Any owners with reviews out there for Big Jim’s Bows.

JohnnyBa · February 10, 2023, 08:30:21 AM

In particular the Mountain Monarch in 60" and the Thunderchild in 58"? Not many reviews on YouTube other than oohs and ahhhs over the looks, but limited actual reviews. I did see one guy on YT that had a Thunderchild and a Buffalo and he had some negative insinuations, like overrated, just didn't like, sold them all. Just wondering what the deal is. Am I naive enough to belief that any bow that is hand made at this cost should not have a negative review? I do n
Know each of us can't find every hand made bow out there a gem, but, it seems a hand made bow would be hands down better than the Chinese stuff(4 of them)I am shooting now, all of which I like better than the Samick Sage I got on a swap. I need help as I want to at least think I have a bow that will be a gem to me. Thanks again!
John

Terry Green · February 10, 2023, 08:42:38 AM

Oh, I'm in!!!

"had some negative insinuations, like overrated, just didn't like, sold them all. Just wondering what the deal is. Am I naive enough to belief that any bow that is hand made at this cost should not have a negative review?"

Don't be nieve about those *negative* comments either.

I'll be back in a bit to address this... gotta plane to catch....

Roy from Pa · February 10, 2023, 08:50:54 AM

Big Jim makes an awesome bow.

M1982 · February 10, 2023, 09:43:58 AM

I have owned a Thunderchild and while I don't own one currently it was a fantastic little bow. I wouldn't hesitate to own any of his products. Like a lot of people I trade through trying different bows. Absolutely stunning craftsmanship to go along with the quality.

Friend · February 10, 2023, 09:48:20 AM

Below is a short review of a Mountain Monarch that I submitted in 2018. I have a second MM now and have had to continually restrain myself from procuring another. I remain firmly planted in support of this wonderful bow. Note: Do have a highly coveted Thunderchild on order which is expected to be delivered in the near future.

2018 Review:Monarch Descends Big Jim Mountain

A Mountain Monarch descended the mountain and arrived, to my delight. earlier this past week.

She is an exceptional work of art and her conceptual wood combination and creative scheme is totally generated from the rare originative mind of Big Jim. Tuning was quite simple and was tuned with a 250 gn 3 blade VPA. My personal acclimation period was so low that I could have taken the bow to the field with confidence within hours of receiving her....not a common initial encounter for me. She will be making many trips to the field this fall.

Bow Specs:
Length: 64"s
Draw Wt: 51@28
Riser: Spalted Maple (natural)...Spalted Maple (red dyed)...G10(black)...Dall Sheep Horn-Riser Back
Limbs: Buckeye Burl (red dyed)...Dall Sheep Horn Tips

THANK YOU BIG JIM!!!

acedoc · February 10, 2023, 10:04:50 AM

I had put down the deposit for one of his bows before COVID- the resultant uncertainty of life (physician) made me cancel it. All research indicated a great bowyer and my close friend has a Thunder child. I keep browsing through his website and the 3 pc recurve is in my thoughts.

wood carver 2 · February 10, 2023, 10:19:51 AM

There are always haters out there. I have a 54" Thunderchild that I love to shoot. It's a looker too. A working tool that's a work of art at the same time. Dyed spalted maple, buckeye burl and ebony with moose antler overlays. It's quiet, puts an arrow right where I'm looking and it does it with authority. At 54" it's easy to maneuver through the bush. It's a two piece bow and the socket joint is firm, but easy to pull apart.
I think that you would be happy with one of Jim's bows.
Dave.

Roy from Pa · February 10, 2023, 10:48:20 AM

His shop is in Albany, Georgia.

Take a ride over and shoot some of his bows...

Then all your questions will be answered.

Terry Green · February 10, 2023, 11:00:51 AM

"There're overrated" - Who put that bozo in charge of rating tradbows?

"Just didn't like it" - is this the 1st man to like every woman he meets? Sounds like a jealous competitor to me.

And to beat them all, "I sold them all".

Really?

