Hi and welcome to my world of Traditional Archery. Please feel free to browse through the pages using the links provided. I sincerely hope you can find something here that will be of interest or maybe assist you in the crafting of traditional archery equipment. My name is Roger Sparks and I reside in Granbury Texas. I have been into archery for many years and have been making my own equipment for about 7-8 years. Finding and cutting the wood, to shaping, sanding, finishing and finally hunting with your completed bow brings tremendous personal satisfaction and maybe somehow completes the link between modern man and our early ancestors. Although my bows are made using modern methods and tools, the ability to see and bring fourth a bow from a “chunk” of wood remains unchanged for centuries and somehow completes the circle. Most of my completed bows wind up in the hands of either friends, relatives or one of the neighboring kids, unless it somehow speaks to me during the crafting process, at which time it will be my favorite for the year. My favorite wood of choice is Osage Orange (Maclura pomifera). It is a tree in the Mulberry family. It is also known as mock orange, hedge-apple, horse-apple, hedge ball, bois d'arc and bodark. It is bright yellow to reddish orange in color and is very dense and strong when cured. It contains a milky white “sapwood” which must be removed (in most cases) before the wood can be used to craft a bow. I also enjoy working with Pacific Yew (Taxus brevifolia), whenever I can afford to purchase it. The best Yew grows at high elevations in the Cascade Mt's of Oregon and Washington up into Canada and Alaska. Yew is a coniferous tree with a milky white sapwood combined with golden honey heartwood. When working with Yew it is best to utilize the sapwood as well as the heartwood when making your bow. The sapwood is very good in tension and the heartwood is very good in compression making a perfect spring. Other wood choices include Ipe (Brazilian Walnut), Hickory (all species), Elm, Oak, Ash and most any fruit or nut bearing trees. Once again…feel free to browse around the pages here as you see fit. If you have questions concerning any topic contained in this site please feel free to email me by clicking on the archer below. You can also sign my guestbook using the link near the bottom of the page..
Thanks,
Roger “Sparky” Sparks