It occurs to me that this year marks half a century since Damon Howatt's untimely death in 1965. You wonder... how many more classic designs might have come from the man if he had lived?

I know some of you have dozens of Howatts on the wall, but I thought it might be a nice way to reflect on the man and his bows by just telling about your ONE favorite Howatt-- whether you USED to have it, STILL have it... or know that you WILL have it one of these days.

Here's mine: an early 60's Monterey, with Hunter lines and Ventura styling, dark turquoise glass, and knife-edge sight window; and just about the tiniest tips you'd ever dare to put on a 52# bow.

The man may be gone, but he and his bows still cast a long shadow.

I'm one of the guys who has had many "favorite" Howatts;-). Mr Howatt and Mr Hattfield really came up with some special designs, that stand out in both aesthetics and performance. There's little mistaking the lines of a Damon Howatt/Hattfield design. Among my favorites are 1- The same as above (the 62"Monterey) 2- The Rosewood Super Ds 3- The early Hunters 4- and the Savannah There are myriad others that I have not shot but am sure are just as impressive. Just a great line that stands out in archery history for hunters, target archers and flight shooters alike.

Great topic Kerry and a very difficult question...which is my favourite Howatt?

At present I have eight in the herd...just sent a couple of the laminated maple riser models (late 80's-early 90's) to new owners...they were nice but when it came time to thin things out my older bows took preference.

The eight I have left are bows any archer would add to their collection-Hi-Speeds, Hunters, a Super Diablo and a lovely pre 1960 Palomar.

But the bow that gets the nod is this 50's Eldorado Diablo that's 58" long and 48#. This bow is light, fast and quiet and probably has many stories to tell...it is, to coin Kerry's expression, a bow with soul! I will never part with it and will shoot it until one of us goes!!

Another picture of the riser and shelf...this recurve was very different than the bows offered at the time by many other manufacturers...shorter and lighter.

Here's a last run Super Diablo circa 1975-6' before they reintroduced it in Zebra wood..This one is a scarce East Indian Rosewood and Bubinga

Beautiful bows!

Wow, DJS, that Monterey on the bottom of your rack is beyond elegant! What's the draw weight on it? And... you're supposed to pick a favorite!

The bottom Monty is my current favorite. 1961, 45#. Perfect grip, super smooth and fast.

Dave

I've had several over the years, Hunters, Mambas, and Venturas, my all time favorite was a 86# Mamba, only have two now, one Hunter, one Ventura, great bows, those Damon Howatts.

I have a lot of Martin/Howatt bows, most of them are newer bows built after 2000.

My favorite is a 45# Dream Catcher that I shot an elk with...great bow!

Hunter, 45 lbs., not sure what year. I really like this bow, am searching for a slightly heavier one ! My only other Howatt is a 50 lb. Coronado, not quite the looker as the Hunter but a fantastic shooter.

This 1991 Howatt Super Diablo was suposedly custom built for Gail Martin as a prototype bow and had never been shot. Was sold by his son after Gail passed away. Listed as from Gail's personal collection. The bow appears to have the reinforced tips that I always thought were not made until after 1995 and has the elongated horizontal S that Martin started using in 1998 to show the weight was checked on the scales with 3# pounds added. So I think this truly was a prototype bow. So, maybe Larry Hatfield could verify the history of this one? My favorite of all my Howatts.

To me the best tribute to them is the lack of complaints we hear about poor workmanship. Especially the older models, you can't get a nicer looking bow for the money.

Collecting isn't in my genes. If I don't use it, it doesn't stay long. But...but but, I own Lamont Granger's Super Diablo, a '72.

As they say...from my cold dead hand is the only way it'll get passed on.

Rick

Just got it Friday and won 2nd and then 1st in tournaments over the weekend. This beauty has a good life of hunting in her yet. 55# at 27 is what I get on my scale.

My early '60s Monterey 45lbs., after receiving some love from Yorktown5

The flipside

Last one

I only have one, a 74 Hi- Speed that I picked up a couple of weeks ago. Still trying to work out the bugs(brace height and arrow combo) but it is quickly becoming my go to bow. Not only looks great but shoots well also.

Mike

the other side

and in all it's beauty

Howatt Mamba Hunter

1953 or four 45@28

Some really good looking bows. Mr. Howatt was a great pioneer and designer. Good thread.

TTT Want to see some more pics. I know there's one or two out there!

Those are some real beauty guys. I've been looking for a mamba hunter in the 45-60lbs range and have not ran across one yet. Papa doc that sure is a nice one. Keep the picture coming guy.

60's Catalina.

Here's my remaining Howatt, a 60s Monterey. Gave my Ne Plus Ultra Hunter to my son and sold my '73 Super Diablo.

Can any of you Howatt guys give me a clue about which decade the Hunter I posted above hails from ? Serial no. 2923. Howatt sticker, no mention of Martin. Thanks !

looks like a 1992? can you post a picture of the serial #?

Howatt Hunter serial number.

Sorry, picture slightly fuzzy...

1972 i think. based on the water release decals.

here's a 1963 hunter with white 3m glass

Thanks for ID !