Then if they are so bad, why did he BUY THEM ALL???

Sounds to me like those commenters are overrated in their own minds.

I wouldn't trust whoever said those things far as I could sneeze them.

He makes a great bow, period. Great following means great reputation. He has been a Sponsor of Tradgang for years, donated numerous bows here on our St Jude Auction every year.

I have no experience with any model except the Thunder Child. I can't find any negatives what so ever. Great short bow design.

If you buy one and you don't like it you won't have a problem selling it here on the Tradgang classifieds.

Alexander Traditional · February 10, 2023, 11:46:00 AM

I have six of his bows,and still have all six of them. I don't have one of his recurves though,as I don't like recurves as much as longbows.

toddster · February 10, 2023, 02:43:57 PM

A fair and balanced review should be rating the bow for what it is, not what the "person" thinks the bow is.
What lacks on every "youtube" video I see is the person describe what they have done, to set it up, what
they expected to get from the bow vice another. Then what they have shot through the bow and why.
Then the person should state what the bow is not providing them and why (most have no clue).

Every bow properly tuned with right arrow combo will shoot fine.

JohnnyBa · February 10, 2023, 03:29:28 PM

Thanks guys for your honest answers. The negative insinuations from the YT'er were not at all going to sway me, it was love at first megapixel for that Monarch. I guess I just wanted to hear more good stuff about these bows. Like I have said, naivety and a beginner(-1 year) means I really know nothing and what I THINK that I may know comes from YT and general internet searches, and now here, with you good folks. My situation isn't the greatest for me to get out and go to an archery shop, I only know 1 and it's about an hour away, BJ is 5 hours. I am caregiver for my wife, so an hour or so a day of backyard practice and target rework, is all I can manage. I just know I will love the Monarch AND the Thunderchild. I know I have 12 months to think, but I am sure I want them to look like twins that got saved from a house fire, ya know, a charred camo look. I love this stuff! Thanks again!

strick9 · February 10, 2023, 04:48:25 PM

To find out what I liked I recently purchased a Big Jim Buffalo, A Widow PLX, a Caribow Peregrine and a JT Appolo. I compared them all in another little write up from a hunting perspective.

The Buffalo, Widow and Apollo are all basically same specs 44-46lbs at 28. The short of it is the Big Jim Buffalo for my hunting and shooting style likes won the craftsmanship and aesthetics, won the ease of shoot ability, won the smooth draw, won the quietest and for me won the best grip style ( all grips were different). It seemed audibly faster to target than the Widow and slightly behind the JT Apollo that is carbon backed but not by much at all. That said now that I know what I am looking for I will be searching out some of the same in higher poundages.

There is no way I could say a single negative thing about the Big Jim Buffalo as there are none in my opinion. Not to even mention that when I called Jim to ask questions about this bow, as it was preowned, he took my call, willingly and joyfully answered all my questions and even gave me a little schooling without knocking any of the other bowyers that I brought up. To me that speaks volumes.

GCook · February 11, 2023, 06:51:22 AM

I had a TC. 58 inch. Natural shooter. I pointed, it hit.
I couldn't tame the noise. Figured out how to, just wasn't wanting to shoot an arrow that weak in spine. Traded it for a TT. Good bow too but I should have just bought new arrows for the TC.

A 2 piece MM is in my future. I really just prefer the looks and feel of a one/two piece over a three piece bow.

MCNSC · February 11, 2023, 07:55:11 AM

I've never had or shot one of BJs bows. But if you look at build time and resale values that tells you a lot about them and the following that they have. I have met BJ a time or two , stand up guy .

Trenton G. · February 11, 2023, 09:47:04 AM

I had a 60" buffalo which I sold since it didn't get along with my longer draw length. That was MY fault, not the bows. Despite the bit of finger pinch and stack that I got, the bow still shot fantastic and the craftsmanship was second to none. I wouldn't hesitate to get a longer version of the Buffalo at some point. I'd be really interested in trying out a mountain monarch as well