How do the new martins stack up to the older Howatts?

I've got an old 55# Howatt Hunter that I always loved but I just don't shoot that much weight anymore. I sure would like a new one at about 45#.

Howatt still makes the recurves, other than the imported takedowns that are brought in by Greatree. The Hunter, Savannah, etc., are still Howatt bows, and probably still made on the old forms.

If I were you I'd look for an older model that is in good shape. I've had two of the newer bows, a Savannah longbow and a Freedom recurve. Both were far from impressive. They are not the same bows as the older models. I unloaded both of them pretty quickly.

X2 on what sawtooth says. I bought a used Savannah about 4 years ago. It was a 2008 model and had the Acacia tree logo. It was fantastic. Should have never let that bow go. Then last year I found a good deal on another Savannah so I bought it thinking it would be just like my other one. This new one was a 2014 model and boy was I wrong. This newer Savannah was nothing like my previous one. It looked the same, but shot no where near as nice as my previous Savannah. Best way I can describe the difference is the newer Savannah just felt heavy and clunky and just did not seem to have the same zip as my previous Savannah. It was like a different bow.

Sawtooth X3. You know...you might want to very seriously consider talking to Larry Hatfield before purchasing a new Martin. Apparently, judging from some of his comments on other posts, all the old bowyers/workers that were at Martin (from the old Gail Martin days) are no longer with the company, and all the old heads that made the Damon Howatt/older Martins are gone now. I have heard that numerous accounts that the newer traditional offerings may not be up to the same standard that the older ones were, but... Good luck, God and Christ Bless

Well that's not what I wanted to hear but thanks for the input.

I had two of them that I bought in the early 90's. The 55# that I still have and a 65# that I sold. I'm still kicking myself for not buying a 45#.

Sawtooth x3...I bought a Savannah Steatlh and it could not hold a candle to the Montana I had at the time. The fit and finish was poor and it was slower than the Montana that had 5 less pound draw weight. I returned it...disappointed

Has Larry Hatfield retired? If so, when did he leave? If I buy a used Martin, I would definitely want it to be produced under the management of one of our more esteemed forum members.

Sawtooth x5

Bear Archery was brought back from the brink & later their traditional line was revived. I hope the turnaround company that picked up Martin Archery realizes the significance of the Damon Howatt brand name.

Mike, man, don't be disappointed. Just look for an older model. There's a lot of them out there. Save yourself some money AND get a better quality bow at the same time.

I'm with Sawtooth,,,look for an older one. Place a want ad in the classifieds or try and trade your 55lbs. bow for a lighter version in the swap and trade thread.

None of the old guys from grayling went to florida but they mahaged to train guys to build em just fine. No one I know has even shot a new howatt. I wouldn't write em off till I saw their work. I saw A scorpion but never examined it close so I can't tell ya what it was like up close.

What I do know is that the lams we designed for the Howatt bows are no longer being made or used. Without the original designed lams, the bows do not perform the way they were designed to. They were different from other company's lams because they used double tapers. Wish I had got control over the Howatt brand before I left.

Man,,,glf is right mgf. I posted to go with vintage and in reality,,,I've never handled a new howatt. My apologies,,,,probably are pretty good bows.

Go for an older howatt. They will shoot rings around the newer ones. I have both Hatfield era and post H.E. Get one from the Hatfield era shop. You wont be sorry.

Flinger1---not to start a beef, but...if there have been a number of people (and trust me, I've heard a number of people saying the same thing) stating that the newer Howatts are not of the same quality as the older ones, and then Larry Hatfield---the man who was in charge of Martin's traditional line---chimes in stating that there has been an actual difference in the ways the newer Martins are being made, which affects performance...I think you were right in your original suggestion to go vintage.

Judging from a number of comments and videos I've seen in various places...it doesn't seem as though Martin seems to be too concerned about keeping up their traditional line...

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3BpzzM5X2aQqunRX3Mu2aQ

Older post from Larry Hatfield

"Savannah - The tree emblem shows that it's an original Savannah by the real Howatt crew. Anything after 2012 was not. After Martins sold the company and things changed as far as original material and lams in almost all the bows and no Howatt bowyers were left. When I designed that bow I think I got as much as I could get out of that design and length. The original lams are critical to how the bow performs. Shapes like that have been around in bows for centuries. The only thing we did different was the engineered laminations that were in the bow."

No beef Kent Alan,,,I was trying to say "I have no idea what I'm talking about", without say "I have no idea what I'm talking about",,,lol.

Listen to Larry Hatfield.

I saw an older Savannah for sale yesterday. It was $385 and appeared to be in pretty good shape. It was either Ebay or Archery Talk where I saw it.

My Savannah will be here tomorrow. I think that it is a 2008 model but I have looked at so many bows in the past two weeks, I could be mistaken. If I don't like it, it will be for sale next week. You may want to get in line now, just in case.

