I have a budget to buy an one piece recurve. Debating between Martin Hunter and Bear 59 kodiak. Hunter is bigger and heavier which will give more stability and Kodiak seems to be lighter in weight but looks very pretty. Any pros and cons? Thanks!

My choice would the Hunter. Especially if I could find an older one.

In my humble opinion it would be the Kodiak 59. I have had both and there is no comparison.

Can't really go wrong with either. However, I would be hesitant to buy a new Hunter, as Larry and his compatriots are no longer part of the production. Not saying that I have any direct knowledge of lesser workmanship, just saying I'd be much more comfortable with an older one.

Hi,

Buy both - used if your budget doesn´t allow new ones. Better yet - shoot both before buying either one.

No one is going to be able to tell you which bow suits you better.

I just traded a metal target riser for a Hunter and it is a really smooth drawing bow. My girlfriend got ahold of it and now I guess I used to own a Hunter since she really likes it. Haven´t told her yet that I got it for her in the first place.

shoot straight - skookum bow

I have both,two different styles of recurves.They both shoot great and draw smooth.I am mainly a longbow shooter and like the Bear alittle more for the grip,I like a leather wrapped grip and is closer to a longbow,more narrower.Plus I like the classic looks of a 50's style recurve.You can find some good buys on used Martin/Howatt Hunter's though! Like said you can't go wrong with either one!

If im spending your money,,: ),,,Bear of course

Both are nice bows but for me it would be the Bear

Are you buying used or new,paided $450 for my Bear Kodiak used,7 months old barely used still in OEM box.Bought my 2008 Martin Hunter for $250 used and bought my 1998 Hunter for $150 used,both in great shape and fine shooters!

I am a huge Bear fan so I'd buy the Bear.

I own original 59 Kodiak and mid 60's Howatt Hunter. Both are good bows but are different styles. For stability and speed I believe the Hunter to be better. But as has been said, you need to shoot both and see which has the best feel for YOU.

Well they are designed very different from each other, but both are top notch. Hard to make a bad decision.

Kodiak all the way.

Shooting both bows for the feel is not an option unfortunately. Those bows are not sold in the stores as you know, only through catalogs. None of my friends have those bows and finding them in the poundage i need is almost impossible especially in NYC where i live. The only choice is to go to Denton Hill next year and see if anybody got one and ask to shoot it.

Or,,,,,,you can search the used market buy both shoot them and sell and recoupe some funds Ive done it many a time

Had them both but favored the kodiak

Have never owned a Bear bow. Am kind of a Howatt fan. But I think that new 59r is a nice looking rig. Wouldn't mind owning one at all. MP

I own both a newer Bear SK, but not a 59er. I also own an older Howatt Hunter. Both are 55@28. They feel completely different, both good, but nowhere near the same in throwing out arrows. If you have nothing to compare them by in your experience then go find a good used Hunter and borrow a new 59er to test against it. If you don't like the Hunt here are plenty of peeps that will give you what it's worth.

If I was stuck having to choose, the Hunter would win, not that I have anything to point to that is bad about the SK. Totally subjective for each person. Glad I have both.

I have both and I like the 59er. I just shoot it better.

Howatt all day long.

Have both. Prefer older Howatt Hunter.

woodshavins: "I would be hesitant to buy a new Hunter, as Larry and his compatriots are no longer part of the production. Not saying that I have any direct knowledge of lesser workmanship, just saying I'd be much more comfortable with an older one."

I agree. Not slamming the newer Hunters as I cannot attest to the quality (or lack thereof), HOWEVER---as woodshavins said and Larry Hatfield himself has stated:

"actually, there are no longer employees at martins that know anything about the howatt brand or even how to design a bow, design lams, or the bow press forms."

I can't comment on the Bear as I have never shot one, but an older (pre-Martin) Howatt Hunter would serve you quite well.

Another thing to think about too is, Damon Howatt made a number of great shooters outside of the Hunter as well. If you have a shorter draw length (or want a shorter bow), the Howatt Super Diablo is an awesome shooter; if you have a longer draw length (or want a longer bow), the Howatt Ventura is another awesome bow. Since you can usually find reasonably priced used Howatts, who knows---maybe you can get both the Bear and the Howatt. God and Christ Bless!

Lancaster Archery is not far from the city. You could go there and shoot both of those bows. And lots of others.

I like the Hunter, shot one exclusively for many years. Just seems to "fit" me. Always wanted to like the Bear recurves but never felt right to me. I would definitely try to shoot both before deciding on one.

Spider, 3 hours form NYC in each direction is sure not far at all. :)

I would get the 59 Kodiak. I have not shot one, but checked them out in Jay's in northern Michigan. That bow really laid nicely in my hand. I had a Hunter, it was nice but too heavy draw. If I am to get another Martin it has to be an older Mamba, 50#

I think the OP was asking for any 'pros or cons', not necessarily a 'which one would you buy' thread. Although I do like to read people's opinions about both bows....

Kodiak 59 re-issue - Pros: classic, proven design, beautiful, Bear factory support, low mass weight for carrying ease. Cons: expensive ($700), some may not like the narrow, low-wrist grip (I don't, but many do), leather grip is just ok and not like the originals, although if this really bothered you the leather could be professionally replaced with an upgraded skivvied leather grip, low mass weight = less stable shooting platform.

Hunter: Pros: classic, proven design, good-looking (but comparing new to new, hard to compete with the 59 re-issue), probably higher-performance limb design, slightly more mass weight for better shooting stability but probably not a big difference between the 59 Kodiak, more economical (street price maybe $550?). Cons: Damon Howatt (Martin) going through difficult times, potential indifferent quality based on past posts from former employees (although the new one's I've seen lately have looked very nice), may not be ideal for those with a longer draw length.

Ok, my response above is 90% B.S., I admit it, but I'd thought I'd give it a go anyway... FYI, I own both - both are awesome, given I could only own one it'd be a Howatt Hunter, simply because it suits my shooting style better (beefy riser with hand-filling pistol grip vs. skinny, narrow, low longbow-esq grip on the 59), but I'd be happy with either.

goldentrout_one what a great reply. Thanks!

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