Josh Boram bought the legendary Damon Howatt model final January. Courtesy of Josh Boram
Many of us within the archery and bowhunting neighborhood are aware of Martin Archery. Growing up, I bear in mind seeing their commercials for compound bows on the again of most looking magazines. Although less-advertised, their conventional Damon Howatt bows have been additionally extraordinarily standard. One bow was used to gentle the 1992 Olympic torch in Barcelona. Several have been utilized in blockbuster motion pictures like The Hunger Games. One of probably the most well-known whitetails in conventional archery was shot with a Damon Howatt—Mel Johnson’s world document.
The first conventional bow that I ever fell in love with was a Martin Dreamcatcher. The wealthy wooden hues and delightful curves of the bow have been a sight to behold. It was a used bow listed on the market on the archery store I labored for, but it surely was out of my worth vary, because of its classic standing. Since it was already used, I used to be allowed to construct a brand new string to shoot it a couple of instances. Once I did, I vowed to personal a Dreamcatcher at some point.
Martin has switched possession over time and quickly closed a couple of instances. While they’re at present in enterprise and producing compound bows, they’re doing so with out the Damon Howatt model as of January 2022. Now, Damon Howatt is sort of able to reintroduce itself to the trad bow sphere, because of a brand new proprietor.
The Damon Howatt Origin Story
The conventional archery aspect of Martin started in 1938 with Damon Howatt, the unique bowyer and founding father of the corporate. Like most archers of the period, Howatt made his personal bows and determined to start out a full-time enterprise a couple of years later. Quality and workmanship have been high precedence and his bows quickly turned among the most fascinating amongst archers and bowhunters.
Howatt retired from bow making in 1963 and was killed in a automobile accident in 1966. Ten years later, Gail Martin purchased the corporate. Martin had based his personal archery manufacturing and wholesale enterprise within the Fifties. Being a fan of Damon Howatt bows, he knew it might be worthwhile to soak up the enterprise.
The Damon Howatt trad bows have remained virtually unchanged to today. Some issues are just too good to mess with. Many of those bows are items of artwork—traditional, streamlined, and delightful to have a look at—whereas nonetheless performing flawlessly.
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But as compound bows turned extra standard over time, conventional archery started to take a again seat. Traditional bow manufacturing wasn’t as worthwhile because it as soon as was, and it appealed to a smaller variety of prospects than previously. Many bow corporations noticed this sample rising and began dropping conventional bow manufacturing altogether. Meanwhile, Martin Archery switched administration a number of instances and went by way of a number of CEOs, however they retained their trad bow arm. Fast ahead to January 2022, and Martin worker Josh Boram purchased the Damon Howatt model, severing it from Martin Archery altogether.
Who’s The New Guy?
Josh Boram has been an archery fanatic since he was a child.
“I tried my hand as a bowyer at age six, making PVC bows,” he tells Outdoor Life. “Obviously I didn’t really know what I was doing, but from a young age archery was one of my favorite things to do.”
Like many who enter the world of conventional archery, Boram grew uninterested in compounds. One day, he determined to attempt his hand at one thing else.
“I love getting into sports that utilize your acquired skill and technique,” he says. “I personally feel like compound bows are so accurate and advanced that it removes a lot of fun out of archery in general.”
Boram’s first bow was a Martin Cougar. He began working for Martin Archery in 2013. During his years that adopted, he observed how the Damon Howatt conventional line didn’t want a lot innovation or change to succeed. Despite the general shrinking curiosity in trad archery, Damon Howatt gross sales have been nonetheless good and even rising a bit. He knew that Damon Howatt was a beneficial model and buyer loyalty appeared sturdy. But he realized it may need extra success if it stood by itself.
The New Damon Howatt
After buying Damon Howatt in January 2022, Boram labored feverishly to get every thing prepared for the official launch on the January 2023 Archery Trade present.
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“I wasn’t expecting much from the ATA show,” Boram says. “But I was literally blown away by the reception of Damon Howatt. Before going to ATA I didn’t even know if we would still be relevant in the marketplace. I had some fear about how hard it would be to bring back dealers and shops, but boy was I surprised. My wife and I could hardly keep up with the show traffic.”
Although the bows will not be out there for buy but, Damon Howatt is taking reservations for every mannequin listed on their web site. All unique “Made by Damon Howatt” bows will at all times be constructed within the USA on the identical presses which have operated for years. You can reserve your personal at damonhowatt.com.
Hand-shaped, hand-sanded, and hand-crafted, every bow is a useful murals. Damon Howatt will keep true to its legacy by persevering with to construct their traditional bows, whereas engaged on a brand new line within the background. Eventually, Boram will work with sellers to hold the bows, too.
The Future of the Damon Howatt Traditional Bow
Despite the ups and downs this firm has seen, its future is wanting vivid. For the primary time in in over a decade, Damon Howatt can provide its full consideration and focus to the normal bows which have made it well-known within the archery world-a world it’s been dominating for a very long time.
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“We have some new exciting innovations that will come in the next few years that I personally believe could revolutionize traditional archery,” Boram says. “Damon Howatt started in 1938 with private ownership and a passion for innovation within the traditional archery category. Now it’s out of corporate hands and back in private ownership. This means it can truly thrive with its passion and focus on traditional archery.”
And if the following century is something just like the final one, the model will proceed thriving within the small-but-mighty world of conventional archery.
“Damon Howatt is now the oldest functioning traditional-only bow brand in the world,” Boram says. “I can’t wait to see what the future will bring.”