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Main Boards => Trad History/Collecting => Topic started by: DAVE1275 on February 02, 2009, 07:24:00 PM

Title: SWEET DIABLO
Post by: DAVE1275 on February 02, 2009, 07:24:00 PM
Thought maybe some of you Howatt fans would like to see my new addition to the Diablo family. '63 Diablo 58" 42#. I know alot of you guys are bear collectors,but you gotta admit those old Howatts are pretty sweet.Let's see some pics of your Howatts.  (http://i683.photobucket.com/albums/vv192/DAVE1275/100_3026.jpg)[/IMG]
Title: Re: SWEET DIABLO
Post by: Tom Phillips on February 02, 2009, 07:55:00 PM
Oh yea,
 DIABLO'one of the coolest production bows  most of them Howatts will outshoot them Bears !! I have tried most of the Bears & Howatts.
 Glad them Bear hounds do not know that more for us Howatt fans !!!
I love my 55# LH 54" Diablo'
Title: Re: SWEET DIABLO
Post by: mwmwmb on February 02, 2009, 09:15:00 PM
rich, I am glad i had just swallowed my beer, or i would have spit all over my keyboard.  :biglaugh:
Title: Re: SWEET DIABLO
Post by: bmb on February 02, 2009, 09:47:00 PM
love those howatts!! very nice bows.
Title: Re: SWEET DIABLO
Post by: d. ward on February 03, 2009, 08:07:00 AM
Good looking bows there guy's.One of the better shootering bows on the market...bd
Title: Re: SWEET DIABLO
Post by: Shaun on February 03, 2009, 08:57:00 AM
I have heard that Jerry Pierce patterned his bows off the Diablo. The story I heard was that he got tired of buying new ones after he broke a couple with his extra long draw.
Title: Re: SWEET DIABLO
Post by: d. ward on February 03, 2009, 09:18:00 AM
Shaun I don't know about Jerry breaking any Damon Howatt's but I do know his bows was built off a 58'DH form..Jerry's are some beautiful workmanship thats for sure..bd
Title: Re: SWEET DIABLO
Post by: Wade Phillips on February 03, 2009, 02:10:00 PM
Dave & Rich – Your ’63 and ’64 Diablos are stunning.  

From the collector/historical perspective, you serious Howatt collectors should enlighten us about the rich history of the Diablo. I have a couple of Howatt’s 1940s sinew backed yew bows but never collected his glass bows, although I have owned a few 1960s that were nice shooters.

I believe in the “1959-1960 Archer’s Bible”, Kittredge introduced the Diablo as “A new sensationally performing hunting bow designed for the most exacting bowhunter…”

Tell us about the first years of the Diablo.

Can you Diablo collectors post photographs of a 1959-1960 Diablo so us “Bear Hounds” (as Tom calls us) know how it compares to the 1959-1960 Kodiaks… The only 1959-1960 Diablo images I have are black and white catalog images, which I would be ashamed to post on this thread with your studio quality photographs. I see the prices of the Diablo and Kodiak were the same, $59.50 in the 1959-1960 Catalog.

Do you Diablo collectors camo up those works of art and take them hunting? If so, it would be cool to see some photographs of them in disguise as a working bow on a hunt.
Title: Re: SWEET DIABLO
Post by: yellow bow on February 03, 2009, 04:58:00 PM
:thumbsup:    :thumbsup:
Title: Re: SWEET DIABLO
Post by: reddogge on February 03, 2009, 08:54:00 PM
Not quite that old but this was my main bow in the late 60s and early 70s.  It was a rosewood beauty, 50# SD and had lots of Karma.  

I took a shot at a 12 point whitetail after watching him bed down for an hour, get up and cross 30 yards from me.  The arrow hit the shoulder bone and bounced out but he was the biggest buck I ever shot at.

This pic was from 1972.  I don't have the bow anymore, I traded it at a New Years Eve party for a Colt SA revolver and holster. Dig the "matching" arrows.

