Kicking It For USA
We take great pride in what we do. Our team is like family and our devotion and detication to our craft shows in the work we do.
The Mastermind
The Mastermind is the genius behind all our designs and the talented bowyer who skillfully creates each piece.
The Boss
The Boss oversees all and if it doesn't have her approval, it doesn't fly. She is the ultimate quality control.
The Digital Pixie
The Digital Pixie creates all the digital content and makes the website do what it is supposed to do.
The Expert
The Expert is an in house consultant and tester with expertise that that is surpassed by none.
The Fletcher
The Fletcher is the head of the Arrow Department, crafting arrows that are a perfect accompaniment to Kick Ash Bows.
Kick Ash Bows
History & Origin
McAfee’s heritage goes back to Colonsay, Scotland. His ancestors, the Macfies, were legendary hunters and fighters equally using bows and swords. “Given my family heritage, I guess it was destined I became a Knights Templar with an interest in longbows and how they were used in battle. When the shutdown happened due to COVID-19, I decided since I had this awesome piece of ash out at the barn, it was a great time to make that longbow I have always wanted to make. I started out trying to find a bow in a piece of ash wood and literally found myself instead.”
What McAfee calls ‘Kick Ash Wood’ is mainly American white ash, which is different from European ash that was used along with yew in Europe to make longbows. “At the upper echelon of bow woods you have yew and osage. Many think that these are the top two best bow woods. Then your white woods: hickory, ash, oak and so on. With the white woods such as ash, I have found we need to go for a broader flat-limb bow with really straight grain and it makes for a really smoothshooting, forgiving bow with a decent cast. Ash is easy to work, takes heat treating and bending under heat really well. It has been looked down upon and somewhat pushed aside, but we are finding good strong solid ash now in Tennessee.”
Kick Ash Bows is presently a small company capable of producing two bows a week, and it has added one more designer, named C1N, with hopes of doubling production by the end of 2021. “Ash wood has got a bad name the past couple of decades due to the damage done by emerald ash borers. Before this pest hit, ash was used for all kinds of items, including toboggans, hockey sticks, canoe paddles, tool handles, hardwood floors, electric guitars and baseball bats. Ash wood is, in fact, the source of myth and legend around the world.”
“It is all a part of our overall mission to reinstate the good name and reputation that ash wood once held. We want the world to know that ash is not a fourletter word!” says McAfee.
Team Member Spotlight
Meet Our Bowyer... Boo McAfee
Before he started making bows, Boo did many other exciting things. As a drummer, he played with some of the top artists such as Donna Fargo, Bellamy Brothers, Eddie Money, Atlanta, Eric Hamilton and John Carter Cash over the years. He co-founded the Nashville Percussion Institute, formed various companies, invented the patented technology Drumometer, and created World's Fastest Drummer.
Boo, Willie Nelson, Hank Cochran and the ever-lovely Billy Don Burns are featured on album entitled "Heroes, Friends & Other Troubled Souls" in the song Patsy, a tribute to the legend herself.
Track 7: Patsy
Boo was also featured in "Breaking And Entering" a 2010 documentary that highlighted his journey into the Guinness Book of World Records was featured. He set the record for the Longest Drumming Marathon at 738 hours!
Boo and his lovely wife Laura also established Drum-O-Farm in 2006 where where they raise goats, facilitate a successful agritourism business, and oversee all Kick Ash Bow operations.
We are not sure how he ever has free time, but we do know that we are extremely glad to have him as part of the Kick Ash Bows Team!