STILLWATER, Okla. ( KFOR ) – Searching the landscape of scrubby forest along the Red River basin, one tree still grows that’s prized by Native American hunters and modern ones too. “It’s native to Oklahoma and all through the southeast,” states longtime bowyer Tommy Leach.
“The primary wood I use is Osage or bois d’arc.” On a cool Saturday morning, a small group of teachers gather with another group of U.S.
Military veterans to teach them the ancient art of bow making. GREAT STATE: An Epic Trailride: L and L Manquest is one family’s quest to come together “It’s a little bit art and a little sculpture,” explains Leach. He made his first Osage bow more than 30 years ago.
“I’ve got the first bow I ever built,” he boasts, “and it still shoots.” Fellow bowyer Leo Staples started a short while later. You bevel on the side and then roll,” he demonstrates to a student with sharp draw knife.
With sharp blades and sweat equity they teach their charges to carefully carve away until they find a single growth ring in the wood that will run along the entire length of their future bow. Staples tells us, “the traditional way is you chase this thing down to one growth ring. It’s the hardest thing to learn but once you do it becomes easy.
You can almost feel it and hear it.” Mathew Flores served in both Army and Air Force learning the most advanced weapons systems. Making his own is something he’s always wanted to do.
“It’s work,” he laughs whi.
