Big Horn Bow Company - History?

[R.V.T.B.]

I have owned numerous Bighorns over the years.  I think I have ordered eight custom Bighorns, and bought a couple used. The first ones I bought back in 1989 came as a package with a Bighorn bow quiver and a take down case for $450.00.  My first two had 76 and 73 pound limbs.  Bighorn was a bit irritating to deal with as when you ordered the bow they said delivery was running 6 months or so...  bows came in in about 12 months.  But I loved the bows, shot them well and killed tons of game with them. I ordered several different Bighorns over the next ten years or so.  They went through a spell for awhile where they were affiliated with King of the Mountain, and you couldn't even get anyone to answer the phone.  Most of the bowyers working there left during that period of time. Then in the late 90's or so the company was purchased by Buddy Boker.  A heck of a nice guy who bent over backwards to make you happy with your bow and dealings with him.  I talked with him at a P.B.S. Banquet and a couple other events and he loved the company and wanted to put it back on top.  He bought all of the old Bighorn forms and even rehired some of the older personnel.  Sadly, he died while on an elk hunt.  After a couple of years, one of the original bowyers, Ron Nelson, bought the company from Buddy's family and started making bows again.  Things went well for a year or so, then into the toilet.  Myself and several of my friends who all shot Bighorns got rid of them and moved on to other bows.  You could order a bow at that time and pay for it in full, wait for a year or more to receive it and when ever you called to check on it you would hear that it was being sprayed then or there was some family emergency that put him behind.  At the same time you could go on the auction site and see brand new ones that he was building and listing over there.  Didn't sit well with a lot of people.

They are, and have always been excellent bows.  I hope someone gets a hold of the situation and turns the company around.

[Charlie Lamb]

This is about the best photo I have of my old Bighorn. What a shooter!! When I ordered that bow I got a letter from Fred asking if I was sure I wanted a bow that heavy...73# at my draw.
Pretty thoughtful guy.
 

[Joe_crash]

I don't know what happened to Bighorn bows, but I do know that one of the biggest mistakes I ever made was to sell my take down Bighorn. Right up there with selling a bamboo laminated longbow made by John Schulz.
I still remember being amazed at how smooth they were compared to the recurve I had been using.

I'm saving my pennies for a Black Widow take down. It's just as smooth as the Bighorns I've shot, and boy are they pretty!

[cacciatore]

Jim B,I really love your one piece.
Too bad that such a historical brand has gone to such a end.
They are always been at the top for their period.  I still consider my 1999 and 2000  tds as some of the best I own.

[Jack Whitmire Jr]

Great bows , first recurve I bought when I switched back in 1989 .

Worst thing that ever happened to Bighorn bow company was when King Cavalier of King of the mountain took them over.

Hope someone who wants to run a bow company takes them over . Great bows !!!!!

[knobby]

I never had any of the Custom Bighorns, but had a couple of the Colorado Bighorns. Same curved-bed limbs on a different riser. I always have considered Bighorns to be a true hunting model bow. No fancy woods, colored glass and smooth shooting. I liked them a lot.
JimB's one-piecer is an eye catcher. That's a beautiful bow to own, I must say.

[Spinealigner]

It was my first recurve, back in the early 90's.

[longrifle]

An 1980's Bighorn one-piece is my dream bow, I have a newer one right now but, would really like a older one.Any one have one they want to get rid of?

[Bernie B.]

The early Bighorns are really nice bows!  I ordered a 64" bow back in April, 1983 from Bighorn.  This was my first custom bow.  I used it for years, then didn't feel comfortable with the weight of it, so last year I sent it to The Bow Hospital (a sponsor here) and Whip took some poundage off and refinished it.  I think this was one of the last bows Joe worked on before selling the company to John Rafferty.  The bow came back absolutely perfect.  It now pulls 49# @ 28" and is a work of art.  This one piece can't be improved on in my opinion.

Bernie Bjorklund

NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin

[DTD]

Bernie,
How much wait did you have taken off? I have a set of 75# limbs I would like to get reduced.
Thanks,
Doug

[Bernie B.]

DTD - approximately 7 to 8 pounds...

Now I have a very useable bow again!

Bernie Bjorklund

NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin

[Brianlocal3]

I know there is one bower looking into trying to get in on it. He has some impressive bows of his own

[cacciatore]

Let us hope,it is a shame that such a great Company had this kind of end.

[duncan idaho]

If you send a bow in to be refinished or have the poundage reduced, can you have the limbs refitted for FF strings? I am not trying to hi- jack the thread because i have been looking for a 1980's Bighorn for several years and was wondering about having it made FF worthy. Thank you.

[Whip]

Duncan, generally I wouldn't recommend it, and didn't do it for customers when I had the business.  Reinforcing the tip overlays might do the trick on some, but my personal opinion is that if a bow was not originally built for fast flight you are best to stick with the dacron strings.  Why take a chance on a great old bow for a few more feet per second?  

The Bighorns were not built to be speed demons anyway - they were smooth shooting bows that hit what you pointed them at.  

My first custom ordered bow was a Colorado Bighorn, and like many others here, sold it in a moment of weakness and stupidity.  It is the one bow that I would buy back in a heartbeat if I ever found it.  I'd also love to have a great one piece like Bernie's - that was a sweet one!

[duncan idaho]

Whip,
    Thank you very much for your reply.