Forgot how nice a Non-Custom Bow could be

[Gerry]

I agree had two of them; 1 broke and I sold the second like a jerk.

[Renaissance Man]

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

[Raging Water]

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!

[AMB]

Bought a Martin Saber earlier this year and like it pretty well.........
 

[Troy spear]

I'm Glad your enjoying her Carroll. She was ready to wake from her slumber.

[Hatrick]

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.

[wollelybugger]

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.

[joevan125]

I have a 59 kodiak and a 59 grizzly and both these bows will shoot close to what my custom bows will shoot, almost.

[Frank V]

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

[NDTerminator]

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...

[LeTuB]

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 !

[NDTerminator]

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...

[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

[Uncle Buck]

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.

[Whip]

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!

[Hatrick]

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.

[kybowman]

Do you make your own strings Hatrick?

[rp65]

I have two Super Diablo recurves and one hunter. I have weak spot for those Damon Howatts. Nice bows!

 

[JCJ]

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:
 
60's Kodiak and Super Kodiak:
 
 

[NDTerminator]

Originally 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...