FRANK EICHOLTZ
1908

Hunter, Tournament Shooter, Inovator, Developer

Born in Burlington, Kansas, January 28, 1908. A resident of California since 1930.
Though a fine hunter and tournament competitor during the 1940's and 1950's, Frank Eicholtz's finest contributions to archery was in developing new concepts and materials in making bows and arrows.

Throughout his career Frank is credited with many firsts that most 'modern" Archers take for granted. Developments such as: extra long recurves; extra long working recurves; take down, center shot bow handles; using maple for bow cores; the endless type bowstring.

During the early 1940's after trying the turkish thumb ring Frank developed the "bowlock" which was the 1st release accepted by both the N.A.A. and the N.F.A.A.

Frank developed the first permanently straight fiberglass arrow shafts, later to be known as "Micro-flights".

During the late 1930's and early l940's Frank used such materials as: Sinew, Water Buffalo Horn, Bamboo, and 2nd growth Hickory; searching for materials better than the then customary woods used for making bows. During the mid-1970's he became the first to use fiberglass on bow limbs and in 1973 was the first to start using graphite for bow limb backing and facing. Frank Eicholtz was the first manufacturer to offer bow fiberglass to the public, making it possible for other bowyers to share in this "new" development.

Frank Eicholtz - Master bowyer and Master contributor to the progress of Archery. Inducted 1978