AGING DAMON HOWATT BOWS

weezy · May 30, 2009, 11:40:00 AM

I HAVE 2 DAMON HOWATT HUNTERS I BOUGHT NEW.
ONE WAS PURCHASED AROUND 1979 AND HAS MORE OF A POINT ON LIMB TIPS.
THE OTHER WAS PURCHASED ABOUT 1984 AND HAS MORE ROUNDED LIMB TIPS.
IS THERE ANY WAY TO TELL WHAT YEAR THEY WERE MADE? SERIAL NUMBER MAYBE?

d. ward · May 30, 2009, 11:46:00 AM

pics and serial numbers would help ??? bd

weezy · May 30, 2009, 10:00:00 PM

trying to put a couple pictures on

hope it works

weezy · May 30, 2009, 10:03:00 PM

pictures of tips. pointy one is older one.

serial number on oldest is 3041 or 3091 a little blurry

other one is 01955

Howattfan · June 01, 2009, 02:43:00 AM

Normally the first number in the serial is the year is was produced. Without seeing the decals and numbers, these photos look like bows produced in the early 1980's.

Dave

weezy · June 01, 2009, 09:13:00 AM

weezy · June 01, 2009, 09:15:00 AM

d. ward · June 01, 2009, 10:25:00 AM

I may be wrong on this one but I thought Larry told me the first number was the bowyer number ie 3081 was bowyer 3.0 was the last number of the year of manufacture 1980 lets say.81 was the 81st Howatt Hunter built in 1980 ??? bd

Howattfan · June 01, 2009, 12:36:00 PM

Here is an explanation direct from "Howattman", the resident Howatt expert:
Since the mid-60's, the Howatt numbering system has been as follows,
"The letter(s) in front of the serial number (if present) represent the model (for example, HH xxxx is a Howatt Hunter)

The first number indicates the last digit in the year of manufacture (HH 9xxx was a Howatt Hunter made in 1969, 1979, 1989, or 1999)

The next numbers indicate the chronological sequence of manufacture (HH 9123 was the 123rd Howatt Hunter made in model year 1969, 1979, 1989, or 1999)

Of course, all of this is useless unless you know the variations between the model years and their identifying characteristics."

Based on the characteristics of your bows, I would venture to guess they are early 80's versions.

Dave

weezy · June 01, 2009, 02:32:00 PM

THANKS FOR ALL THE HELP.
GREATLY APPRECIATED.
BOB

weezy · June 01, 2009, 02:42:00 PM

HOWATTFAN;
THANKS;
THE OLDER ONE HAS THE FIRST NUMBER 3
IT MUST HAVE BEEN MADE IN 1973 AS I KNOW I BOUGHT IT AROUND 1979 AND BEFORE 1983.

d. ward · June 01, 2009, 03:51:00 PM

go to stickbow and look up ageing howatts.Larry Hatfield has a post about the serial numbers and yes one number is for the bowyer number...bowdoc

Howattfan · June 01, 2009, 07:02:00 PM

All,

I have contacted "Howattman" and asked him to chime in on this one.

Dave

Howattman · June 01, 2009, 07:56:00 PM

Guys,

The serial number has not contained a bowyer identifier since the mid 60's. As I said in the post Dave cut and pasted above, the first number is the last number in the year of manufacture.

With regard to the bows in question, I need to know which serial number goes with which bow. From the first picture you posted, I can tell you the top bow was made in the early to mid 1970s, while the bottom bow was made from 1985 to 1994.

wadde · June 01, 2009, 09:21:00 PM

Howattman I have howatt hunter with the ne plus ultra marked: HM88274 marking is in the sight window and stamped 50. I am guessing 1968. Rust colored glass both sides. Nice wood overlays on the backside of the riser. Wood underlays and no overlays on the tips. Your thoughts?

Howattfan · June 01, 2009, 09:47:00 PM

Mike,

Thank you for correcting my error on the top bow. My early 70's Hunters all have the curved riser stripe in them.

Dave

Howattman · June 02, 2009, 01:43:00 AM

QuoteOriginally posted by wadde:
Howattman I have howatt hunter with the ne plus ultra marked: HM88274 marking is in the sight window and stamped 50. I am guessing 1968. Rust colored glass both sides. Nice wood overlays on the backside of the riser. Wood underlays and no overlays on the tips. Your thoughts?

If it has the weight stamped in the sight window, it's early to mid 1960's. Also, if it's not marked AMO 62", it's pre-1968.

Howattman · June 02, 2009, 01:45:00 AM

QuoteOriginally posted by Howattfan:
Mike,

Thank you for correcting my error on the top bow. My early 70's Hunters all have the curved riser stripe in them.

Dave

Dave,

The "Curved Accent Stripe" Hunters were made in part of 1973 and 1974 (and a few in 1975).

Howattfan · June 02, 2009, 02:31:00 AM

Mike,

Thanks for helping us out.

Dave

weezy · June 02, 2009, 12:04:00 PM

darker bow is older one with 1st number 3 so I purchased the bow before 1980 so must be from 1973. Bow is also physically heavier than lighter one. Also has more pointed limb tips. Also has larger grip.
I bought the lighter colored one about 1985 so it must be from 1980; 0 is first number.
thanks again for help;
Bob