Am interested in what you fellows think of when you think of the recurves you have had or shot, especially the older ones
What was the best shooting (fast,quiet,consistent,smooth,durable)of the production bows in history. The best all around performers.
I'm particularly fond of the Red Wing Hunter.
'65-'67 Bear Grizzly
Nice bow, good choice
I really do think there is a place here for the Martin Dreamcatcher.
QuoteOriginally posted by Bird Dog:
I'm particularly fond of the Red Wing Hunter.
QuoteOriginally posted by Fletcher:
'65-'67 Bear Grizzly
QuoteOriginally posted by Curveman:
I really do think there is a place here for the Martin Dreamcatcher.
I agree with all of you, though I particularly like the Bear Custom Take Down. I have a Grizzly and a Wing-Red Wing Hunter.
Howatt/Martin Hunter.
Martins-hunter,mamba,hatfeild super diablo/Bear-Kodiack hunter,Grizzly,kodiack/red wing hunter/ Super Neccida,a few ben pearsons,and some brownings all good bows,wish I had kept some of them.I didn't have them all but some!!
One more vote for the Martin Hunter.
Should read Best Production Recurves...not recurve, because there are too many good ones.
Wing P-II, Thunderbird, Red Wing Hunter.
Bear Super Kodiak, and Kodiak Hunter & Mag.
Martin Super Diablo and Hunter.
Each manufacturer had a top line bow that was pretty darned good, and some of the lesser line weren't all that bad.
Questions like this are so subjective that there is no answer, just conjecture based on a persons experience.
I always favoured Howatts. I still have a Super Diablo, Hi-Speed & Mamba. Haven't tried, nor really interested in trying out the Martin versions though. Just personal opinion of course.
They are the same bows Quill Flinger, made by the same bowyers, in the same shop.
I vote for the Howatt Hi-speed and Hunter.
Martin Howatt....They to this day are the highest performing recurves Mr. Mullaney has tested. That's not subjective! :) ....O.L.
When I started this post I knew what my answer was but was curious if my experience mirrored others. I think over 38 years of shooting just about most production curves and owning most of them at one time I have to say the Damon Howatt Hunter, the earlier the better(mostly for the quality of the woods in riser) is the best shooting all around curve I have experienced.
Hey! You wasn't hunting! You was fishing! ...laffs
Thanks for the info Apex. I did not know that.
All the best! - Q.
Martin Hunter......
I am always fishing but the post is legit,love the great production bows. To be honest I have had quite a few custom bows made for myself and some were fabulous for sure. But some of the Bear and Howatt especially were just amazing, especially when you consider they were a production bows.
A few years back when I had surgery on my neck I sold the finest shooting recurve I ever had in my hands. It was an early Damon Howatt Hunter with stunning rosewood combo in the riser. It was to heavy for me so it went to a good home. It was 60@28 and would shoot 600 grain arrows like a lazer to the target and quiet like the shot never happened.
I hope the fellow who got it knows what he got, cause I know will serve him well.
Any Wing except the 52" Red Wings, Damon Howatt, Black Widow were all my favorite top of the line bows.
Bear Black Bear. Don't know the year.
HUNTER!------nuff said.
I have an early 1970's Damon Howatt Hunter that is the best shooting recurve I've ever laid my hands on. I have spent a lot of money and effort buying custom bows trying to find one that performs better. There are plenty that are prettier but pound for pound none that I've found that deliver an arrow with more authority even though they are FF string bows and the Howatt is Dacron only. It's also very quiet. The only negative is that I draw 31-1/2 -32" and it strats to stack pretty significantly once I get past 30". I love this bow!
(http://i525.photobucket.com/albums/cc333/jcj138265/Howattriser.jpg)
O.L.....it is indeed subjective because tests don't measure comfort and shootability for the individual archer. That's the trouble....we align the word best with performance alone. That's probably why there are so many "best" bows for sale in the classifieds. It is indeed very subjective.
By the way....the Hunter is a great bow, but not the best for me.
That's true George if you want to mix those factors. Fact is, on average, the worst bows for comfort and shootability tend to be the worse performing and vice versa...Handshock, vibration, noise all come from inefficiency so it's a good starting point...O.L.
Martin/Howatt Hunter or Mamba.
:campfire:
I know that this is a post concening production bows and MARTIN keeps popping up but I just wanted to remind everyone that Martin will custom make a bow to your specs. I bought a 50# HUNTER off the shelf and it really draws 54#'s. I had a HUNTER made to my specs and it was only 1# off in the draw. My next one will be a custom MAMBA.
:archer:
Howatt Hunter +1
I have Martin hunter,1965 grizzly,other bears,and a several ben pearsons, three of which are 1959 BPs palaminos.I will take the palaminos 1st.All above are very good bows.
I must say a Martin Mamba. It was so comfortable to shoot. The bow was balanced in the hand and just felt good. Quick also. I like the 58" length for the bush, too.
Put me down for the Martin (Howatt) Hunter. It's time tested. It's the Winchester Model 70 of recurve bows.
wow, model 70 of recurves, I guess we have a winner
There is but one best and that is whichever one you shoot the best. Nuff said.
I have a 1964 Damon Howatt Rosewood Hunter that is the best shooting bow I've ever shot, regardless of cost or maker. :archer2:
I'd love to vote in a Kodiak Mag...I know, I know the Martin/Howatt fans are gonna skin me...And don't get me wrong...I'd take one in a second-they are fine bows. But I just love K-mags...they are fast, hard hitting, and very pointable. just my two cents
Bruin
My dad shoots a Browning Drake Signature that is one fps slower than my Gamemaster Jet and one fps faster than my A&H longbow.
I have a nineties Howatt Hunter that will be my main hunting bow this fall...I would be hard pressed though to say it is a better bow than my 1960 Kodiaks
DDave
QuoteOriginally posted by Curveman:
I really do think there is a place here for the Martin Dreamcatcher.
I will second that. I love my Dreamcatcher...
Howatt Hunter, catilina and Monterray. Howatt, Howatt, Howatt.
God bless, Steve
The Howatt/Martin line was the best of any production bows out there. Head and shoulder above Bear. All models were smooth, well built and pretty quick for their time.
I have Martin Hunter and a Red Wing Hunter. Both are great but the Martin is better in almost all aspects. IMO.
Martin Dreamcatcher was one fine bow. Like the Bear T/D too.
Do any of you guys remember the "Drake"? made by Henry Drake. Great old bow. He started out custom and then went to production.
Though I don't own one I am a huge fan of my buddies Damon Howatt Hunter. It is sweet.
Own A Super D., newer model Hunter and A Ventura (all 55#) as for speed comfort and accuracy they are hard to beat I think their Quality control must be very good.But,I'm going to throw a wrench in things and say that I have a Pearson Palamino that's 54# and a 68" bow that is great to shoot also if I had to pick 1 for hunting it would be the Super D. if I was shooting 3D or paper targets all day it would be the Pearson, tough call, good question.
Give Me a good ol`Martin/Howatt hands down.Will compete with all the customs in my humble opinion.
I had a Bear T/D Hunter I bought new back in 88 and I loved that bow and have kicked myself ever since for selling it.
I'm gonna have to vote for Damon Howatt, or the Bears.