Just got back from the PO today with a "New To Me".... 60" Super Diablo [ yes the one that was in the classifieds ] Wow what a wonderful, beautiful, and I might add "Fast" bow. This one is only 50#@28.... I'm thinking she will be "Right at Home with the Rack full of "Custom's"
Didn't have to sell a kidney to get her either :wavey:
There are some dandy non-customs out there. I have an old Bear Mag Riser TD that shoots as smooth as any other recurve I own. I love it! Glad you love your non-custom too!
Claudia
congrats on your new bow speaking of bear , i just got a non custom today too, 1971 super kodiak 45# 60" smooth and shoots great! ,
The only bow besides my Fedora that I wont sell is my Super Diablo...
I own / have owned some fine old Bears, Howatts, Wings. I also own several customs and if for some reason I was forced to give up the customs, I'd get along just fine w/ the older bows.
congrats on a fine purchase ... i think sometimes there is an assumtion that this or that " production " bow shoots well " for a production bow " rather than viewing them as shooters in their own right . find me a recurve that flings a heavy arrow as well as Martin/Howatt Hunter without costing a zillion dollars and i'd be a happy man ... ditto Bear Montana , Red Wing Hunters ...the list goes on ...
Shot a guy's old Bear Grizzley just before the holidays..........man did that bring back memories (and I shot good as well).
I hope this doesn't lead to another addiction!
Of all my bows, my fav is still my old Ben Pearson Rogue.
QuoteOriginally posted by hayslope:
Shot a guy's old Bear Grizzley just before the holidays..........man did that bring back memories (and I shot good as well).
I hope this doesn't lead to another addiction!
Hey bro, the seed is planted and about to sprout!!!! :knothead: :bigsmyl:
I have custom and old non custom,I love them all,different feelings but not much different performances.The problem with old bows was that we know little about bare shafting,fine tuning,very accurate arrows and better strings,now we can shoot those od friends much better.
Hard to beat a Good Martin/Howatt recurve.
I still believe that a Martin Hunter is one of the best ever made, even if it did not come with all the fancy wood and clear glass.
I have gone through a lot of bows, but my old Hunter is still here.
I had a martin dream catcher that was a real pleasure to shoot
I have an old Groves Spitfire that I bought new has the over draw cut in the riser, the handle is large but is still a nice shooting bow.
Yup, the oldies are still goodies. Got my Super Diablo, early Howatt Hunter, couple of Super Kodiaks, Bear Mag TD, Wings, Hoyts, Americans. And a bunch of purdy target bows, Bears, etc. that I just used to look at in magazines as a kid, cause I never thought I'd own anything but hunting bows...'til arthritis entered the equation. What woods they used, what craftsmanship, and what memories they bring back! I plan on taking a couple with me when I go...I'll be ready for the next hunt and I'll be stylin'. Rick.
I like the Mambas, and have a oouple.
Those newer Diablos with clear glass, or Dream Catchers, are some of the finest recurves ever built. Custom or not!
It's funny that we are using the term "non-custom" for a bow. I guess we have gone that 180 degrees from when 99% of bows were factory, or "non-custom", to a time when it has reversed.
I wasn't paying attention to the transition, but it must have happened, perhaps while I was out stump shooting. 8^).
Those old bows are wonderful to shoot, and will indeed surprise those who have not shot them for awhile.....or ever. Most will shoot with any bow made today, and some will shoot better. It's good to have choices like we do nowadays, and particularly wonderful that those old beauties have lasted the test of time and still offer us the enjoyment of shooting them.
I'll take an old one anytime, and as a matter of fact I have a few of them; some hiding their secrets under sratched black fiberglass limbs, and only reveal their true makeup when the string is pulled and the arrow loosed. And, like me, you don't always know what you are gonna' get when you wake em' up 8^).
The Super Diablo is a very classy bow, and at one time was considered top of the line. Still is in my opinion, as are some other gems of yesteryear.
George, I bought a Super Diablo from you off of the auction site 5 or 6 years ago, it is one of the many bows I wish I could get back. It was a very, very nice looking bow and as good a shooter as most. I just had one of those :knothead: moments and traded for something else.
C'mon guys! I have a Diablo that I have always liked, but it is a bit heavy for me now. I've been thinking off and on about selling it - - now all this! Love that heavy riser! You'd never believe what I paid for it, brand new!!
For me it's a '68 Super Kodiak...shoots as fast as some of my customs and man is it smooth.
I agree had two of them; 1 broke and I sold the second like a jerk.
Great bows, period.
Well perform with the very best custom made, always have and always will.
The fastest recurve, even with 11-12 grain per pound of bow weight bow I ever shot was a 60lb Damon Howatt Hunter with the most beautiful dark rosewwod I personally have ever seen.
Owned it for six years and shot clean thru every deer(several) I took with it like they were not even there.
I finally sold it due to a major neck injury and the weight I felt I would never draw again.
One of my real regrets in the archery arena
I have been shooting Trad for only 3 years. I started with a Ben Pearson KM Special - 45# @ 28" 58" length. I paid $120 for it. It is made from Zebra wood and looks as good as any of the customs I now have. I shot the Ben Pearson, yesterday. It is my "go to" bow when I need to practice my fundamentals. What a great little bow!
Bought a Martin Saber earlier this year and like it pretty well.........
