How to Make an Iroquois Lacrosse Stick

You can learn about the history of lacrosse by making an Iroquois-style lacrosse stick that is legal for standard play. The game, which was created by the Iroquois and Cherokee Indian tribes of North America, is fast-paced and uses large sticks to catch and throw balls. The stick, or crosse, can be created using fresh-cut wood and store-bought lacing. Besides game play, the stick can also be a decorative addition to any Native American art collection. With a few raw materials and some wood handiwork, you can inexpensively create a lacrosse stick.

Things You'll Need

  • 4-foot stave of fresh-cut hardwood (usually hickory or birch)
  • Hatchet
  • Large square sheet of plywood
  • Piece of wood at least 10- by 10-inches
  • Jig saw
  • 4 wood screws
  • Steam bending apparatus
  • Wood carving knife
  • Power drill with 1/8-inch drill bit
  • 126 inches of lacrosse stick lacing
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut a stave of fresh hardwood to 4 feet in length.

    • 2

      Split the stave with a hatchet into two equal halves. Leaving the bark on the wood, soak one half of the stave in tepid water for 24 hours.

    • 3

      Create a bending jig using the plywood as a base. The plywood bending jig should resemble the shape of the lacrosse stick basket.

    • 4

      Cut a piece of wood with a jig saw 6 to 10 inches in width and length, and an inch in depth. Cut a 10-degree curve into the top of the wood piece then secure it with wood screws to the plywood.

    • 5

      Insert the soaked half-stave into a steam bending appartus until the steam reaches a temperature of at least 220 degrees Fahrenheit.

    • 6

      Remove the stave from the appartus and carefully bend it along the curve of the jig form, securing the outer edges with wood screws. The bark should peel away from the outer part of the stave during this process. Allow the stave to dry in the bend jig for four to six days before removing it.

    • 7

      Carve a small indent into your main shaft to make a neck bend at the outer base of your curve. The stick should be approximately 2 feet in length and resemble a question mark.

    • 8

      Drill four holes a half-inch apart on the main bend of the stick with an eight-inch drill bit. Drill 10 additional holes a half-inch apart along the short side of the bend, opposite the main shaft.

    • 9

      Thread lacrosse lacing through the holes, using a basket weaving technique, and secure the lacing with small knots.