I just picked up another Damon Howatt Hunter to add to the family.  I can't seem to find good info on dating these things.  I'm thinking this is a newer bow?  But really don't have a clue.  All I know is I like it, and it is a rocket launcher!  

Any suggestions as to the age of this one?







Most I have seen have had the Hunter decal.  This one is hand labeled.  Is that original?  Or do I want to replace the decal when I redo it?

Looks like a 1995 Purple Heart Hunter to me.  All the decals are original, I have one just like it.

Dave

That bow looks like a mid to late 90's model.  The once that preceeded it had only the main stripe down the middle and was all purple heart.  

Those are really nice bows, better looking that the stuff they're putting out now.

Looks like Rosewood to me.

It's the 1995-1996 purpleheart Hunter. The first 95s had a purpleheart riser with one stripe, later a second stripe through the riser. I have the 140th bow and it has one stripe. They had trouble with the purpleheart and switched to the multiple stripes and added a section of shedua, also called Amazakoue. I have a photo of the 96' brochure.

Joe

Looks a lot different from mine.


tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=14;t=005383#000000

Yours has the two stripes but it looks like all purpleheart in the riser.

Frisky, What trouble did they have with the purpleheart risers?

I'll have to research what Larry Hatfield told us, but he said something about getting the wrong species of amaranth (purple heart). I know they started using thinner pieces and adding stripes and shedua.The riser shown in this thread was the version in a 96' brochure I found on the ***********. However, the bow shown here is a 95'.

Joe

Thanks for the info - that's about what I was guessing as far as age, but couldn't find details.

The center wood is a different type of wood.  I knew the purple heart, and it does look like shedua, so that makes perfect sense.  

While I normally like bows older than this, this one will refinish really well, and I think I think will be hanging around.  At least until I find my dream bow - a Monterey with black glass and in about the same weight as this one.