Damon Howatt (Martin Archery) Savannah

Is the Savannah's 62-inch length too short for a long draw, and does it stack at the end of the draw?

At 62" it can be short for a long draw — shooters pulling roughly 29.5" and up report noticeable stacking toward the end of the draw, and the community steers them to a longer bow. The short length is the Savannah's most consistent functional complaint. If you draw under ~29", it's smooth and superb; if you're a long-draw shooter, look for a longer bow or expect to feel the stack.

With a 30-inch draw I'd be pulling well over the bow's marked weight at 28 inches, so should I order a lighter poundage than I'd normally shoot?

Yes — order lighter than your usual number. Traditional bows are marked at 28", so at a 30" draw you'll pull well over the marked weight (and into the stacking zone on the 62" length). Drop a few pounds from your normal target so you land where you actually want to be at full draw. Better to be slightly under than to fight stacking and an overbowed pull.

Are the current/recent production Savannahs as good as the older ones, and where are they actually made?

Recent production Savannahs are well regarded, though finish consistency is the variable — most owners rate them excellent (some calling them the best mass-produced longbow available), but a few received bows with a dull/flat matte finish far from the glossy online examples, and one saw a glue-joint gap. They're made by Martin Archery under the Damon Howatt name. The shooting quality is consistently praised; just inspect the finish on arrival.

What's the difference between the standard Savannah and the Savannah Stealth (and the Stalker), and do they shoot differently?

The standard Savannah is the classic reflex/deflex longbow; the Stealth and Stalker are variants with different cosmetic/finish and slight configuration tweaks rather than dramatically different shooters. Owners don't report a big performance gap between them — pick on looks and availability. The core Savannah profile (fast, quiet, low hand shock) carries across the line.

How does the Savannah compare to a Bear Montana longbow for speed, hand shock, and finish?

The Savannah generally out-shoots the Bear Montana on the traits that matter — owners rate it smoother, faster, and lower in hand shock, with workmanship (clear glass over zebrawood/diamondwood) that photos undersell. The Montana counters on price and availability. If you want the better shooter and finish and will pay custom-shop money, the Savannah; if you want a cheaper, in-stock classic, the Montana. Most who've shot both prefer the Savannah's feel.

Is the grip too small/skinny for a normal-sized hand, and what grip height does it have?

The grip splits opinion — at least one shooter rejected the bow because the grip felt too small for an average hand, while others liked it or fixed it with an aftermarket grip wrap. It's a slimmer, lower grip. If you have larger hands or prefer a filled grip, plan on possibly adding a wrap; if you like a slim traditional handle, it suits you. Handle one if you can, since this is the most personal variable.

Why does the brand say 'Damon Howatt' and 'hand crafted by Howatt' instead of Martin, and is a flat/matte-finished one a factory second?

The 'Damon Howatt' / 'hand crafted by Howatt' branding is Martin Archery honoring the Howatt name and its custom-shop heritage — it's not a different company or a downgrade. A flat/matte-finished example isn't necessarily a factory second; finish consistency just varies between bows, and some shipped matte rather than glossy. If a matte one shoots and measures right, it's a normal bow, not a defect — but if the finish quality genuinely disappoints you, raise it with the dealer.

The dominant verdict across nearly every thread is that the Savannah draws smoothly, shoots deceptively fast, and produces little or no hand shock, with several owners rating it as good as or better than custom bows costing two to three times more.

Repeatedly called the best mass-produced or factory longbow available, owners treat it as punching well above its price; used examples in the $300-400 range are described as a steal and an easy buy.

Owners repeatedly call it a work of art, praising the clear glass over zebrawood/diamondwood laminations and saying online product photos fail to do the bow justice.

At the 62-inch length, shooters drawing roughly 29.5 inches and up report noticeable stacking and are steered toward a longer bow; the short length is the most consistent functional complaint.

Some buyers received bows with a dull/flat matte finish far from the glossy examples shown online, and one reported a visible glue-joint gap in the riser; this drives the recurring sentiment that older Savannahs look nicer than recent production.

One long-term owner found the top string notch chewed through Dacron strings within about a thousand shots until switching to Fast Flight, and a couple of owners noted the bow can be slightly noisy at release until quieted with tuning.

The grip splits opinion: at least one shooter rejected the bow because the grip felt too small for an average hand, while others liked the handle or fixed it with an aftermarket grip wrap.