Big Horn Bows........would like some info, any fans

[Rando]

Yup... my first custom bow was a 3 piece from Fred's Bighorn era - still have that bow though it's now too heavy for me, won't part with it.
Bought another from KOM but let that one go eventually.
Bought a longbow from Mr. Boker that imploded after a few days and unfortunately right before he passed away.
Tried ordering a one piece from Ron N. when he took on the company but that only ended in frustration.
Always hoped someone else would start building 'em again or that I could locate a nice lefty one piece... love those Bighorns!

[ron w]

It was cold but I had to take the old girl out for a test drive. I'm always amazed when I shoot an older bow on how well some of them perform. This bow is 25-30 years old maybe......and she shoots. Ran some carbons and some cedars thru it and I am impressed. Shoots a lot like my Bear Take down at the same poundage......maybe just a smidge quicker. I think we will be spending time together........  

[rufus_d]

I have a curvedbed colorado that I took many whitetails and one elk with. That bow is an extention of my hand. At 65 lbs Its too much. I also have a set of 75 lb limbs for it that I never used. The riser cracked the second to the last year I shot it. I was lucky having talked to Jim Belcher who knew someone with the same riser and sold it to me. I should probably try it again. carefully!!

[R.V.T.B.]

When I first got back into recurves and away from compounds back in about 1987 my first custom recurve was a Bighorn.  I think this was the first year for the flat limb beds.  I ordered in an 83 pound 62” take down and Fred’s instinctive shooting book.  Just about wore them both out!!  I ordered a back up at 81 pounds and killed a pile of deer with those two bows with 2315’s and heavy cedars from Kustom King.

Over the years I ordered in a total of eight Bighorns.  Some from Fred and his guys, some from King Cavalier and my last couple from Bud Boker. About 2004 or so I had issues with the finish on one new bow and limbs delaminating on another and spent 3-4 months trying to get anything done.  Then Bud passed away, the problems with Ron are well documented on several forums and out of pure frustration I sold all of my Bighorns and replaced them with Robertsons.

Of all the bows I have owned over the years, which has been more than a few, I think I shot those original Bighorns better than any of the others.  May have been because  I was slap eat up with traditional archery and shot a ton of arrows during that time period.  But I do feel they were one of the most stable and forgiving bows that I have ever shot.

[ron w]

For you fans of Bighorns......should I stick with a Dacron string or can I use modern material? Do I need to pad the loops?  

[Orion]

Bighorns have pretty substantial limb tip overlays.  If it were me, I'd go with a padded loop fast flite string.  

BTW, if anyone has a 60-inch, 50# or less one-piece Bighorn, I'd be happy to buy it from you.

[stagetek]

My earliest set of limbs were pretty fragile looking. The 2nd set I ordered mid-to late eighties were described as "bomb proof". That (to my knowledge) was still before FF material.

[ron w]

This one I have has tip overlays but they look like just wood, no glass or phenolic. Maybe I'll make a D-97 and pad the loops just to be safe.

[algstick]

My first custom bow was a Colorado bighorn 60” 60#@29” I shot it better than any of the other bows I have owned. It was made for me in 1986.
I sold it to buy another bow. Wish I would have kept it. You rarely ever see them for sale.
I have recently  squired a 64” grand slam one piece which I really like only it’s a bit heavy for me these days 65# @ 28” great shooting bows

[ron w]

Most of the ones I have seen are always heavy. That's why I decided I needed this one, right in my specs.

[Rudy Cariello]

I had a 60" 63# take down Big Horn back in the early 80's. The thing kicked like a mule. When I talked to Fred at the Deer and Turkey Expo about it( he used to set up and sell there), he said, yep, that model  does have some hand shock eh?

[Biggie Hoffman]

Originally posted by ron w:
Most of the ones I have seen are always heavy. That's why I decided I needed this one, right in my specs.

That's why I always liked that bow. I could pick it up anytime and drive tacks with it. I always carried it with me on trips because I figured if I cut a finger or even broke one, I could still shoot it.

Great bow....I wish you the best of luck with it and as I said, if you ever want to get rid of it, I'll buy it back 8-)

[ron w]

Originally posted by Biggie Hoffman:
 

Originally posted by ron w:
Most of the ones I have seen are always heavy. That's why I decided I needed this one, right in my specs.

That's why I always liked that bow. I could pick it up anytime and drive tacks with it. I always carried it with me on trips because I figured if I cut a finger or even broke one, I could still shoot it.

Great bow....I wish you the best of luck with it and as I said, if you ever want to get rid of it, I'll buy it back 8-) [/b]

Thank you.....  

Originally posted by Biggie Hoffman:
 

Originally posted by ron w:
Most of the ones I have seen are always heavy. That's why I decided I needed this one, right in my specs.

That's why I always liked that bow. I could pick it up anytime and drive tacks with it. I always carried it with me on trips because I figured if I cut a finger or even broke one, I could still shoot it.

Great bow....I wish you the best of luck with it and as I said, if you ever want to get rid of it, I'll buy it back 8-) [/b]

I'll out bid you brother...  

[ron w]