(http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/amb71/DSCN2264.jpg)
I'm Glad your enjoying her Carroll. She was ready to wake from her slumber.
I saw that one and was really close to buying it myself. Just a little too new for me. Looked in excellent condition and a great deal.
I like the Diablo but I really like the Martin Savannah long bow. I have had some Martin Hunters and they are also good bows. I am not sure the difference between custom and non-custom since they are all built out of the same material and using the same methods.
I have a 59 kodiak and a 59 grizzly and both these bows will shoot close to what my custom bows will shoot, almost.
I bought a new Super Kodiak last year, haven't gotten anything with it yet. Saw 5 Cow Elk, but got busted by too many eyes. I like the bow, it's fun, accurate, quiet, & fast. ;)
Frank
I hear you, Bro. Last year I bought a Greatree Volcano as a beater/basement shooting bow, and was completely floored by how pretty & shootable it was when it arrived. In fact, I have to admit it's a better looking bow than a good number on the rack...
I've been very surprised by the Bob lee 1 piece recurve, a real hunting weapon! If I have to buy a non-custom that would be this one !
Nothing wrong with those older Lees/Wings. I have an older Red Wing Hunter I bought off the used rack at the local compound shop back in the 80's for $50. I leave it in the basement for fiddling and it could stand to be re-finished (why did they finish them shiny back then?) but I would have no problem hunting with it...
I'm in the same place as Mr. Stout with the old Shakespeare recurves:
"Those old bows are wonderful to shoot, and will indeed surprise those who have not shot them for awhile.....or ever. Most will shoot with any bow made today, and some will shoot better. It's good to have choices like we do nowadays, and particularly wonderful that those old beauties have lasted the test of time and still offer us the enjoyment of shooting them. I'll take an old one anytime".
I have accumulated roughly 23 or so old Shakespeare Kaibabs and Ocalas, with a 66 kodiak thrown in for good measure, and each and every one is indeed a complete pleasure to shoot. The craftmanship, beautiful woods, and unique designs will surprise you on every old bow you pick up because no two are exactly alike.
Something to be said about when times were simpler and less exacting, if you know what I mean. More individual craftmanship.
George, I'm real curious about the "skinny" dyneema strings you are experimenting with on your old shakespeares. Who are you getting them from because I'm ready to give it a whirl myself? Nothing like putting a new dress on an old lady.
kybowman
I love the Red Wing Hunters and Bear Grizzly. the Grizzly has been around forever and is still going strong. I once knew a guy who had a Super Diablo that he called his "divorce" bow because his wife told him she would divorce him if he bought another bow.
I have re-done a number of Damon-Howatts recently and just today was putting finish on a Super Diablo. It is one of the coolest old bows I've had my hands on. I'll be watching for one that I can refinish and keep for myself!
Whip, I've re-finished several old Howatts myself lately. I did a 1968 Howatt Monterey right before hunting season. It has some fantastic brazilian rosewood in it. I fixed some holes and reinforced the limb tips. Made a D-97 string for it and man does that puppy shoot. I guarantee you it will hold it's own against most any newer bow at the same draw weight. It served me quite well during the season to the detriment of the local whitetail herd.
I'm fooling with an old Pearson Predator now. With an 8 strand D-97 string it's a completely different bow.
Do you make your own strings Hatrick?
I have two Super Diablo recurves and one hunter. I have weak spot for those Damon Howatts. Nice bows!
(http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu236/howatt/Damon%20Howatts/120_0083.jpg)
I've pretty much given up on finding better looking and at least for me more effecive shooting recurves than older Howatt's and Bears.
Early 60's Monterey:
(http://i525.photobucket.com/albums/cc333/jcj138265/HowMont.jpg)
60's Kodiak and Super Kodiak:
(http://i525.photobucket.com/albums/cc333/jcj138265/sk2.jpg)
(http://i525.photobucket.com/albums/cc333/jcj138265/65kod1.jpg)
QuoteOriginally posted by kybowman:
I'm in the same place as Mr. Stout with the old Shakespeare recurves:
"Those old bows are wonderful to shoot, and will indeed surprise those who have not shot them for awhile.....or ever. Most will shoot with any bow made today, and some will shoot better. It's good to have choices like we do nowadays, and particularly wonderful that those old beauties have lasted the test of time and still offer us the enjoyment of shooting them. I'll take an old one anytime".
I have accumulated roughly 23 or so old Shakespeare Kaibabs and Ocalas, with a 66 kodiak thrown in for good measure, and each and every one is indeed a complete pleasure to shoot. The craftmanship, beautiful woods, and unique designs will surprise you on every old bow you pick up because no two are exactly alike.
Something to be said about when times were simpler and less exacting, if you know what I mean. More individual craftmanship.
George, I'm real curious about the "skinny" dyneema strings you are experimenting with on your old shakespeares. Who are you getting them from because I'm ready to give it a whirl myself? Nothing like putting a new dress on an old lady.
kybowman
I concur. My first "real" bow was a Shakespeare Sierra I bought new for, if I remember correctly, $27 at a Tempo store (kind of an early 70's version of K-Mart) in Mankato, Minn. Gave it t buddy for his wife in the mid 80's...
kybowman, yep, make my own strings. I've come to like the 8 strand D-97 with padded loops. The performance is great and it tends to be quieter than my normal 14 strand strings. They really make an old bow sing a new tune.