As a historian for the San Diego Archers, it never ceases to amaze me how little "Traditional Archers" know about the history of traditional archery beyond the Bear Archery Co.

Even here how many, "Traditional Archers", know who the first person was to use fiberglass as a lamination, the first state to open up a deer season to bow hunters, or where the nation's oldest archery club is located? A few will know the world's oldest archery book but how about the oldest known record of archery?

One of the world's largest collections of archery artifacts is housed in San Diego, how many knew that? The man who donated it was an expert on a large portion of the archery traditions from a number of civilizations around the world. Can you name him?

I think Traditional Archery is so much more than a stick and string that didn't exist before 1946.

Convince me otherwise.

"Convince me otherwise."

Why? I have no need to know the intricate details of archery history in order to enjoy it in the present. Some will have great interest in archery history..others, not so much.

Jim there is also a great deal of traditional archery here in Michigan as well. I enjoy the history and I hope that is does not get lost in time.

I've always be interested by the history of the bow here in North America. The American Indians, Pope and Young, and the Thompson brothers etc. To some, the bow is just a tool to hunt or practice with but to others, it's much more.

There are museums across America that hold little known yet very interesting items and facts about numerous things in our lives that interest people. But, like Mike B said, we don’t need to know the history to enjoy the sport today.

I know the answers to your questions, except for the donor, because I’m interested and, over the sixty years I’ve been shooting bows, have read, visited and taken an interest in the past. But that’s a different enjoyment than taking my bow and hitting a target or animal.

I will read all the history when I can't hunt anymore.

I applaud your interest in, discovery of, and publicizing of the history of archery. To me it does not matter if it is the ancient, traditional, or hi-tech kind,... and I don't really care what part of the country it comes from, it all is part of our storied history. My contemporary archery experiences are enjoyed and enhanced by an awareness and appreciation for what happened before I drew my first breath, let alone before I drew my first bow. Without any doubt, it matters,...it ALL matters. If someone is an archer and it does not, then I believe they are missing out on a great part of the archery experience. I say thank-you to those who have created and then also to those who have studied, revealed, and preserved the history of our sport. Well done, well done...

History is fascinating when I want to dig in a certain area. I don't need to know it all at once. The word trad or traditional erks me. I shoot what I want in any form I choose. So trad off.

Do you know who invented the carburetor, fuel injection, rack and pinon steering or any other part on your car? Why not?

If you want people to get interested in archery history, you definitely don't do it like you did. You engage them, educate them, pique their interest.

I do not know the answers and I'm just fine not knowing it either. I just know I like it and that is good enough for me.

Yes that is so true and I see it all the time at our archery club. I was at a shoot recently and was amazed at how little the members of that club knew about the history of their own club.

I enjoy archery history, some collectors and clubs make an effort to preserve it. Unfortunately, most do not understand the the history of the United States, let alone archery.

"The stick, and string that did not exist before 1946" You must be referring to synthetic glass wood lam bows, and calling them trad. I simply will not refer to those bows as trad. Trad to who? If you were only ever exposed to a compound bow that would be trad to you in the context of the word. There is a world of bow history out there since it's inception. Some love the study of it ,and others don't. Just another personal choice. I know enough to satisfy my curiosity.

The coolest thing for me is when I am out in the field, woods, water, whatever...........and come across an artifact. Maybe a point of some type, maybe a net weight, or maybe even a round stone with a very uniquely placed small hole in it.

It makes me stop and wonder/think about what it was like many, many, seasons ago.

The area I live in is located at the confluence of a very large river which was a mecca for Native Americans and early settlers to travel by and reside near. Google Shikellamy and you can get an idea.

Good Shooting->->->->Craig

I'd like to encourage the original poster of this thread to share his knowledge with us in a positive way so that his passion can be shared by others. Please tell us so that this important heritage can be more broadly known. Isn't that your true objective?

Here in Wisconsin there is a group called the Wisconsin Bowhunting Heritage Foundation. This 20 year old group is composed of about a dozen volunteers who began as an offshoot of the WI Bowhunters Assoc. but now have established their own identity and have created a WI Bowhunting Museum. I'll try and post a few photo of the inside of their museum.

WBHF Museum

WBHF Museum

WBHF Museum

The WI Bowhunting Museum is located at the headquarters of the WI Bowhunters Assoc., in Clintonville, WI, is family friendly, and is open to bowhunters and the general public free of charge. If you're traveling through WI consider giving it a visit. Open during normal business hours but you may wish to give a call first to schedule an appointment, (715) 823-4670.

For those who asked about the person who donated that collection. Here's my post from 2017 detailing the collection.

https://leatherwall.bowsite.com/TF/l w/thread2.cfm? threadid=285399&category=88#4139222

I find the history of the bow and arrow, and the atlatl to be very interesting, but there is still so much that no one knows, and will never know, unless God tells us about it. No one knows the origin of the bow and arrow, who invented it, or was it invented and re- invented several times through the eons of time by separate peoples or cultures, totally independent of each other? And the way I understand it the atlatl is even possibly thousands of years older than the bow.

