Big Horn Bow Company - History?

[ThePushArchery]

Can someone with some knowledge of G. Fred and his period of making the Big Horn Bows give some history?

Bows Descriptions

Years he ran the company

pretty much anything you have on the subject!

Thanks guys,
Matt

[bigbadjon]

You may want to bring this up in the collector forums.

[ammoeater]

Hey Matt,

I posted a similar thread in the Trad History forum, but got no response.  I do know G. Fred started Bighorn in 1977 and sold it in 1991.  I was trying to get some info, because I traded for a Bighorn 15th Anniversary T/D that has G. Fred Asbell's name on it.

If I figure correctly, a 15th Anniversary bow would have been made in 1992, after he sold the company, so I don't know what the deal is with my bow?

Chris

[ThePushArchery]

Chris, very interesting there... Hmm..

I don't know much about the company, and there isn't much out there on the Web on the Asbell days of Big Horn.

[shick]

Matt, pm sent.  Give me a shout when you can.
Shick

[glass76]

Here is a 1981 model.     First bow I had made for me.

[shick]

Matt, enjoyed our conversation.  Good luck with the td.  Scott, always good to see the older one piece bighorns.  Fine looking bow. Happy belated birthday, mine was the 28th.
Shick

[Charlie Lamb]

glass76... now that's what a hunting bow should look like. Classy bow for sure.

I have a similar vintage 64" model that wasn't the fastest on the block, but danged if it kill about everything I ever pointed it at.

[Pat B.]

I agree wholeheartedly !!!  I had several of these bows.. A couple of the curved bed TD's, a one piece or two and a flat bed TD. The curved bed TD's and the one piece were my favorites. Man, I killed a lot of game with those bows.  And darned if I didn't let them all get away. Just as well I suppose, I couldn't draw them now as they were all heavy weights.  I hurt my elbow once and borrowed a friends pansy weight set of limbs for a spell, they were 60 @ 28. Most of mine were either 70 or 75 at 28 and I drew 30". Killed game animals quite well..

[Blackhawk]

Asbell owned Bighorn Bowhunting Co from l977 to '83 with a partner, Denny Behn. Fred bought Denny out and owned it by himself until '91. At that time the top-of-the-line Bighorn sold for $395.00.

Are they a hot collectible?  Not really...but still a good bow.

As for Fred's partner Denny Behn, he loved the short recurve (around 52").  Is it any wonder that Steve Gorr's 52" Cascade bows have that Denny Behn influence?

[JimB]

The first year bighorn was in business,the one piece bows sold for $120.I ordered this 54" bow the second year and the price had gone up to $180.I'm told they made very few of the 54" ones but I don't know how many that was.The bows had a gloss finish those years.

The year after I got the one piece,they introduced the takedown and the new,dull,textured finish.I got one of those in 56" length and the price was $225.

Denny Behn has been sculpting game head mannikins for the largest taxidermy supply company for quite a few years now.Quite the talented guy.
 

[Keith Zimmerman]

Just because GFred's name is on the bow doesn't mean he owned the company at the time he signed it.

[Over&Under]

JimB

That is cool looking bow, love the lines on that one!

[GRINCH]

JimB Thats one fine looking bow,would love to find one like it.

[straitera]

Bought a one-piece Bighorn LB. Beaut! KNow nothing about it other than it shoots as well as any other straight grip Hill/style bows I own. Round Bighorn sticker on the top belly. Is this the same Bighorn?

[Charlie Lamb]

A friend of mine from Wyoming made a very popular Hill style longbow before Fred got his company going and called them Bighorns.
His name is Ron Maulding.

Fred's bows were more of a mild RD bow and typically a little shorter than Ron's.

[Joseph]

I had one of those longbows and wish I still did although I hadn't figured out how to shoot it which is why I sold it.  It was a nice longbow though.

[straitera]

Thanks Charlie. That's it exactly. Real good shooter too & I used it much of this season.

[Bowwild]

Those Bighorn recurves are sure nice.  They remind me of two brands I own: Pittsley Predator and Rose Oak Super Wildcat.

I'm going to break down and get one of the Bighorns though. A fellow here has offered a very good deal on a lefty but it is 62" and I prefer 58 or 60".

[joekeith]

I've gotta old beater BigHorn.  It's a 2000 model.  Let me see if I can find a pic....
 

She's a real good shooter.  I've been shootin' her a lot more lately instead of just leavin' her hang on the wall and admirin' her.

How many bows have ya seen with gold leaf on it?

 

I just wish the owner of the company would step up and make it happen, or find someone who would and sell it to him.  There's lot's of fine BigHorns out there and the company deserves a "real" owner, that cares.