A note from the owner and bowyer, Dylan Bruce:
I grew up in the Green Mountain National Forest, endlessly exploring the natural world around me. I fell in love with traditional archery at an early age, and as an adolescent I was first inspired to build my own bows by master bowyer Jim Duclos, founder of Green Mountain Longbow. After college in central New York and graduate school in Colorado, I moved back to Vermont to pursue a career as a statistics analyst. My background in empirical research directly transfers to how I design, test, and hand build Ironwood Archery’s bows and arrows.
I'm very careful about the materials we use, the saw mills we source from, and the environmental impact we have. You can read more about that below.
I welcome any questions or outreach from potential customers or interested parties.
All my best,
Dylan
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The “Ironwood” Namesake
Nearly every culture has at least one tree species referred to as “Ironwood.” The common element in such woods is exceptional density, durability, and tool-worthiness. These trees are the namesake for Ironwood Archery. Here in Vermont, our Ironwood is the American Hop-hornbeam (Ostrya virginiana; aka. “Hardack”). Where these trees were once valued for tool handles, they are now harvested solely as a high-BTU firewood.
Ironwood Archery is named in appreciation for naturally occurring materials. The company logo is an arrow passing through an anvil and growing into our local Ironwood tree, the American Hop-hornbeam. While synthetic materials are a necessary and important part of modern life, the only way to grow a more durable and sustainable future is for manufacturers to pair their expert craftsmanship with renewable natural resources.
My Values
1. Materials Matter
Sustainability is my top concern! I work hard to reclaim scrap hardwood before it’s burned, find old stock piles in barns, and select lumber from responsible local sources. My goals are not only focused on continuous design improvement, but also in minimizing the environmental impact of my shop.
2. Total Transparency
As a small operation, I sell individual handmade bows rather than maintaining an inventory of identical models. I will never sell a bow that isn’t 100% functional. However, price will reflect bows that are aesthetically perfect vs. those that are perfectly functional. You are always welcome to ask about a particular product, a design, or my sustainability efforts.
3. Future Mindedness
Ironwood Archery is a small but growing business. As I increase the number of products I sell, I must address the dark side of manufacturing. Currently, my greatest concern is the fiberglass used in the laminated bows. Fiberglass is a fantastic synthetic material due to its durability and countless applications. However, the environmental costs of making fiberglass, as well as disposing of it, are high. Currently I am exploring alternative materials such as bamboo laminations.