Howatt Diablo?

[Ryzenbow]

Hi, I've been trying to figure out exactly what this bow is and google isn't giving me many answers.  I just made an account here to see if any of you may know.
I can't find anything about a "Diablo," all I can find is the Super Diablo.  Anybody have an idea?

[Mikenmn]

Check out this site and click on the "1964 Howatt Catalog"

http://www.vintagearchery.org/catalogs-by-year.html

Mike

[Keefer]

Chris ,
  I have a knife edge Diablo as well just like it that was gifted to me by 1/4 Away a member here when I turned 50 years old and I'll be 56 this year.
  My understanding it was made in 1963 and being a knife edge (the curve in face of sight window) as bow face's you is something many want as a collector .
  They stopped putting the knife edge on to save time on shaping as memory serves me correctly?
  I asked Larry Hatfield that question myself and I "think" that was what he said?
  Anyway here's mine with a few other Howatt's so enjoy that bow cause they don't make that style anymore and it has rosewood in it.By the way Diablo means "devil" cause it is a speed demon .

[Gerald Denley]

Ryzenbow:

Your Diablo is a mid-1961 model.

The knife edge was made with a round rasp and was produced in 1961 and 1962.. By 1963 the belly of the riser was square as they were using more machines to shape the riser. Some Diablo's did have the knife edge that year, but the serial letters indicate yours is a 1961.

The first number in the serial digits means nothing in determining the year until 1972.

[Gerald Denley]

As to what it is, the first model type of Diablo was made in 1958-1959. In 1960 it became a hand-forward design with a less complex riser than yours.

In 1961 it changed to the design that you have and that model was made until 1964. The Diablo was dropped sometime in 1964 because they made the Hi-Speed in the same lengths as the Diablo, 54" and 58".

In 1966 the Super Diablo premiered in the 60" length. It was produced until 1998.

[Horney Toad]

Thanks for the good info Gerald Denley!   

[Horney Toad]

Did the Diablo ever have aqua color glass?

[Gerald Denley]

Good question...I checked my records and found I did not list the glass colours for the Diablo's. All the one's I own or have owned had dark red glass.

They did use a lot of aqua glass in other Howatt's in the years that the Diablo was made...

[Horney Toad]

looks like they did Gerald, the 1964 catalog said available in turquoise glass.

[Gerald Denley]

I just saw a 1964 Diablo with white glass so they did make them in other colours.

Cheers!

[Iowa Tom L.]

I have photos of Diablos with black glass, white glass, and what I call rust or caramel glass (would this be the color you refer to as dark red Gerald?) which is the only color I have owned (the glass color I prefer aesthetically).  A Diablo in turquoise glass would be pretty nice though, they must be fairly uncommon.

A few years ago, you could find Diablos for sale online in various places a few times each year.  I think it has been well over a year now (possibly 2 years) since I have seen one online; maybe I do not look as hard as I used to. 

[Gerald Denley]

Yes, the dark red I referred to is the rust coloured glass.

All of the Diablos from 1960 on used 3M glass, which was an excellent bow glass.

Diablo's are very hard to find as those that own them usually hang onto them. Another reason is they only made the Diablo's with the hand forward grip and fancy styling from 1960 to early 1964. So there were only 6000-7000 made and likely half of them are gone.

[mangonboat]

Shandor has a 1961 Diablo with turquoise glass. A real looker. 

[Gerald Denley]

You're right Mark! I had forgotten about that bow...it is a beauty!

That turquoise glass looks amazing next to the Diablo's rosewood riser.