Im curious what makes and models did this bowyer make And what lengths ect.whats the deference in the diablo, super diablo, hunter and high speed. Which is shorter shoots smoother slient. Ive thought about purchasing one. My first bow was a Damon Howatt by Martin X-200 and I have always love the round ergonomic grip. Any pros or cons? Thanks for reading?

It's different things for different folks. For me, it's a 2000 hunter. I have others, shoot them well, but really like the hunter. If I want a shorter bow I choose my mamba over my hi speed.

The X-200 has a different style grip than most of the others. Not saying better or worse but, different. I liked the X-200 grip myself. It is a lower grip.

You ask a pretty broad question. The Diablo was 58", the Super Diablo was 60", the Hunter is usually 62" and the High speeds are usually 58". There are variations. There were many bowyers that worked for Damon Howatt and from what most of us can tell, they all did a great job. Typically a longer bow shoots smoother. The quietness thing depends on a lot of variables. Shaft spine, rest, silencers etc. The Hunter has a huge following and is considered a standard in "Hunting" bows. You could customize the grip on any of these bows so you will find them with all variation of high, low, medium or whatever type you wanted. Larry Hatfield is on this site and and can explain it better than anyone. Hopefully he will fill you in. I think they had an outside bowyer make the X200 but I have been wrong before.

There really isn't enough room here to answer your question Chance.

Are you looking for a new bow, or an older used model? DH started building bows in 1938, and they have had a BUNCH of different models. Including some great bows you never mentioned.

The Dreacatcher, the Serengetti, the Gail Martin classic, the NE Ultra plus models of different configurations. and on and on.

The bows were built by hand, so different bows have different features just based on the person that finished them. I can ALMOST look at good pictures of a Howatt and tell if it was a Larry Hatfiled bow. His bows have extremely crisp, sharp lines and details.

those are all so pretty. wow so many bows . what is the difference between a Diablo and a High-speed since the bows seem to be both 58" ?

I've got a Ventura it's 66"-47#@28"....it's beautiful, the grip melts into your hand, and the wood is very pretty....DH made some super nice bows and are a very important part of archery history....it's also an honor too share and be able too talk with Larry a fellow Waller's, I've picked his brain many times...great person.!

Chance, the Diablo and the Hi-Speed aren't typically the same length. But there is the question of WHICH Diablo are you talking about? The Super Diablo, the Eldorado Diablo...see my point?

The only person that's going to be able to definitively answer your questions is Larry Hatfield since he built them for 50+ years.

The Diablo and Hi-Speed were both made in the same 58" and 54" lengths. The Diablo was last made in 1964 because the Hi-Speed was the same lengths. The Super Diablo came out later but was neither 58" or 54"...much different bow.

Chance...I would recommend you do a keyword search for Howatt and start reading. The question you ask is comparing different models of bows that were made over the space of almost seven decades.

The first Hunter was made in 1959 and is still being made. Lengths were 58", 62" and the odd 66".

The Hi-Speed was around in the mid-50's and was produced almost up until the Mamba was introduced in 1986. Lengths were 58" and 54".

Diablo came out in 1958 as the Eldorado Diablo for two years (58" only) and then was succeeded by the Diablo from 1960 to 1964. Same lengths as the Hi-Speed.

Super Diablo succeeded the Diablo in the mid-60's.

Which bow you prefer is very subjective. They're all excellent.

During what years was the 58" Hunter available? You guys know yalls stuff .

58" Hunters were not common. Made from late 70's to around 1980.

Here's a link to an example that was made in 1977.

http://www.rmsgear.com/damon-howatt-damon-howatt-66at28-58-hh7197.html

Never seen a 58" Hunter but have in 66" Otherwise I've owned most all the readily encountered ones starting with a 90's Hunter with several others to follow, Lots of Mamba's, a few Hi-Speeds, Venturas, Monterreys, Older Ne Plus Ultras, etc. etc.

But I am not a collector by nature, and while any of them were just fine, I forced myself to keep only one bow by any given maker. Choices were tough, but the one that "stuck" is my 72' Super Diablo.

Rick

The pic of the Monterey is interesting in that the one I have here is significantly different as far as the riser shaping is concerned. Whoever shaped this riser did a wonderful job.

Shaped by Peter Brauer, who ended up as a tech writer for magnetic tape for 3M company. Emigrated from Germany. Great craftsman.

I'll put my super Diablo up against any bow EVER made .

Thanks for that terrific insight, Larry.

What would the year have been?

Longcruise...the "V" suffix indicates it is a 1962.

Thanks

When did Martin take over Damon howatt?

The Martins bough DH in about 1976 I believe.

One of the other guys will know for sure.

One of my favorite Howatts and one of the most overlooked is the Balboa. I believe it was designed to be a more economical version of the Mamba/High Speed. It's not as fancy, but it performs quite well - very smooth drawing, stable, and reasonably fast.

I think the Hi Speed looks very similar to the Kodiak Mag.

The Hi-Speed, didn't have nearly the deflex that the Kodiak Magnum does. But most Howatt bows didn't.

A tidbit that Larry shared that Howatt's had that Bear didn't (and the other manufacturer's didn't have either) and gave them their performance was double tapered limb laminations that first thinned toward the recurve and then got thicker into the recurve. It controlled how the recurve unloaded, making them smooth and fast. You can see it if you look at any Hunter but other models had it as well.

so the limbs were a few thousands thinner then became thicker? for more stored energy?

The maple laminations thickened in the recurve.

Yes, I noticed that in my Howatt Cavalier. The thickening is easy to see. It is a static tip and achieved without wedges.

The double tapers did not make a static tip. They just let us open the recurve in a controlled manner at a certain point in the draw. Made the action a bit more reliable across weight ranges.

Here are pictures of what Larry is describing.

Note the thickness of each lamination at the fades.

The next pictures are of the lams as you go toward the tips.

Next...note the top lam is now thinner than the belly lam, the opposite of what was happening at the fades.

Note how thin the top lam is now, but the lam on the belly has thinned as well.

In the next picture you will see the lam on the face is now much thicker in the recurve portion.

Here's the final picture face lam thickening dramatically at the tip.

That's what Howatt did that set them apart. Other manufacturers used tip wedges but this method with the machine to make precise tapers would be more precise.

I never knew that! Im really impressed!

Larry explained it recently. It was very innovative.

I noticed that when I bought mine a few years ago. I surmised it was for strength at the tips and enhanced speed?

Here is Larry's explanation cobra...had to do with the draw and the bows action as the recurves loaded and opened.

"They just let us open the recurve in a controlled manner at a certain point in the draw. Made the action a bit more reliable across weight ranges."

And that's why Hunter's are smooth drawing! ;>)

Mamba recurves are a fantastic shooting D- H bow.

My 1972 Hi-Speed is my favorite bow to shoot.

Damon Howatt "Ventura"

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