Hank Parker -

Booner · 02-16-2010, 09:17 AM

Rick,
I love ol' Hank Parker. Grew up watching him. Can you tell us how Hank became involved and a little of what is on the table with him for 2010.
Bo

Rick · 02-16-2010, 06:55 PM

Well I had been fiddling with this head for nearly 10 years. The first year we came out with the head none of the other big names were doing mechanicals. My partner and I were a little cautious, wondering if the market was ready for mechanicals. We saw a need here in Az. but could we sell them. Well the first ATA show we went to, all of the other big names came out with a mechanical, and we got left behind in the dust. I didn't have pockets big enough to compete. We tried to find investors, but at that time, mech heads were such a controversial subject, no one wanted to get involved.

Well I was stuborn and kept plodding along. I had a loyal following of satisfied customers, and even without advertising we seemed to keep the company afloat. Biggest reason is I never quite my real job, so all of the profits went right back into the company in the form of inventory and the like.

Basically for 10 years I worked this broadhead thing for free.

Last year I got a call out of the blue from none other than Hank Parker. It seems he was in a deer camp, and one of my customers was there showing him my head. Hank is a huge mechanical fan, and fell in love with my design.

We arranged to meet in Vegas during one of his fishing expos. I had dinner with Him and his wife.

I have to tell you that Hank is one of the most kind hearted, considerate person I have met in quite a while. To date I have never seen him turn down a request for an autograph, (except mine) or not taken the time to acknowledge some one who has tried to talk with him.

The botom line is that Hank has so much confidence in the head and it's abilities, that he decided to help me get it marketed.

As for 2010 you'll see the same heads we offered in 2009. You will however see some new things in 2011. We have some new designs that are in prototyping. I have taken a few critters here in Az with one of them.

I'd post a few pics but I'm not quite up to speed on how to do it.

I will say for those out there who have not visited my "Sonoran" web page, that this head was originally design to harvest elk. Since it's design, my hunting camp, (me, my son, my brother, business partner and his dad) have taken 52 elk with them. An Arizona elk tag is not easy to come by any more and I would not risk the hunt on any product that I did not have faith in, including my own.

Shoot Straight!
Rick

Rick · 02-16-2010, 07:09 PM

Here's one of 09 kills in Az

Rick · 02-16-2010, 07:12 PM

Here's a couple more

Rick · 02-16-2010, 07:20 PM

The previous deer was a muley from Tx

This one is from AZ. Along with my son's 1st bull

Rick · 02-16-2010, 07:25 PM

Here's a javalina that suffered a "Swhack Attack"

Super D · 02-19-2010, 03:18 PM

Do the heads really make a "schwack" sound?

Rick · 02-19-2010, 11:06 PM

Hey Super D,

They do make a distinct swhack sound when they impact an animal. It's a combination of the head hitting the animal and the wing blades swinging back an impacting the ferrule.

Rick

richa3md · 03-04-2010, 05:27 PM

Can what is the minimum poundage that these heads should be shot out of. I am shooting a Darton Excel pulling 65lbs 29 inch draw.

richa3md · 04-26-2010, 12:10 AM

Wow nobody here?

BuckFeverLodge · 04-26-2010, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richa3md

Wow nobody here?

Rich - It seems that Rick is busier than all get out. He hasn't been on for about a month now. Hey, we all get busy ya know.

If you are thinking of shooting these heads, I see no reason to not believe they will work for your poundage. 65lbs is more than enough to shoot any mechanical I'm aware of. But then again, I'm no expert.

Rick · 04-27-2010, 11:39 PM

Hey Guy's,

I have to appologize for my absence!

My REAL job has had me working 60-70 hour work weeks for the last two months now.

Things should be slowing up, so I should be a little more reliable checking posts.

65 ft lbs are more than enough to use the heads.

My 13 year old recently took a nice muley with only 50ft lbs.

RIck

richa3md · 04-28-2010, 03:41 PM

Since I am new to this bow hunting thing I was told to go with a fixed blade for its reliability. From what I have read the swhacker seems to be a pretty darn reliable mechanical broadhead. I like the 125 grain model with it's huge cut. Any ideas on it's failure rate, every broadhead has one even fixedblades. I am aware it uses heat shrink instead of an o-ring which is intriguing. Just inquiring a little more about this really cool looking broadhead.

Rick · 04-29-2010, 11:15 PM

The only failure I have ever had, if you want to call it a failure, is having the small wing blade fold over when you get it up against a large leg bone from an elk.

The beauty of the design is that even if the wing folds over, the main blade's tip will be past the raduis of the bone allowing it to open.

Of the 52 elk we have taken this has only happened once.

No other issues.

I've been doing the broadhead thing for along time, but my hunting comes first. I never go in the field with ANYTHING I think has the potential to fail.

I cherish the few bull tags I can manage to draw anymore here in Az, and shots at B&C Coues bucks do not come along every day. So everything I use from my optics, to my boots, to my bow, or my heads, have to work, and work right every time.

My youngest son will be hunting Az spring bear here in a few weeks. Spot and stalk only, no baiting allowed. He just turned 14 and is only pulling around 50 lbs. He'll be using the 125's. Hopefully I'll have some pics to show. The hunt lasts till July 31st. The hotter it gets (100-110 degrees) the better the odds.

richa3md · 04-29-2010, 11:48 PM

Thats awesome! Looking forward to seeing pictures!

