Welcome to the section where you get the opportunity to personalize your own bow.

In the true sense, it’s at this point where the words “custom-made” comes to play in selecting a custom bow, because I place great value in my customers being a part of the bow making process.

While I use basic templates in the early stages of each bow’s making, I never duplicate any of my bows to have a production line look. In my personal view, duplication of bows to a great extent only contradicts the entire concept of something custom-made.

My bow risers are shaped freehand. Each handmade bow, right down to the final leather trimmings is in its own right a unique once-off, never to be duplicated work piece.

If you allow me the artistic freedom, and the guidance to help you find the perfect blend between the different combinations of exotic African materials I have to my avail, I guarantee that you will receive a functional object of desire.

The exquisite African timbers I use are endemic to the densely forested region where I am based. Most of these hardwoods are heavy and very dense.

The softer and equally beautiful exotic timbers I stabilize by means of impregnating the woods with a special resin under vacuum, followed by heat curing process. The stabilizing process greatly increases the wood’s hardness and density, and also renders wood unaffected by UV, chemicals, humidity changes or moisture. Stabilized wood has a service temperature range from -54⁰C to 189⁰C.

From a variety of African timbers you can select the wood choice for your bow’s riser, inlays, riser overlays, and veneers. I also offer combinations of smooth or textured African oryx horn and giraffe bone which adds unique aesthetics to your custom bow. For a bow handle’s grip, nothing beats the rough but pleasant texture Elephant hide adds to a bow’s beauty.

Please note that due to popular demand, from time to time certain timbers may be temporary unavailable. Hardwoods like Ironwood has an extremely high density. Such timbers need to dry and season naturally with time, as accelerated shrinkage rates during exposure to kiln temperatures only cause dense hardwoods to crack and distort.

In either case, I will do my best to help you select the best combinations for the investment of functional art you are making in a Heartwood Bow.

If you have any questions or would like to connect with me, please get in touch via email, or we could get acquainted on a more personal level and fix a Skype meeting.

I look forward to being at your service.

Johnny Snyman.