Innovating Archery with American-Made Excellence

Watch ‘em Drop™ — Grim Reaper Broadheads, a pioneering force in the archery industry, stands apart as the only broadhead company still owned and operated by its founder. From its inception, founder Jay Liechty said the company has proudly manufactured its products in the United States, based in Utah.

“It’s a privilege to run a business that stays true to its roots while continuing to innovate and grow,” Liechty said.

Grim Reaper Broadheads was born out of a vision to address the limitations of mechanical broadheads. At the time, many products struggled with penetration and deflection on angled shots. Recognizing these shortcomings, Liechty set out to create a mechanical broadhead with a sharp cutting edge near the tip to eliminate what he called the “butter knife effect.”

Liechty’s innovations led to the Grim Reaper Razortip broadhead, which features small cutting blades near the tip for instant penetration and a spring retention system to hold blades closed in flight. This eliminated elastic bands and improved penetration by reducing deflection, especially on angled shots.

“The spring retention system was a game-changer – it solved multiple problems and added value in ways we hadn’t anticipated,” he said.

A graduate of BYU’s pre-med program, Liechty taught himself patent law and worked with intellectual property attorneys to secure about 20 patents early in his career.

“Learning to patent my ideas gave me a critical edge in making the business successful,” Liechty said.

This talent for identifying unmet needs and developing patented solutions continues to propel Grim Reaper Broadheads forward as the company develops new products.

Liechty’s journey was not without challenges. Financing was a significant hurdle, particularly in the early days.

“Banks were hesitant to help a new business with no track record, but persistence and creative problem-solving helped us push through,” he said. “Additionally, the steep learning curve of managing HR, legal requirements, and quality standards required relentless effort and long hours.”

The support provided by the SBDC has been instrumental in Grim Reaper Broadheads’ success. Under the guidance of counselor Camille Pendleton, the company successfully obtained industry certification and implemented lean manufacturing practices.

“The SBDC has been a fantastic resource, helping us implement systems that ensure we deliver top-quality products while continuously improving,” Liechty said.

Today, Liechty finds satisfaction in seeing the company thrive with a team of skilled, dedicated employees and a loyal customer base.

“It’s incredibly satisfying to have a business where customers love our products and employees are happy and capable,” he said.

Looking back, he credits the company’s success to its innovative approach and customer-centric focus. His advice to entrepreneurs is to identify an unmet need, develop a solution, and establish a competitive advantage through strategic means such as patents, branding, or expertise.