I'm trying to date (and ultimately value) and older Howatt Hunter I picked up a few years ago. From the research I've done, it may have been made around 1959. The only decal on it says "Howatt Hunter". It's a fairly plain bow as far as the laminate goes. I would describe it as kind of a maple color, with black on the flats and a gold stipe running the length. I'm attaching a pic showing the serial #.

Mr Hatfield will know. I'm guessing The 8 is for 1958 and the first number 4 is the bowyer. M after the H I think is for Maple.

I just pic'd up a similar bow and have some pm's to Peter (Pdiddly) on its age. I'm thinking mine is 59' to 61'? Info on the bow is HM 95890 with draw weight stamped into the bow just below the info. I know the caps are Brazilian Rosewood but unsure of the lighter wood as well.

The riser is black walnut, the overlays are Brazilian rosewood. The HM is for Howatt Mamba, then the ne plus ultra denotes hunter. It is bow 296, made by bowyer 4, probably a late 1958 bow. Could have come in a 62" (as pictured) or 66" length during that time. Larry may be able to confirm that date. Is it red/brown glass on the back and black on the belly? May be 3M glass. Kenny

Definitely black on the belly. I think red/brown describes the color well. The color shown in the photos is pretty accurate. I'm attaching a pic of the decal. The flash washed out some of it, but the information is legible.

1958. last year for that style was 1960 if I remember right. Bowyer was Jim Hook.

Thanks, Larry! I'm still confused about the model nomenclature. Is it a "Hunter" or is it a "Mamba"? Or is it a hybrid/transitional model?

First there was a Mamba "line" of bows that was made up of everything from short hunting bows to 66" target models. Then some names like Hunter started up, first as Mamba Hunter and later as a stand alone model.

OK. So this bow would be a "Mamba Hunter"?

That's what the M in the serial number means. Just as the transition was being made. The red water release decal is one of the first Hunter decals.

Thanks so much. I really appreciate your help in figuring this out. I guess I'll need to be more careful how I handle the bow knowing what I now know.

Hey Larry, did you design the "new" hunter riser after the production of this style stopped or was it Damon or someone else? I know you built a bunch of them and designed alot of the other bows, just dont know about the hunter.

I changed the Hunter entirely in 1961. Basic design, take-off angles, and laminations. The basic design did not change from that time forward because we really could not find a way to improve on it in a meaningful way. We did reworks of every design on a constant basis using new materials, ideas from employees, my own input, and outside suggestions. Some worked and were incorporated and some didn't make a difference or caused problems. It was an every day process for the 52 years I was responsible for product design and development.

Larry is correct in the last year for that style being 1960.

I have one of the original red water release decals Larry mentioned on a red glass on a 1958, one of my two Hunters of that style...it's difficult to see it.

I believe the turquoise glass on Chas' bow is 3M. Larry could confirm that. Its was excellent bow glass.

Attached is a pic of three Howatt's with the same colour glass. One if the walnut/rosewood Hunter, a 1961 Wasatch made by Howatt (a 1961 Hunter clone with the redesign that Larry mentioned) and a 1962 Ventura.

Perry and Chas' Hunters were the first with the Hunter decal on them and are the first Hunters (still had the Mamba designation on the riser).

Only the Hi-Speed and the Hunter had the Ne Plus Ultra decals. The other models had the conquistador decal in both designs.

I have two of this design and they're great!

Another "line" of bows made at the same time was the "Eldorado" line with models such as the Diablo, Palomar and Catalina. They had an E in the serial digits.

Here's a picture of the serial digits on a 1960 Eldorado Diablo, the first year the Diablo was made.

What this picture also indicates is that in pre-1963 models the serial number was of no use in dating Howatts. There is nothing in this serial number that indicates the bow was built in 1960.

I'll post a picture of the 1960 ad where the Diablo debuted. The Hunter model in this post is also featured.

Here's the advertisement for the Diablo.

The first year was actually 1959 and not 1960-my mistake.

No indication in the serial number on year. I have analyzed the initial numbers and think they indicated the bowyer.

Here is the ad for the 1960 bows with the walnut/rosewood Hunter.

As Larry said, the Mamba designator indicated a "line" of bows. Here's the 1957 "Mamba" line.

Here is a better picture of the Diablo ad that shows the 1959 year on the bottom left.

I hope all of this explains the history of the OP's bow.

Here is the decal on my red glass Hunter. Barely visible on the left.

As I looked through my library of pics I discovered there were some Ne Plus Ultra "Deluxe" decals used on other bows, such as the 1959 Palomar.

Here is a pair. The top is a 58, 66" hunter and the lower is a late 60, 62" hunter. Both have white glass back and belly. At the end of 1960 just before they went to the new design for the hunter, they started putting all the writing on the lower limb. Still an HM serial till the new design became an HH.

Here's the serial digits on my red glass Hunter.

These are the numbers on my turquoise glass Hunter. I had to re-do the limb finish on this one as it was badly crazed. This is before I did it.

and the writing on the lower limb.

Hey Peter, did that deluxe have a palomar name on it?

Yes it did. Here are some pics.

That one with the writing on the limb is a very late 1960 or early 1961 before the re- design Larry mentioned. 1961 was the year they began writing on the limb.

Here's the decal on the other limbs.

And the stamps and serial digits.

The Hi-Speed also had the same riser design...this one is a late 1960 bow and has the specs on the limbs.

The whole bow...58"

Here are the specs...

Whoops...forgot the picture.

Wow Peter, that palomar is different. Have several from late 50's and early 60's, but they all have the sun or conquistador logo, none have the ne plus or deluxe. Does that deluxe have the off white plastic overlay material on the back of the riser?

Here's a couple more pics of the Palomar.

These are pics from the listing. I have to do some work on the finish.

Another one...has a different build than my other one. No overlays.

Here's my other Palomar...it had no decals when I got it but is stamped.

It has the overlays.

Riser is more elaborate..

Here's another Hunter with the red/brown glass back and black belly.

The writing in the sight window...

...and here's that pretty decal.

...and Peter, it's only a few number later than the one you posted.

I sure love these classic Howatts and appreciate all the info that you, Larry, and others have shared.

That's one cool looking bow, Perry Coleman. I like the contrasting colors.

Howatts have always been my favorite line of "factory" bows. Just awesome looking bows. There's a beautiful Monterey hanging in a local archery club that I'd consider giving a body part for.

Blackhawk...those serial numbers are close indeed.

This style of Hunter/Hi-Speed is one of my favourites.

Howatt's design, construction and finish was exemplary and they'll still shoot the lights out of most recurves, factory or custom.

Knobby...what does the Monterey look like? Here's my late 50's model.

Just another gem from Yakima...now that's a smoking hot looking Monterey!!!

Some beautiful looking old bows in this thread .

Thanks Gents.

Gotta love these howatts, my '61 Hunter and '58 Monterey...still great shooters

Again

One more

Great info Peter and others!!

I like that white glass against the wood on the riser Keoneloa...very striking!

I apologize for getting in on this. But I also am looking to find information about a howatt hunter recurve.The serial has an o in it after the HH. What would be the approximate year of production ? Serial number HHO 1865 1

Wapiti...you would need to post pictures of the riser, decal and specs and the tips.

Serial number alone is of limited use.

It would have been made in 1971, 81, 91 or 2001.

If it is made of thin layers of laminated brown maple with a single stripe down the riser it is a 1991.

If it has a single vertical stripe and shedua it's a 1971.

Thank you for the information Pdiddly.

Thanks Pdiddly! She is a beauty...have to say you have quite a collection of beautys yourself!

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