experiencing. It was
that feedback that
drove us to making
the width narrower.
We generally live by
the maxim “If it’s
not broken, why fix
it?” But in the end,
the narrower Matrix
series
ultimately
put Excalibur on the
crossbow map and
cut into compound
crossbow
market
sales.
When was the
Matrix series introduced and how many
different Matrix models do you build now? Apart from the
narrower limbs, did the Matrix models offer other improvements over the Exomax and Exomag models that preceded them?
We introduced the first Matrix series 380 and 355 in
2013 and the Matrix 405, 330 and 310 in 2014. This year, we
launched the new Matrix Grizzly 305 and Cub 285 models.
Currently, we have 10 Matrix models in various configurations and price points. The Matrix series offers numerous
improvements over the traditional Exo-Series. We felt if we
were going to make a change, we needed to offer enough
The Matrix models proved so popular
after their introduction, Excalibur kept
expanding the choices. The eight current models range from the top-selling
Matrix Mega 405, at left, to the compact
and economical Matrix Cub below.
Let’s talk about your
own Excalibur line now. When and why
did you start advocating for models more
compact than the Exo-Series bows that
spanned nearly 30 inches in the cocked
position? As you saw compound crossbow producers like TenPoint go narrower, was there a danger
it would start to make Excalibur models look outdated?
We were never really concerned with what our competitors were doing, as our recurves have always looked outdated
when compared to compounds. After all, recurves have been
around for 3,000 years. The difference for us has never been
about cosmetics…it’s been about performance and providing a product that exceeds consumer expectations.
Our main focus was to just produce a simple, reliable
product that would work the first time and every time afterwards. To go back to an important focus for us, we were
more concerned with what our customers were saying and
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Seen from
the side, the first thing
you’re likely to notice about the
new Excalibur Micro 335 is the skeletonized
stock. View it from the end or from the top,
as shown above and what’s most obvious is
the compact limb design. Hold it and you’ll
notice the light weight, just 5.1 pounds without the scope.
options to meet the varied needs of our
consumers.
The Matrix series offers the ErgoGrip stock with rubber inserts for a
better balance and comfort and incorporates finger guards for added protection and safety. The Powerload limbs
on the Matrix are 60 percent stronger
than the Exo-series. The Matrix series
features a quad-loc riser that contains
each limb on all four sides (vs. three)
for added consistency and accuracy.
I can remember founder and lead
designer Bill Troubridge telling me that
automatic safeties and anti-dryfire systems were just more things that could go
wrong. And I know the lack of an antidryfire system was one reason it was
fairly simple to uncock an Excalibur at
the end of a day’s hunting. Are those features standard equipment now on most
Excalibur models and if so, why?
The more complicated the crossbow, the more things can go wrong at
any given point. However, some extra
features, like an anti-dryfire, are worth
the risk. The narrower we make the
recurve limbs, the more they don’t like
dryfires. So Excalibur designed an antidryfire mount that is incorporated into
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the scope mount and comes standard
The Micro is the smallest, most combination of pultrusion and comon most Matrix and Micro models. It compact recurve crossbow currently pression molding. On each of my visits,
will work on all previous Exo series on the market. It has taken a quantum I’ve seen the limb department become
traditional models and is also included leap in system efficiency at 79.5 per- more and more sophisticated in mateon the new Stryker Offspring. This anti- cent, which is a full 5 percent more effi- rials and processes. Can you give us
dryfire device is unique in that it allows cient than the Matrix series. The Micro any details about how the Generation
the shooter to override the anti-dryfire boasts a noticeable decrease in vibra- II Compact Recurve Technology limbs
and still de-cock the crossbow at the tion and noise. Due to the compact
are produced for the Micro 335 bow?
end of a hunt.
size, the Micro shoots
What kind of testing did they undergo
Let’s talk about the new Micro 335,
before you were comfortable using
which features limbs just 22 inches
such a highly stressed limb?
cocked and a new, skelUnlike many archery manuetonized stock. Why are
facturers, Excalibur has always
those features important
believed in making our own limbs.
and what were some of
This was partly out of necessity
the engineering challenges
but it also allows us to experiExcalibur had to overment with new materials. In
come to create that new
addition, it gives us the ability
crossbow?
to control quality, something
The new Micros are
that is important across all of
by far not only two of the
our Bowtech brands. Our Gen
most innovative crossbows
II compact recurve limbs are
Excalibur has ever created
produced in the same manbut also two of the coolest
ner as the Matrix series.
crossbows to hit the crossHowever, the materials
bow market. Our engineers
and design differ. Like all
and R&D team did an outExcalibur limbs and compostanding job with these two
nents, we run them through
crossbows. Excalibur has
our “Eliminator” cycle
always thought if we could
machine prior to a launch to
just make a recurve crossensure they will survive realbow that would be comlife hunting and shooting.
