I was wondering if anyone had PDFs of these catalogs. I contacted Martin and I was told that they did not have any information from that time period due to ownership change and the fire. I am trying to obtain more information about a longbow I purchased from a Martin Pro Shop in the 1990's. The longbow is a "Shadow" ML- 15. I believe they were production for a handful of years 1993-1997 and were only available though Authorized Martin Pro Shops. I was hoping if I could find a older Martin catalog, it would provide me with further information about my bow.

Likely that Larry Hatfield would know the gozintos about that bow. If you would head your post as Shadow ML 15 longbow it would likely get noticed quicker.

I saw the ML-15 Shadow longbow in a Martin Pro-Series catalog/catalog insert, but I can't remember which year. There was also a recurve made out of the same materials (black glass limbs and black laminated riser). I'm sure I have a copy. I'll look for it.

Thanks Uncle. I took George's advice and reposted under a different title.

Basically an ML-18 in black laminated wood under the Martin label before all bows were listed and branded as Martin bows. Back then, most all trad bows were branded as Damon Howatt. Sort of confusing as Martins owned Howatts, but we were operating as an individual company for years after Matins bought our company

Thanks for the reply Larry. This bow definitly says Martin on it with no mention of Damon Howatt.

Thanks for the reply Larry. This bow definitly says Martin on it with no mention of Damon Howatt.

Uncle Lijiah: "I saw the ML-15 Shadow longbow in a Martin Pro- Series catalog/catalog insert, but I can't remember which year. There was also a recurve made out of the same materials (black glass limbs and black laminated riser). I'm sure I have a copy. I'll look for it."

The recurve made from the same materials was named the Nighthawk. It was in the 1997-1998 catalog (or so). Unless I am mistaken, and someone correct me if I am wrong, but wasn't the Martin Shadow renamed and released afterwards as the "Tred Barta" bow?

I have been looking for a Nighthawk for years in a sub 55 lb draw but this is the first I've heard that the ML-15 Shadow was somehow the Tred Barta longbow? IF anyone has more information on how that took place, please share. Thank you.

The Barta Bow is a bow that was made very similar to the old Martin Bushmater. The Barta Bow (or at least this is what I was told, or heard, can't recall) was to be made by Martin, (anonymously) and sold exclusively by 3-Rivers Archery. However, it seems that Tred began mentioning on his shows that his bow was made by Martin.

The Shadow also looks as if it may have come off the Bushmaster form as well. As far as whether the tapers are or not different, that would lead to any significant difference in performance, I don't know.

This is really amazing information that has come to light about the Martin ML-15. The image that Kent Alan posted (Barta Bow) shows that the ML-15 and the Barta have a very high probability of being the same bow. What I also find interesting is that the Ml-15 and Barta were both built off of the ML-18 (Bushmaster) platform, with the main difference being the ML-18 had laminated Red Elm limbs and the ML-15/Barta has maple limbs. Another difference appears to be with the riser material, the ML- 15/Barta has a Birch riser, where the ML-18 is advertised to have a Amazazakoue riser.

This is great info! Does anyone ever see the barta bows ever come up for sale in the classifieds? Been looking for one for awhile never do see them though

Never.

I've seen them occasionally on the auction site, but I don't think I've seen one here either. And for sure not for a long time.

I have never had the opportunity to shoot a Barta, however I can tell you that the my ML-15 is a great shooting bow especially for hunting.

The Barta and Nighthawk looks exactly like the Bushmaster, except for color. The Bushmaster was one of my favorite bows for years, still have two of them.

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