Eberlestock Olympic Roots

From Eberlestock Website 2004 

Olympic Roots. Glen Eberle was a member of the US National Biathlon Team for eight years, and a member of the 1984 US Olympic Team. Biathlon is a grueling sport which combines the opposing disciplines of cross country skiing and rifle marksmanship. Traditional biathlon rifles were heavy, weighing over 11 pounds, and had a fatal weakness in the pistol grip area which caused them to break easily if the athlete fell on them — a not uncommon occurrence for those rocketing around on “skinny skis.”


Following the 1985 World Championships, Glen decided that it was time to make some changes to the “albatross” he’d been packing around. He decided to build a better gunstock. His initial idea was to simply make it stronger. As he began studying the concept, he realized that there were opportunities for weight savings as well. His work led him to win a research grant from the United States Olympic Committee. With this in hand, he began a consultation with engineers, biomechanics experts, and NASA scientists. He developed a design which combines the best qualities of wood with the outstanding qualities of modern composite materials. It was considerably lighter than a standard wood stock, and virtually unbreakable.

From Eberlestock Website Section Biathlon : Year 2004 

The new stock looked different from anything that had come before. In place of the heavy single chunk of wood in prior use, the Eberle stock was made of laminates of Sitka spruce and carbon fiber. And everywhere that wood didn’t need to be, it wasn’t. The result was a stock that was nearly three and a half pounds lighter than its predecessor, and a great deal stronger. Not only were athletes using the Eberle stock going to be able to ski considerably faster, they also lost their old fears of falling and breaking their rifles. The US Team’s new rifles set a new standard for the design of Olympic Biathlon rifles, and established the floor weight of 7.5 lbs that is currently mandated by the International Biathlon Union.


Soon, Glen was making dozens of his new stocks, the Eberle Stock Company was born, and everyone in the biathlon world was either using an Eberle, or using something that was made to look like one.


We have come to realize that there’s more to be made than just gunstocks. But our identity will always be derived from our roots. So, in homage to the original Eberle Stock, we’ve named our company Eberlestock. We hope that you’ll enjoy the quality, the versatility, and the variety of the products that we bring to the shooting sports. We will always strive to make things better than they’ve been made by anyone else before.

Taxi Tested Tough. Over the years, Eberle stocks have had many opportunities to prove their exceptional qualities. Outstanding results on biathlon ranges throughout the world have challenged the old beliefs that you need a heavier gun to shoot accurately. Eberle hunting rifles have shown that a lightweight high-caliber rifle doesn’t have to hurt you when you pull the trigger. And just to add a bit of color to the story, we’ve catalogued a few incidents of our stocks having altercations with automobiles. Two have been run over (one by a New York City taxi cab, but that’s another story), and one was being carried by Glen when he got hit by a car in the middle of a biathlon race at a road crossing in Italy. He got up, shook his head, noticed a few pieces of the car’s chrome lying about the road, and continued the race — and his rifle was fine!


More Good Things. Along the way, people started asking if Glen could put one of his biathlon stocks on their favorite hunting guns. The design of a target rifle’s stock is unique enough that you can’t just make a direct transfer, but Glen started to think that perhaps these folks had a good idea. He began a new project aimed at building a better hunting rifle. The result is a hunting stock that is unlike any that came before it. As light as a composite stock, but with the added three-dimensional strength benefits of wood laminate. And with a new fit and feel that make shooting a large caliber Eberle rifle a whole new and exciting experience. Accurate. Comfortable to shoot. Now, Eberle stocks combine the natural beauty of fine woods with the stability and strength of carbon fiber.

New Directions. A philosophy of excellence in design has evolved at our company. We have come to realize how many things there are that, frankly, could be made better. We’re using our imagination, and exciting new products are in development. Starting with with a lineup that’ll improve your hunting experience.

Check out our new backpacks!