   (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/reddogge/Archery/50SuperDiablo.jpg)     (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/reddogge/Archery/DamonHowattSuperDiablo.jpg)
Title: Re: SWEET DIABLO
Post by: raghorn on February 04, 2009, 03:59:00 PM
Pics of what I have been told is a 1959 Diablo.
This is bit on the rough side. It has an insert for the single mount Bear quiver on opposite side. There is also a screw hole on the back side of shelf for a "Nelson Arrow Holder"
To me it appears that this has cream/white glass and then brown paper or paint over it. They then sanded the edges to allow the glass to show. Pretty cool finish. Although it will make it hard to strip and refinish. It also has a splinter of glass on the edge on the lower limb. I worked Versa-Mend epoxy into the splinter and then clamped it. I have shot this bow once. I do intend to refinish it. In the window it is stamped "50" and lettered"DE35929L". It's doesn't have a length marked on it, but it measures 58" nock to nock.
   (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v76/raghorn/Ron/100_0880.jpg)   (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v76/raghorn/Ron/100_0884.jpg)
   (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v76/raghorn/Ron/100_0885.jpg)   (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v76/raghorn/Ron/100_0886.jpg)
   (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v76/raghorn/Ron/100_0888.jpg)
Title: Re: SWEET DIABLO
Post by: Wade Phillips on February 05, 2009, 02:30:00 PM
Ron, Thanks so much for posting the photographs of the Howatt you have been told is a 1959 Diablo. With all that grain in the wood, I'm sure it will be stunning after you refinish it.

Can you post photographs of it from fade out to fade out in the profile view, and a full length profile. I'm sure other "Bear Hounds" would like to be able see the profile differences between the 1959-1960 Diablo and the 1959-1960 Kodiaks…

Rich - Many collectors get burned out when it becomes increasingly difficult to add additional items of interest to a collection. The cool thing about collecting old traditional archery memorabilia is there are dozens of different types of items to seriously collect, bows, arrows, quivers, broadheads, fish points, fletching tools, books, magazines, catalogs, photographs, letters, etc. Let me know when you are ready to dispose of those boring old Bear Kodiaks that you still have lying around.
Title: Re: SWEET DIABLO
Post by: raghorn on February 05, 2009, 03:38:00 PM
Here's the Diablo along with a 1962 Kodiak. I'm not sure if there is a difference in riser length between a '59 and a '62?
The Diablo is 58" and the Kodiak is 60".
Also showing the splinter in the lower limb. Someday I need to learn how to use the Macro on this camera!

 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v76/raghorn/Ron/100_0889.jpg)    (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v76/raghorn/Ron/100_0890.jpg)   (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v76/raghorn/Ron/100_0894.jpg)
Title: Re: SWEET DIABLO
Post by: Wade Phillips on February 05, 2009, 04:11:00 PM
Ron - Thanks for posting the additional photographs of the supposed 1959 Diablo. I did not intend to ask you to show a Bear bow too, figured us "Bear Hounds" could do a metal comparison. Hopefully you don't get into trouble for showing a Kodiak.

Not knowing much about Howatt bows, I would have to say the Diablo made a lot of progress from this bow to the '63 and '64 that were posted earlier.

However, from simplicity and elegance of the Classic 1959-60 Kodiak, to the 1963-64 Kodiaks, Bear's "progress" would be considered debatable by some of today's Bear Kodiak collectors, myself included.
Title: Re: SWEET DIABLO
Post by: Wade Phillips on February 05, 2009, 04:22:00 PM
Rich - I'm just in the process of making a new will. Trying to get all of this stuff to its next home were it will be properly cared for and appreciated is quite a task. I don't have anyone down yet for my 1940s Howatt bows. Let me know if you might want them. I don't plan on hitting the wall anytime soon.
Title: Re: SWEET DIABLO
Post by: ses on February 05, 2009, 04:31:00 PM
rich wade if u are having trouble finding some one to leave stuff to remeber me. we are all brothers right  :bigsmyl:    :bigsmyl:
Title: Re: SWEET DIABLO
Post by: raghorn on February 05, 2009, 05:34:00 PM
I forgot this photo before. I did take it out and shoot this afternoon since it was strung up and didn't blow due to the splinter. Shoots real nice! I like the grip!
 

