About Ric Anderson
Ric was one of the pioneers on the Bowsite and I knew right away that we would become friends. Ric is a successful bowyer, and an equally successful bowhunter. He is always willing to share his vast amounts of knowledge, and always willing to work hard to defend bowhunting. His dedication to the sport shows in every last detail of his bows and you'd need to look real hard to find a nicer person. We were thrilled when Ric accepted our offer to be the Stickbow's on-line bowyer as he was the perfect fit for character, ethics and experience.
Welcome to The Stickbow, the companion site and hunting partner of The Bowsite. This segment of The Stickbow is for all of those who would like to accept the challenge of making their own laminated bow, as well as others who have already undertaken this adventure or are contemplating it. Making your own bow can be a time consuming and sometimes frustrating project, but carrying and shooting your handmade bow in the field makes the hours spent well worth the effort, and it will add another dimension to the already fantastic sport of traditional archery. .
Every bowyer has their own opinion on bow design, but the basic steps to making a bow are fairly universal. It is these basic steps that this column would first like to present. Chapter 1 is a glossary of archery terms. Most of these terms will be used in the bow building process, so feel free to copy this and all other chapters for further reference. Future columns will cover a variety of topics, including:
- Longbows and recurves
- Sources for supplies and materials
- Lamination configurations
- Necessary tools and equipment
- Bow form construction
- Heat box construction
- Limbwood comparisons
- Descriptions of many exotic and domestic riserwoods. Pick a color, its out there
- Glues and finishes
- Secret(?) tricks and tips
- Plus many more
If you have questions, please e-mail me and I will try to answer them as soon as possible. On occasion these Frequently Asked Questions and answers will be used in an installment for the benefit of all. Also, if you have any suggestions on topics that you would like to see cussed, discussed or clarified, again let me know. One last, very important point................have fun! - Ric Anderson