties. he was bill stewarts brother. bill worked for damon as a machinist at the time.

one of my hi-speeds has almost the same riser as Pdiddy's hunter.great shooting and quiet bow.

Nice Hi-Speed 2nocks...I really like my '73!

This is very interesting to see the design evolution...the Diablo actually has similar riser design to all of the later bows, minus the prominent darker wood "bump" laminations on the belly of the riser. It does have laminations though, but they're not that pronounced. The riser shape is formed from the belly side riser wood lamination...the Diablo is a 58" bow, like the Hi-Speed and Mamba...Peter

Mr Hatfield, thank you for always helping people out with their Damon Howatt and Martin inquiries. We are lucky to have you available. ~ joe marrier

An emphatic X2 to Joe's comment...Larry Hatfield's knowledge and history bring these wonderful creations to life...the provenance of an object and its design to fulfill a purpose is what brings wood and fibreglass to life...everytime Mr. Hatfield weighs in we learn a great deal that we discuss and share, continuing an oral history that is the foundation of our passion for traditional archery!

Joe and Pdiddly, Agree.

I'm dredging this thread back up because today I received yet another old Howatt that looks similar to the ones previously discussed here. This one's a Hi-Speed; it has that same cherry and rosewood riser detailing in the riser-- a look that I just love!

This one feels like it might be as late as a '62, mostly because of the mint green decal with weight info hand-written on the limbs, rather than in the sight window... but I'd welcome anything Larry Hatfield could tell me about it. If it really is a '62, then maybe that also means it has that nice 3M fiberglass in it...

Here's that serial number and weight info... the seller told me it was a 55# draw weight! Guess that writing on the riser--42# @ 28"-- was just too cryptic to decipher, LOL!

Here's the other side of the riser-- looks like it spent some time in the attic; the leather pieces are all curled up and bone-dry. I think I'll give it a bit of fresh air this afternoon!

I'd throw this one in the garbage. It's a great draw weight for you, as you have such a long draw, but the holes from that sight ruin it. It must be undefiled to be considered for my collection. Of course, I only have the best.

Joe

Now wait just a minute... I paid an extra $40 for that sight, just based on its scrap metal value, LOL! How dare you defame it, sir!

I defame all bows with holes drilled in them. They're not up to Grail standards.

Joe

A bow with a hole is more holey than a bow without one.

HOLEY BOW!! Kerry has a bow that is truly Holey! I have some holey bows too.

I feel truly blessed...

Good looking Hi-Speed.

Enjoy.

I like the Cherry and Rosewood combo as well. Very handsome/sharp contrast. I'll bet they shoot as good as they look.

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