 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v76/raghorn/Ron/100_0895.jpg)
Title: Re: SWEET DIABLO
Post by: DAVE1275 on February 05, 2009, 06:51:00 PM
Here's my 63' with 2 of it's younger brothers.The top zebrawood 60# Super D is my hunting rig.It's the fastest smoothest quietest shooting recurve I own,even over the widow.The middle one is a 52# 1974 Super D,with some pretty cool woods in the riser. (http://i683.photobucket.com/albums/vv192/DAVE1275/100_3036.jpg)
Title: Re: SWEET DIABLO
Post by: jared s on February 05, 2009, 09:22:00 PM
Dave,

What year is your Zebrawood Super D on top? I have one a lot like it, its been my go to hunting bow for basicly my whole hunting career. Got it at a trad shoot when I was probably 16 or so, had it I guess at least that many years now, all my big game animals have been shot with it. I own and have hunted with several other bows but its got the most "mojo" I guess.

Dating it isn't going to change it, just curious how old my bow is.
Thanks,

Jared
Title: Re: SWEET DIABLO
Post by: jared s on February 05, 2009, 09:41:00 PM
Here she is over a Wisconny whitetail.


 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/schmijar/Jaredbuck2000.jpg)
Title: Re: SWEET DIABLO
Post by: DAVE1275 on February 05, 2009, 09:43:00 PM
Jared, I believe the zebrawood Super D's were made from 1985-1994. My bow is a '93.   Dave
Title: Re: SWEET DIABLO
Post by: jared s on February 05, 2009, 09:44:00 PM
And bear....

The pictures obviously dont show off the bow, but the Super Diablo is more than a pretty face!

Kurt, you looking at this thread? Check out this hair man. This ones from awhile ago.....

 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/schmijar/bear.jpg)
Title: Re: SWEET DIABLO
Post by: jared s on February 05, 2009, 09:48:00 PM
Cool Dave, thanks. I knew I wasn't dealing with a "vintage" bow, but like I said, I love it. Wouldn't trade that bow for anything, too many "firsts" with it.
Makes sense, I bought the bow used but it was in really good shape, probably got it around 1992-3 or so.
Title: Re: SWEET DIABLO
Post by: kurtbel5 on February 08, 2009, 10:49:00 AM
Jared
You look like a dang California hippie,
That is a nice Bear, how big was it??
            Kurt
Title: Re: SWEET DIABLO
Post by: PAPALAPIN on February 08, 2009, 11:35:00 AM
Back in the day, Bear and Pearson had the names...but Howat had the bows.

I always thought that Howatts were better quality bows than Bears, wings, Pearsons, all rolled into one.
Title: Re: SWEET DIABLO
Post by: jared s on February 08, 2009, 10:56:00 PM
Hey Kurt

The bear wasn't a monster, about 300#, the photo is classic perspective flattery. Beautiful perfect coat though.
I was happy to have pics though, even if they were back of truck. Shot him a ways back in the swamp, alone. Ended up walking out and going to my old high schools football game (it was friday night) looking for folks I knew. Have to love small town living, I ended up with a big dragging crew.
Title: Re: SWEET DIABLO
Post by: Wade Phillips on February 09, 2009, 03:59:00 PM
Just dug this Howatt out of a case in the garage stash of bows labeled "need to find a new home"...

Can any of the Howatt Collectors date it? Got any idea of a rough price range that an all original finish Catalina might sell for?

To a "Bear Hound" it looks like there might be enough board feet of lumber in this riser to make 2 or 3, 1959 Kodiaks.

This photograph does not do the bow justice.

 (http://members.cox.net/wadephillips/HOWATT.JPG)
Title: Re: SWEET DIABLO
Post by: mwmwmb on February 09, 2009, 04:05:00 PM
Wade that is a nice looking bow. I wish I had the case to make an offer.
Title: Re: SWEET DIABLO
Post by: penrosefred on February 10, 2009, 04:39:00 PM
Is their a way of telling how old my Damon/Howett hunter is HH 22131?