I was wrong 55# 2007 bow presently bid at about $150. Newer 45# bow has no bids with an opening bid of $350.

Hey Brad that newer bow, even though the page title says 2012, has a serial number that looks like a 2014 bow...I have a 2014 Super Diablo that I bought as an impulse on Ebay (bad impulse...bad bow, another story) when I called the factory to date it from the serial numberthey said the first 2 digits were the last 2 numbers of the year produced, the 3 following numbers are the sequential production number of that bow in that production year...not certain that it's the same between recurves and LB's, but don't see why they would have a different numbering system between curves and lb's Brought it up because I believe Mr. Hatfield wrote in a post here that he parted ways with Martin in 2012 and I'm a suspicious cuss about sellers descriptions on the big auction site. just a heads up

Thanks for the heads up Dean. I did a search both here and on Google and all that I could find was that the first letter designated the year. I knew that the one bow was newer because it did not have the tree in the logo. The heavier bow looks like the nicer bow and has better wood, imo. I would love to find a mid forties draw weight bow that was built ten years ago.

Thanks for all the info. I bought my 55# new in the early 90's. I bought a 65# shortly after. I guess I was feeling stronger in those days. LOL

From what I'm reading, I don't think I'm going to drop 6 bills and change on a new one.

After this thread and reading through some of the older Howatt threads I had to pull mine out and string it.

I couldn't swear to the date I bought it but I know I was hunting with it in Illinois before I moved to Indiana in 1996.

Looking at the serial numbers of some of the bows reference in the various threads, my serial number seems high, although, I don't know how they assigned them. The bow does have the "DH" logo and the serial number is 11404.

For those who have contacted me expressing interested in buying it, Thanks but I think I want to hang on to this one.

I'm not tryin to argue anyone from trying a new howatt. I know their not the wsame as the old ones, Larry just told oyu that. Now whether they shoot as well , better, or worse ,none of us will know till we've tried one. I'm just saying don't dog what you don't know.

MGF, That is a 1991 hunter, most likely. We were selling a lot of them in those years. I have no interest in the present company at all, and do not care if anybody buys or doesn't buy their products. I only was answering a question. Free country and everyone's opinions are valid.

Mr. Larry Hatfield, I think your opinion, as far as Martin Archery is concerned is probably the most valid of all. You know, I still remember the time when I tried to get a pair of limbs made for my Martin Revelation---the 64" takedown which was only made for one year...it had already been discontinued, but they patched me through to YOU---and you had a set of limbs made for me which weren't in the original factory camo, but worked awesomely.

Over the years, I had bought a number of custom Martins, ordered directly through Walla Walla, a number of Hunters and a couple of Visions, and every time, Joel and everyone else there were great, and I always left with a feeling of "Man...these people are serious about making their customers happy"...not sure if I have the same faith in that company as I had at one time

Making the best product we could and customer satisfaction were the two things that always came first with me and Gale Martin. I'm still pretty proud of that.

Thanks for the info Larry.

I'm not trying to stir up anything or anybody,and as was said earlier it's all personal preference at the end of the day. One mans trash is another mans treasure, as they say. I am no expert in bow design or build, but what I can say is that my 1963 Monterey is strung and waiting for me to put a few more arrows down range this evening, and my 2014 Super Diablo is unstrung and in a bow sock waiting to go up for sale...

The best bows I ever owned, or at least right up with the top customs were howatt hunters and venturas. Like I said I know they're not the same now.

I just don't know which is why I asked. I have a hunch based on a bunch of other experience but, on this specific issue, I don't know.

"Mr. Larry Hatfield, I think your opinion, as far as Martin Archery is concerned is probably the most valid of all. "

Larry doesn't need to have an "opinion" on this; he's got all the facts!!

I agree GF, I agree

Larry H - my Savannah has the serial number 7205. Would this bow have been built in 2007?

My bow hunting partner actually called Martin Archery, spoke to Gail Martin himself and ordered this longbow. It is even signed by Gail Martin - very cool indeed.

62# @ 28 - a very beautiful bow.

From what Larry has posted here and elsewhere, I believe the cut-off for a Hatfield-era was 2012. But if your buddy spoke to Gail, you're probably in very good shape. Also, I've recently learned that when it comes to Savannahs, The Good Ones will have the drawing of the sun rising/setting by a Baobab tree (think that's the right species).

My Savannah has serial #5185 can u also tell me date of manufacture Mr. Hatfield? I absolutely love mine, draws smooth, shoots awesome, zero hand shock. Fantastic bow and value IMO.

snapped a few photos of my bow [IMG]http://www.southernairboat.com/photopost/data/1575/medium/I MG_5822.PNG[/IMG] [IMG]http://www.southernairboat.com/photopost/data/1575/medium/I MG_5823.PNG[/IMG]

lets try the photos again

I think it's an Acacia tree. And any Savannah that has this on it is one of the original design. I have a 2006 model and it's a great shooting bow. MP

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