02-16-2010, 09:17 AM	#1 (permalink)
Booner Administrator Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Arkansas USA Posts: 952	Hank Parker Rick, I love ol' Hank Parker. Grew up watching him. Can you tell us how Hank became involved and a little of what is on the table with him for 2010. Bo

04-26-2010, 12:10 AM	#10 (permalink)
richa3md 130gr Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Mid Michigan Posts: 546	Wow nobody here? __________________ 09' PSE Super Short 29 in and 72.5# and 125 gr G5 Striker Magnum!!!

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02-16-2010, 06:55 PM	#2 (permalink)
Rick Broadhead Maker Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 18	Well I had been fiddling with this head for nearly 10 years. The first year we came out with the head none of the other big names were doing mechanicals. My partner and I were a little cautious, wondering if the market was ready for mechanicals. We saw a need here in Az. but could we sell them. Well the first ATA show we went to, all of the other big names came out with a mechanical, and we got left behind in the dust. I didn't have pockets big enough to compete. We tried to find investors, but at that time, mech heads were such a controversial subject, no one wanted to get involved. Well I was stuborn and kept plodding along. I had a loyal following of satisfied customers, and even without advertising we seemed to keep the company afloat. Biggest reason is I never quite my real job, so all of the profits went right back into the company in the form of inventory and the like. Basically for 10 years I worked this broadhead thing for free. Last year I got a call out of the blue from none other than Hank Parker. It seems he was in a deer camp, and one of my customers was there showing him my head. Hank is a huge mechanical fan, and fell in love with my design. We arranged to meet in Vegas during one of his fishing expos. I had dinner with Him and his wife. I have to tell you that Hank is one of the most kind hearted, considerate person I have met in quite a while. To date I have never seen him turn down a request for an autograph, (except mine) or not taken the time to acknowledge some one who has tried to talk with him. The botom line is that Hank has so much confidence in the head and it's abilities, that he decided to help me get it marketed. As for 2010 you'll see the same heads we offered in 2009. You will however see some new things in 2011. We have some new designs that are in prototyping. I have taken a few critters here in Az with one of them. I'd post a few pics but I'm not quite up to speed on how to do it. I will say for those out there who have not visited my "Sonoran" web page, that this head was originally design to harvest elk. Since it's design, my hunting camp, (me, my son, my brother, business partner and his dad) have taken 52 elk with them. An Arizona elk tag is not easy to come by any more and I would not risk the hunt on any product that I did not have faith in, including my own. Shoot Straight! Rick

02-19-2010, 03:18 PM	#7 (permalink)
Super D 85gr Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: SE MO Posts: 47	Do the heads really make a "schwack" sound?

02-19-2010, 11:06 PM	#8 (permalink)
Rick Broadhead Maker Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 18	Hey Super D, They do make a distinct swhack sound when they impact an animal. It's a combination of the head hitting the animal and the wing blades swinging back an impacting the ferrule. Rick

03-04-2010, 05:27 PM	#9 (permalink)
richa3md 130gr Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Mid Michigan Posts: 546	Can what is the minimum poundage that these heads should be shot out of. I am shooting a Darton Excel pulling 65lbs 29 inch draw.

04-27-2010, 11:39 PM	#12 (permalink)
Rick Broadhead Maker Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 18	Hey Guy's, I have to appologize for my absence! My REAL job has had me working 60-70 hour work weeks for the last two months now. Things should be slowing up, so I should be a little more reliable checking posts. 65 ft lbs are more than enough to use the heads. My 13 year old recently took a nice muley with only 50ft lbs. RIck

04-28-2010, 03:41 PM	#13 (permalink)
richa3md 130gr Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Mid Michigan Posts: 546	Since I am new to this bow hunting thing I was told to go with a fixed blade for its reliability. From what I have read the swhacker seems to be a pretty darn reliable mechanical broadhead. I like the 125 grain model with it's huge cut. Any ideas on it's failure rate, every broadhead has one even fixedblades. I am aware it uses heat shrink instead of an o-ring which is intriguing. Just inquiring a little more about this really cool looking broadhead.

04-29-2010, 11:15 PM	#14 (permalink)
Rick Broadhead Maker Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 18	The only failure I have ever had, if you want to call it a failure, is having the small wing blade fold over when you get it up against a large leg bone from an elk. The beauty of the design is that even if the wing folds over, the main blade's tip will be past the raduis of the bone allowing it to open. Of the 52 elk we have taken this has only happened once. No other issues. I've been doing the broadhead thing for along time, but my hunting comes first. I never go in the field with ANYTHING I think has the potential to fail. I cherish the few bull tags I can manage to draw anymore here in Az, and shots at B&C Coues bucks do not come along every day. So everything I use from my optics, to my boots, to my bow, or my heads, have to work, and work right every time. My youngest son will be hunting Az spring bear here in a few weeks. Spot and stalk only, no baiting allowed. He just turned 14 and is only pulling around 50 lbs. He'll be using the 125's. Hopefully I'll have some pics to show. The hunt lasts till July 31st. The hotter it gets (100-110 degrees) the better the odds.

04-29-2010, 11:48 PM	#15 (permalink)
richa3md 130gr Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Mid Michigan Posts: 546	Thats awesome! Looking forward to seeing pictures!