Personally I luv American traditional/classic archery history and bowhunting history from just after the Civil War, (the Thompson's era) through Pope and Young's era up through my time, we'll say as a kid, BC... Before compounds...8^)

Any archery history during that period you historians would like to divulge I'm all ears... Thanks...

BTW, wasn't it Fred Bear that first used woven fiberglass laminates on bow limbs after trying aluminum left over from WWII?

Nope, not Fred.

I am intrigued by the way old methods and old artifacts give be a glimpse of the thoughts of people who are long gone and can't be asked.

me, not be

I am fortunate, my family started bowhunting in the late 1930's I grew up with the history.

So who was the first to use fiberglass laminates on bow limbs?

I was born in 1959 and a Ben Pearson Jet Bow was my first... Being interested in bow and bowhunting at an early age growing in the 60's, Pearsons and Bears were the only bows I was ever aware of until my teen years when compound came out...

Zbone,

Frank Eicholtz (Pronounced, Eye- Holts) was born in Burlington, Kansas, on January 28, 1908, and came to California in 1930. A resident of San Diego, Frank was inducted into the California Archery of Fame in 1978. He died in June of 1983.

Frank was working on laminations of various sorts, including plastics (Lamicoid), with great success when his friend Dr. Glen Havens, head of research for the defense company NARMCO, gave him a sampling of Conolon fiberglass, developed for use in aeronautics. Frank began experiments using this new material as laminate, but it was not immediately suited for such use. Frank experimented with different glues and techniques, eventually finding the right combinations that made Conolon a success as an archery application laminate. He is credited with being the first to do this and is considered the father of the modern laminated bow.

"Convince me otherwise" and the parenthetical "Traditional Archers" comes off so poorly. It feels elitist at best and plain ol' snobby at worst. Knowing the history of your hobbies/interests is not a prerequisite to enjoying them. Some people don't want or need to know the history of all of their hobbies/pursuits, and that's ok.

Do I appreciate the history? Of course. Does it lead to a more enriching experience? Yes. Do I care what level of knowledge of the history and mystique of archery the people I shoot with have? Not a lick.

If we don't want to know the history of our sport, why do we stress out so trying to find out what year a certain bow was made? If a bow has a 1953 patent # on it, stands to reason it was made in 1953, right?

A good example on when an item was made is this: In 1965 my cousin and a good friend each bought a Browning shot gun. One was new and one was used. The used one was in great condition and my cousin bought that one. There was a guy in the neighborhood that knew quite a bit about Browning guns. According to his facts and figures, the used gun was made in Ogden, Utah and Browning hadn't made one there in 30 years. I started both of them bowhunting with a 1957 Bear Cub, cedars and Razorheads. bvd

Thanks for the info jaz5833...

Is that Frank in the photo, and if it is he must be using a thumb ring?

For those if you here that have never visited the Archery Hall of Fame & Museum at the Bass Pro Shop in Springfield, MO, THAT should be on your bucket list.

The AHOF & Museum encompasses all of Archery, and over 100 of Archery's Icons.

Terry Harris

Zbone, it is Frank and he's using one of his own inventions,the Bow- Lock.

Just posted this picture on the wrong thread ....

.... A little bit of archery history, a bow made by Scottish bowyer Thomas Grant belonging to Simon Frazer of the Royal Company of Archers circa 1770

After finding my 1st stone point years ago I decided to learn how to knap points. I have taken one deer with one of my stone points. This success was do to following up on archery history.

I have said many times if I could go back in time I would go back 600 years and live with the Natives to watch and learn.

As far as bow and arrow hunting goes, I would go back to the 1960's. Less deer, but far less bowhunters and rapid western point creep was not invented yet. Glad I was there.

Keefers is gonna start teaching me what he's learned about knapping would love to hunt with a stone head and one of my selfbows.I guess traditional can be what we want it to be,and get out of it what we want.I used to get a little upset about people not knowing the history about the pioneers in our passion but learned they are getting out of it what they want and the rest are getting what we want.I enjoy the history alot but some don't.

I cant remember not having some type bow n arrow growing up. I say I started in 1956 as that is when I bough my 1st real bow & joined an archery club & the NFAA. I bowhunted Illinois 1st ever deer season 1957 & arrowed my 1st deer in 1958. I have lived much of archery/bowhunting history & when all of the legends were actually alive. I have personally witnessed so many changes in our sport. I have had an awesome journey & so many adventures. I have been blessed many times over. Longbow, recurve, compound, it's all Archery. NFAA headquarters in Yankton, S.D. has quite a display of archery history.

His grip on the bow seems like it would be tough to repeat perfectly. Almost gripping the side of the bow. Never have seen that before.

The bow lock is a release aide. interesting

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