Several months back I picked up a Damon Howatt Super Diablo. I've grown to love this bow so much that I really don't want to shoot anything else. I just love how it fits in my hand and how nice it shoots for me. I would however like to own another (or two or three) Super Diablos possibly in different draw weights. I've rarely seen any Damon Howatt Super Diablos for sale but I have run across a few of the newer Martin made Super Diablos. I don't know if Martin uses the same design for this bow after buying out Damon Howatt or if it has changed. Does anyone have any idea ? I've looked at pictures and it looks like maybe the Martin riser may not be as thick in the grip as the DH. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

I cant say in comparison to the older, pre-Martin Super Diablo's, Im sure some here can. I can add this: I have a 2013 Martin/Howatt Super Diablo that is a fantastic. It fits me like a glove. Plus its darn quick, and hits where I'm looking. Its easy on the eyes to boot. The Martin versions aint no slouch.

I don't doubt that any Martin bow shoots great. I'm really thinking about buying one but I'm still curious about the differences between the two.

I would try to keep it prior to 2010 or so if you buy a Martin. I have a 1974 Super Diablo and it is a good bow. The bow is a little light on the mass weight for me as I have realized that I shoot a heavier bow better. It is amazing what a few ounces can do for the shot.

I believe the Martin Company assimilated the Howatt plant in the mid 80's but I may be wrong on the date. You can search the forums and come up with all the Information that pertains to it. The main man bowyer Larry Hatfield was with the company from the early sixties until around 2012 and I get the impression things changed quite a bit after he left. His work and that of the Damon Howatt line speaks for itself. I have Super Diablos built under both names but built under his leadership and they both shoot fantastic. I concur with the keeping it under 2010 but to each his own.

The newer Super D's aren't the same as the older bows. They may be fine bows, I don't know.

But the machine that was used to make the laminations for the Howatt bows was destroyed in a fire from what I undersatnd.

Hey Grizzly, is the Martin version's riser the same shape and size as the Damon Howatt's riser ?

We asked Gail Martin to buy Howatts in 1976 and he made a deal to do that. we kept the Howatt name for a long time and then converted to Martin's name to stop confusion. Martins sold in 2013. I left in 2012. Won't comment on all the differences after 2012. Now someone in New York or some place has bought the company. It has no interest to me. I never looked back when I drove away from there. Went back to ranching full time, something I still do.

>>> "But the machine that was used to make the laminations for the Howatt bows was destroyed in a fire from what I undersatnd. " <<<

The fire happened in early 2015 if I'm not mistaken? If so, Super D's up to that point could been made from the same lam machine? I know that Martin discontinued the Super Diablo's near the same time frame, which makes one wonder.

No lamination machines were lost in the fire. The fire was in the compound section only, where all the 6 axis stuff was. The new owners didn't understand how to use the machines and they decided to just use simple lams instead of what we designed for the various models. There were only 2 former Howatt employees left at that time, and both left soon after for personal reasons. Just nobody there that knew how to build the original bows.

The newer Super Diablo's (2013-2015) were a completely different bow than the older models. The new design has a very unique fade area that long and thin, much different than the older models. I don't know if the older models had the double-taper lamination design, but the newer bows do not

Larry, which models had the double-taper lamination design?

Thanks!

I'm not sure what year my bow was made. I know there's a thread on here that tells how to decipher the serial number but I just haven't done it yet. I just want another one of these and I want to make sure the next one I buy is the same design as the one I have.

Larry , can you tell by my photos if this is one that you built ?

Pretty sure that picture is of a mid seventies bow. You just missed out on a good one that sold last night. Clean Super Diablos don't gather much dust once they are put up for sale. I don't see all of them that are on the market, but the ones that come up on my "trap line" as I call it, generally are sold in a matter of a couple of days.

This is a '74 that I purchased from a Waller and then worked on the finish a little bit.

You will be hard pressed to fins a better shooting bow than a SUPER D IMO , I have 2 1974 models that are as good as the custom bows I have .

I agree that the Super Diablo is a great bow. Like I said, since I bought mine I don't want to shoot anything else. I prefer to stick with one model of bow and the Super Diablo is the one for me.

bump

Bluedew...your bow is a 1974.

I had a Super Diablo in the early 90s, it wasn't new then but not sure how old it was. It was one of the zebra wood risers, beautiful bow. I killed some Arkansas deer with it, but at 77# it got to be too much for me and I eventually traded it off. Wish I had one just like it about 55-60#.

Thanks for the info Pdiddly. zwickey2bl, I'm running across quite a few Super Diablos in the 45# range but not many at 55#.

I have three One of rose wood, one of zebra wood both of them are 60# and a martin that is 55# the martin is fast flight and is very quick. I love them all

I think Larry said earlier that his number was 8. I don't know which number in the serial is the bowyer though.

The bowyer number was dropped in early 1961..it was never used again.

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