I have more pics but will start with my Vemon, a design Larry still shoots.

DDave

Tested carbon back.

I have actually owned 7 bows he designed. Not bad for a Bear and Wilson Brothers collector eh.

DDave

This going to be great thread. I love those old ads. Lots of accurate information with some advertising hype added for effect.

DDave

Very nice. Thanks

Catalina shaped by Darwin Baldridge in 1960.

Del Rey

I was wrong. I have actually owned 8 bows designed by Larry. I forgot I traded a Vision for my current one.

DDave

The next time someone asks you about transitioning from a recurve to a longbow refer them to the Vision.

DDave

Bill Bednar was a cool customer when he was competing. He would calmly sat between ends at Cobo Hall puffing on his pipe.

Only the coolest customers smoke a pipe. Just got a great Meerschaum from a friend this fall.

DDave

Um, the Cheetah Supreme was an American Archery bow. I had nothing to do with that bow.

I had a pre-Oconto Falls AA Cheetah Supreme with that huge Vermillion/ Rosewood riser. It was 36# at my 28" draw and could really fling an arrow.

I was wondering about that Larry. Thought maybe you were moonlighting.

well, I consider myself a very fortunate man... I have a 1992 Hatfield TD; a 1963 Monterey, a 1963 Catalina, and this Sunday heading over to Concord MA to pick up a 61 Palomar that Mr. Hatfield shaped--- I originally arranged for it's purchase for a friends birthday, but it's too heavy for him so he sold it to me---all I can say is these are the best shooting bows. beautiful, fast, great curves. Whats not to love? 8)

OOOps ... sorry Larry, don't know how that one slipped through :) :)

I somehow detect the hand of Codjiggers ex wife in getting Ron to slip that bow in. Ron used to hunt with the Jigger.

DDave

I am so interested in this thread! I'm a thededicated Howatt/Martin fan. I am personally interested in specific details about the 3 piece Hi Speed that was offered back in the day. Blonde wood limbs w/ clear glass and future/dymodwood riser. If there is anyone that could chime in I certainly appreciate it. I missed out on a Howatt Diablo El Dorado from Raptor Archery and I literally hate myself for it. Most gorgeous riser...any way thank you.

I was hoping for more pics of bows designed by Larry. I guess they are already here, just require some searching. I have been away and will ad pics tomorrow.

DDave

Here's a dandy design of Larry's--the Martin Saber, c. 1997 I think.This one was 60#, and I had a blast flight shooting it against a 60# Drake.

he did this 63 catalina

and these two 61 venturas

Come to think of it I've had a couple of others...like these two Super Diablos...

And then there was a Monterey or two...and a Hunter or two...

Hmmmm...probably shoulda kept this one...

Many of you know me as a performance string fanatic thanks to my string magician. I have never thought of replacing the string on my Venom the bow is so good. Great materials plus great design equals great bow. At an age where most of us would be retired Larry got up one morning, looked in the mirror and said, "time to design just one more longbow".

DDave

You win, Crookedstix! While all of these bows are beautiful, nothing grabs my eye like the rosewood Super D's. My favorite bow of all time. Thanks to everyone for sharing their pics.

I have only ordinary Martin/Damon Howatt bows. All my Brazilian Rosewood has been in Bear bows.

DDave

Time I waded into this...here's a beautiful 1963 Diablo.

Here's an early 60's Hi-Speed that's 54".

A beautiful 1962 Monterey...

Two by Larry and one that might not be...all with turquoise glass.

A 1962-63 Wasatch and the above 1962 Monterey and a 1960 Hunter.

Here's the 1962 "knife edge" Hunter crookedstix said he should not gotten rid of! HAHA!

Actually he pictured a different '62 Hunter. What kind of guy let's two of them slip through his fingers eh? ;)

Anyway, on with the show. Here's a 1965 Hunter with jaw-dropping rosewood. Larry designed and built great bows.

They were not just easy on the eyes. The limb lam design that pioneered around 1960 with the taper thickness being reduced then increased both ways from the middle was unique to Howatt and gives these bows their legendary performance.

Here's my 1995 Purpleheart Hunter.

Larry was instrumental in the dual taper limbs along with, I believe, Don Jewett and that was shortly after he started. Didn't take him long to make a difference!

This picture shows the lamination increasing in thickness toward the tip, controlling how the recurve unloads.

Brilliant!

Thanks for posting those pics Peter. As Larry has stated the current Martin Trad bows are missing those core tapers. They are no longer the same bow. Just another testament to Mr. Hatfields commitment to detail.

DDave

Wait, there's more from my "WHAT were you THINKING!!" file... like this Hunter.

I just realized my total is really 9 bows. I had a Lynx recurve at one time. I just found an old post by Larry explaining how he designed the compound riser in wood to create a mold for pouring the casting. Then the limbs were built at the Damon Howatt facility. If you find a Lynx recurve for sale jump on it. Great bows. I only sold mine to get a new-to-lefty shooter moving forward. One of those parking lot deals outside an archery shop.

DDave

My worst bow ever was a Martin Hunter, and I have a friend who had one or two Super Diablos blow up on him. I wish I had access to Mr. Hatfield, earlier. I put him solidly in national treasure category.

Only delaminated bow I have ever seen was a Dreamcatcher. I suspect the owner was stepthrough stringing it.

DDave

Kerry--what is the serial # on that last Hunteryou posted? Is that a '62?

Ok, sorry--found it on the other thread: 1689.

Martin Hatfield

One of my favorites is the '72-'74 version of the Hunter. Some call it the rainbow stripe version. Just bought a third on eBay this evening.

Doing some research and found this thread from last year...

Larry Hatfield or Pete or anyone else in the know,-Do you know what year my newly acquired Del Rey might be...? I'm thinking 1962-65 but not sure. Serial number is "ECEO69C"

It's 69", 36# @ 28"

Oh, and it's the one with the lighter brown riser, above the Ventura (which I believe is a 1961-63(...?)

I plan on giving it a complete refinish sometime this year after I do up bows I'm selling/trading. :-)

Bottom bow, sorry! :-)

The New Martin Howatts cant hold a candle to the looks of these old bows!!

Jason, ECE 069C should be an early 61, made before the slash 7 date code was used. Solid, 1 piece brazilian rosewood riser, did not come with a stab. Possibly made March 61 (C suffix). Very early bow, looks to be in good condition other than varnish finish. Nice pick up!

WOW! Early 1961!

THANKS Ken! Didn’t even know they made the Del Rey that early!! Very special!

The bow appears solid under that wrecked finish. I’ll post pics when I’m done with it but that’ll be several months out.

J.

Great thread, Dave. I'll post one or two. This one everyone seems to want. A 61 Diablo.

And this 61 knife edge Hunter.

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