Last fall I had the opportunity to review some wonderful African shooting sticks made by our friends at Sporting Wood Creations in Mansfield, Ohio.  Those sticks, increasingly popular with hunters at home and abroad, are only one of the many safari inspired items offered by this unique company.  So, rather than focus on a specific item, this review will cover Sporting Wood Creations in general and their ever expanding and diverse line of “accoutrements” for the shooting sports enthusiasts.

Like so many successful niche businesses, SWC, came about as an extension of someone’s personal passion.  The persons in this case are Jim and Elisabeth Morando and their passion, obviously, is the shooting sports in general and Africa in particular.  Not all of us however have the savvy, or the energy, it takes to build a business, but Jim and Elizabeth do, and they have built a fine business indeed.  The products SWC offers fall into four basic categories: 

1. Hunting related items
2. Fine Collectibles
3. Clothing and Accessories
4. Fine exotic hardwood furniture for the home and camp

In addition to the African shooting sticks we reviewed last year, the hunting related items include expertly crafted gun cases made from Cape buffalo, antelope, or zebra hides, for double rifles, scoped rifles and shotguns.  They offer a nice culling belt of cape buffalo hide too as well as ammo wallets and four models of shot shell box carriers.  There is a beautiful takedown stalking staff available; it’s sort of an improved version of the traditional Scottish stalking staff.  The SWC model has a 1” thick shaft, your choice of five different exotic hardwoods with a fallow deer antler cradle at the top.  It has an aluminum tip at the bottom and an aluminum joint in the center that can be unscrewed in seconds so you can pack your staff for airline travel.  These staffs can be custom built to your height requirements.

The fine collectibles include a large variety of antique African edged weapons, clubs, spears and shields from the Zulu, Maasai and Matabele tribesmen.  They have one of the largest collections of antique African weapons in the country and many of them come from museums in Europe and the USA.  Some of the shields are basketry, some made of cane and some are rawhide (giraffe, hippo, etc.) with hair on, others hair off.  There are also some incredible custom knives made by two of Africa’s premier contemporary knife makers, Thuens Prinsloo and George Mueller.  The knives range from “using knives” to one of a kind specialty pieces complete with multi-colored and patterned damascus steel, intricate file work and exotic ivory, horn or bone handles.  They are fine examples of the best of the knife maker’s art.

The clothing and accessory category includes a jewelry quality warthog tusk key chain and two beautifully handmade “hornback” crocodile belts, one for dress and one for casual wear.  Anew line of Sterling sliver jewelry is also in the works.

The last category of goods is the fine-hardwood furniture for home and camp.  I do mean fine furniture too!  There are gorgeous bookcases, tables and chairs, display cases and gun racks made from the finest exotic hardwoods available, African Mahogany and Iroko, Rhodesian Teak, Australian Jarrah, South American Andiroba as well as American Black Walnut and Red Oak to name a few.  All the furniture SWC offers is built by a veteran cabinetmaker and is built to the highest standards and beautifully finished.  I am particularly partial to the hardwood and ivory  hippo tusk gun racks custom fit to ones favorite dangerous game rifle!  There are also folding directors chairs and tables made from Rhodesian Teak and of the stoutest construction as well as:  lighting fixtures, table lamps, hat and coat racks, zebra rugs, bookends, wildebeest rugs, warthog tusk bottle openers, wine corkscrews and walking sticks, picture frames, carved bone and/or teak salt and pepper shakers etc. You get the picture!

It is nothing new to decorate ones home with “objects of art” that evoke the emotions and represent experiences we cherish, tokens from some special time and place.  Whether you are a hunter or huntress or just a romantic about all things Africa, you owe it to yourself to investigate Sporting Wood Creations and the many interesting products they offer.  They have an impressive website with great photos at www.sportwc.com or call them at (423) 975-7626.  Happy shopping!

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