Asbell era Custom Bighorn

[South MS Bowhunter]

I like Victor (highcountry) was new to traditional bows and ordered mine too heavy and with a too long of a draw length basing everything on my compound (63# @31").

I remember the guy I spoke to (it wasnt Fred) trying to get me to think different about the draw and weight but I let pride get in the way of sound judgement    

The bow was ordered in early 1989 and received just before the deer season opened, No deer taken until 1999 but did have success on smaller game and kept the fires burning till then.



Still have the bow and have thought of selling it a few times but just havn't been able to get past the sentimental value of it.







Great Bows!

[longrifle]

Bighorn was my first recurve and custom way back in 1989,When I was 19 years old,remember paying a whopping $232 for it and that was with a quiver.The lines on a Asbell Bighorn are still my favorite.I sold that bow to buy a 1piece that I still have but ,would love to have one 55 lbs.

[Orion]

Had several T/D Bighorns in the late 80s, and a one-piece.  Very nice bows.  Solid and dependable.  Unfortunately, I no longer have them, but I do know where one of them is.  Hope to get it back one day.  Also hope to find a 60-inch or 56-inch one piece Bighorn Grand Slam. That's my holy grail right now.

[Sean B]

They seem to be pretty good work horse bows!  I'm loving mine!!  I was never into speed, I just like quiet and smoothness.  This bow seems to fit the bill.  My buddy said that he only had it afeild once or twice, the bow is mint!  The bow came with a set of 56" limbs, I bought a set of 60" on the classifieds.

[texophilite]

I still own three Bighorn TD's. The first one I bought in 84 and shot a pronghorn with it that fall.
The next year I was lucky enough to take a Utah mule deer and a Texas white tale.
One of the bows is the first one I ever saw with exotic wood in the riser.
The still stackup very well against anything on the market. My opinion.  L.

[texophilite]

I really can spell whitetail but just do not type very well. Where is the spell check on this thing.  L.

[Sean B]

Texophile. the funny thing is.....I didn't even notice!!!

[Eric Krewson]

My first and only custom bow was a Bighorn I ordered around 1990. I sold it to commit to my selfbows. Wonderful bow, should have hung on to it. I alway wondered where it ended up, it had my name on the riser along with the bows name "Thor".

[stagetek]

Had one in the mid-eighties. It was 65# and became too much to draw. I sold it in the late 90's. Great bow. Wish I could have found lighter limbs. It was 66", very smooth and quiet.

[JimB]

I ordered my first, during the second year Bighorn was in business.Fred and Dennie Behn were partners then.That was about 1978.The bow was a 54" one piece which I still have.I believe there were only a handful made.The following year was the first year for the takedown and the flat,textured finish and I ordered one of those.I sent them a model of how I wanted the grips to be and they nailed it.

[joe ashton]

I've got one from that same era.  I shot my first trad animal with it.  I moved on to long bows but kept it and it is not for sale (ever)

[Orion]

JimB.  Beautiful bow.  That's the kind I'm looking for.  Be sure to get in touch with me if you ever decide to part with it.

[Zbone]

JimB - Yeah, cool bow. Haven't ever seen a one piece except for a photo in one of Fred's books...

My custom Bighorn T/D was also crafted in 1988, and was the first custom bow I ever owned and I still shoot it occasionally.

Mine is a 52 incher, pulling around 52 lbs at 28"...

[Irish Archer]

I bought my 64" one-piece back in the winter of '82, and I still have it. Probably always will.

Thinking about sending it to the Bow Hospital to reduce it's 63lb pull. I think Fred called the one-piece a "Grand Slam"?

[longrifle]

I wish someone would pick up and start making them
again,like they did back when Glenn Nelson was the head bowyer,he could shape a grip like no other.

[Dave Lay]

Actually asbell era bows included a few years of flat bed limbs as well. The limp tips are smaller than the king era bows and the hand writing is alot  different. I have a good friend who is a friend of Freds and has a Colorado bighorn  flat bed bow that Fred built for himself back in the 80's , he has kinda schooled me on these bows...the first pic is one I bought new in the 80's from Mr. Asbell  
 

 

[highcountry]

When I pull out my old BH, I can't help thinking; Why did I have Fred put a stabilizer bushing in!  Never used one, just back then I thought bows had to have one. Fred asked me about it and I told him maybe I would shoot some fish with it. Bet he had a good laugh when I said that. Last bow I would play in the water with.  

[WRV]

I LOVE MINE!!!

[DGW]

My fist custom was a 72# Bighorn Grand Slam and ordered a T/D when he started making them it had 56" and 52" limbs, wish I still had it.
I still have the T/D bought in about 1986 and it is awsome and will never sell it.
I still have a long and short riser curved bed and a short flat bed and a bow that is later maybe Bud Boker or made by Rich.

[vintage-bears]

If interested,
I have a really nice asbell bighorn take down in the classified section. 60" and 60#@30" or 54# at 28".