parable to the width of a
That Micro 335 limb
weight peaks at 270 pounds yet
compound, then there
is drawn just 9.5 inches. The
would be no reason
only higher draw weight I see in
to buy anything else.
the line is the 290 pounds on the
The new Micro’s The new Offspring
Matrix Mega 405. Has the 270
width takes away the (above) joins the Solution LS (top photo)
and Solution in the Stryker line. The Offspring will carry a
only major objection $799 MAP in the U.S. while the Solution goes for $899 and the higher pound draw weight on the Micro
against a recurve performance Solution LS has a minimum advertised U.S. price of $999. 335 been an issue showing and
crossbow and yet
demonstrating at trade and sport
you get all of the advantages, like 16.5 inch arrows whereas the Matrix shows this winter? Do you continue to
changing your own string or being able shoots arrows at 18 inches. It has the recommend a rope style or crank style
to decock an ultra-compact and deadly shortest power stroke in our crossbow cocking aid to make cocking easier and
accurate crossbow. The most difficult lineup at 9.5 inches, making it easy improve accuracy?
challenge we faced on the Matrix series to cock. Even though 335 fps is more
With any action comes a reaction.
was perfecting the geometry and shape than enough speed and kinetic energy In order to make the Matrix and Micro
of the limbs and riser to withstand for any animal in North America, the limbs narrower, we had to strengthen
thousands of shots without a malfunc- Matrix series picks up where the Micro and thicken the limbs. That, in turn,
tion. It’s easy to make a crossbow that leaves off, with speeds of 355 fps all increased the draw weight.
looks great or shoots fast but it’s very the way up to 405 fps. The Micros,
The power strokes are considerdifficult to make one that will reliably despite being packed with state-of-the- ably shorter in the Micro series, making
cycle thousands of shots.
art technology and performance, retail them easier to cock than most Matrix
Apart from the limb and stock for $899.99, while the Matrix 355 starts models. We still advocate using our
innovations, what other features set the at $899.99 up to the 405 at $1,299.99.
rope cocking aid. It’s quick and easy
Micro 335 and the blacked out Micro
I know very early in its history, and guarantees the string is being
335 Nightmare apart from the Matrix Excalibur was buying limbs from cocked evenly, assuring accuracy. We
models? Where do they fall in the line another vendor and took a huge gam- do offer mechanical cranks in case
according to suggested retail price?
ble on creating its own limbs using a somebody really does need one.
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How well are sales going for the
Micro 335 and do you anticipate offering more Micro models in the 2016 line?
Can you give us any details at this stage?
Based on the reaction of the prototypes in the developmental phase,
we were confident the Micros would
be very well received in the market. It
is still early but the Micro looks like it’s
being accepted by not only the recurve
enthusiasts but also by many compound advocates who want the simplicity and ease of use of the recurve.
More Micros? It is hard to say at this
point; the 335 will be a tough crossbow
to beat!
We’ve asked so many questions
about product, we’ve overlooked the
people who have helped to make
Excalibur the world’s largest producer
of recurve crossbows. How large is the
work force now and who are some of the
key managers who work alongside you
at the Kitchener plant? How large is the
plant in terms of square feet and are any
expansions being planned?
First of all, the acquisition by
Bowtech has provided us with significant resources that were not previously
at our disposal. This is already paying dividends in the products we’ve
launched this year.
Both of our Bowtech facilities in
Kitchener and Eugene are very fortunate to have some very talented
and dedicated people. The Micro and
Offspring would not have been possible without a great team effort. Our
teams kept the projects moving along
even when we hit the inevitable roadblocks that come with true product
innovation.
You’ve been good about letting us
pose the questions for this feature. What
area haven’t we addressed that you’d
like ArrowTrade’s nearly 15,000 subscribers to know about as they begin
stocking up for the peak sales season?
We’ve had a lot of positive changes
in the last year since Excalibur
Crossbow was acquired by Bowtech.
The most notable is that we are now
part of a corporation that has a clear
focus on offering quality with a family of industry leading brands, including Bowtech, Diamond, Stryker and
Octane. The organization is committed from top to bottom to keeping the
consumer first, dedicating unmatched
resources to understanding what our
consumers expect from our brands and
then delivering those to market. Many
of the products and processes we’ve
discussed today are a result of that
focus within our culture.
As a result of consumer feedback
and research, a top commitment of
ours is to drive sales of our Stryker
compound crossbows and further
develop the Excalibur recurves as leaders in their respective categories. A
testament to that commitment is our
new Offspring and Micro. These two
models are shaping up to be two of the
top selling crossbows for 2015. We have
made tremendous strides in our Stryker
line up over the last year and have
received multiple industry awards to
accompany these products. These
accolades and consumer demand drive
us to continue pushing the technology
envelope. We are in the final phases of
designing the next generation Stryker
products. We can’t say much more
except you will see why Stryker keeps
winning major awards.
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