If that 63 is ever for sale, or you want some money, I'm here. Just name a price. Hands down best looker

That is at the top of the list for most fantastic wood I have ever seen aand having built custom rifles and bows for years that is a lot of fancy wood. To have it paired up with a great Howatt is just too much. Thanks for showing it.

God bless, Steve

Thanks Rich; those old Howatts speak without words, and that '63 is a pretty eloquent tribute all by itself.

Here's my 68 Hunter getting time in the woods this past season. Love the 60's Howatts.

My new "Beau" of 3 weeks - 60s Monterey - 30#

we had a lot of almost perfect REAL brazilian rosewood back in those days. it was a treat to shape a bow necause the grai would change with each removal of material. you never knew what you had until final sanding.

for those that are interested, the last bow damon designed for sale was the century 21. after that, don jewett and i took over that task. don was an expert at lamination design and i did the form and shape stuff.

All I can say Larry Hatfield, you guys did one heck of a good job, they have always been my favorites, I've never been without one for about 40 years, Thanks man

The hard part is just choosing one. I'll go with my first one, this early '60s (1963?) solid B. Rosewood and mint green glass Del Rey. The bow data has faded with time (before I acquired it), and the bow needed a couple of weeks at the spa. But now it is back to its sexy self, and is a joy to hold, behold and shoot.

Larry, is this one of those pieces of REAL brazilian rosewood to which your referred? I can swear that, during the re-finishing process, every day revealed new grain features and colors.

Thanks for that information, Larry! It's such a treat just to learn these little tidbits you drop from time to time-- details about wood, glass, glue, and the various guys who made the bows are so enriching to learn when you have an old Howatt and treasure it.

Hmmmm .. that photo is neither a Del Rey nor my photo? Don't know how it got in there, but here's another try

OK that worked. Here is the whole bow, for those who prefer limbs and tips.

that bow sure looks like around 1960/61. it was before i built a sander for shaping but after we built the first finish sander.

I'm cool with 60/61 for the Del Rey. Was it shaped with a rasp, and finished with a sander? Do the mint green limbs suggest its year?

That thing is ASTOUNDING!!!!!

yes, it was shaped with a 14" tapered round rasp and finished on a hand made sander that used bicycle innertube sections to compress typewriter pad donuts mounted on a steel shaft. i built it to copy the "feel" of the thumbs as far as compression under poad goes. it was the best tool we ever made. never left a line or ridge and was many times quicker than pure hand sanding. we had one side that used aggresive paper and finished with 220 grit.

Here's my 72' Super D.

And my 68' Monterey that I make sure to take out a couple times each hunting season.

Dave, where's your Hi-Speed that shoots "OK".

I have never had an older Howatt, but I've had several Howatt Hunters over the years, from the 80's on up... still have two.

What a great bow.

I also had a Martin vision once and I'd love to get that back.

A 95' Purpleheart along with the Monterey. Rich, do you mean the one you made a perfect 30 yard shot with on the first shot, then handed it back?

'64 Diablo

Nice Diablo, more pics please!

Those are ALL very attractive bows. How do they shoot?

TrapperKayak, Howatts aren't just another pretty face. They have always been top performers.

They look like performers for sure.

Nice Buzz, Thanks, Bob W.

Some pics of my 72 -73 'ish Century 21. 35# and 69" length. <')))><

Not a common Howatt. Very nice.

shortdraw, that bow was made in the very early sixties. the last bow damon designed for production was that model.

Very nice 21st Century.

Missed out on a lefty a couple years back.

Had a Damon Howatt Hunter that I picked up in trade for a PSE Phaser, she was my reintroduction to stick bows. Early '70's bow picked up in 1978, rosewood I believe. Marked 65#@28" but scaled 67#@27 1/2". Hunted her from @20 years, had her refinished by Martin Archery and then traded her to a guy in Idaho, if my memmory serves me. Great smooth shooting bow. Got biten by the custom bug and replaced her with a Big River recurve.

My son with his early 60s Hunter I gave him a few years ago.

Hoping Mr. Larry Hatfield could give me some info on my Diablo, year and bowyer maybe,Thank you in advance.

Bob W.

Here's another

and this one.

WTH one more.

My 60# Super Diablo that pulls closer to 65# but thats ok.

I just got this '73 Hunter on ebay. It's almost pristine. Lucky find

I have a Damon Howatt that is 31 pound and has HW1072 printed on it. I'm trying to load photos but don't know if they are loading. I'm technologically illiterate. Is there anyone that can help me identify this bow. The sticker is all but gone. Thanks

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

it's an very early 50's recurve with eicholtz glass. it's one of the first recurve bows damon made. you can tell by the recurves. they are hooked pretty sharply, just like the ones he did by steaming on his yew self bows. also, the leather on the grip has been replaced, i think. it should be a really dark brown. it may be braced a little high, from the photo's. somewhere around 6 3/4- 7 1/4 should be about right. i would try 7" and go from there. could be a bow damon shaped himself. i really do not know the model of that bow. looks like one that he called "the crab", based on the unstrung profile.

Thanks. I did wonder about brace height. I had the string made and thought it was too long and put more twists in it and haven't gotten it shooting well. I will try reducing brace. Thanks.

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