A Visit to the Forge Bow Company Factory Store
I’ve had an affinity for blacksmithing and forging since a very young age. So when I learned about Forge Bow Company, Inc in the early nineties at the Madison, WI Deer and Turkey Classic I was immediately drawn to the line. However, Forge has always posted some relatively mild speed ratings in my opinion. As owner Steve Pagel pointed out, I like to compensate for my 26.5″ draw length with a little more draw weight and a fast bow. They no longer forge their risers, but Bowhunt America recently reported in the June 2009 Spring Buyer’s Guide that Forge was producing the Ventilator for 2009. A 34″ axle-to-axle (ATA), 8″ brace height (BH) bow rated at 330 feet per second (fps) catches my attention.
I couldn’t find any information about the Ventilator on their website at the time (they’ve since updated it) so I gave them a call. Steve gave me a prompt call back. He answered some questions about the bow and talked enough tech to make me interested. I learned that the Forge Factory and Store were only about thirty-five minutes from my house. So, outdoors pardner Seth and I headed up there on a Saturday morning. We found Steve helping a customer in the range above the store. Once finished he turned his attention to us.
The Ventilator is available in two models, a 32″ ATA and a 34″ ATA. Both cover a range of draw lengths without changing modules or pressing the bow. Two hex screws and it is done. That is definitely an asset when it comes to resale value. To accommodate my draw length I needed the 32″ ATA model. Steve set it up at the right draw length, but this particular bow, he called it a prototype of the model, could only go to 62 pounds draw weight. The bow drew smoothly, had an extremely solid back wall, and was relatively quiet and relatively vibration free at the shot. It was a fun bow to shoot. Seth said the same thing.
Still early in production there is currently a lag-time in order fulfillment. He had another 32″ ATA Ventilator that a customer was coming to pick up that day. I could draw it to see how 68 pounds felt, but couldn’t shoot it. The draw was still very smooth, but there seemed to be a little “hop” in let-off at the end. The back wall was still very solid.
Forge bows come with Vapor Trail strings installed. From Overhauling a Hunting Bow you know I am a VT fan and they produce products you can trust. The laminated wood grip was smooth and comfortable. Overall, I was taken with the Ventilator, but I want the opportunity to come in and shoot it at my desired draw weight and my choice of arrow through the chronograph. That’ll likely be sometime later this summer.
We also discussed Forge’s arrow lines. They currently produce two, the Extreme and the Slipstream. Recently awarded a patent the Slipstream is a parallel-to-taper-to-parallel shaft. I didn’t understand what made the Slipstream different from the Nitro-Stinger or Grizzlystik. Steve explained it. Basically, the arrow is wide enough to accept an insert at the forward end and very narrow in the back end. It tapers the entire length. This set up has a definite forward-of-center (FOC) advantage. There is also some discussion that indicates there may be a penetration advantage to this design, that the arrow is less affected by cross winds and that it recovers more quickly at the shot due to reduced weight in the tail end. The internal walls on both ends are parallel. This allows the arrow to be cut off on either end to tune it to the exact shooter’s set up. Both the insert and nock fit internally so outserts are not required.
Two thousand nine also marks Forge’s entry into the bowfishing market with a new bow and two arrows. I’d actually seen the new Mako in Backwater Bowfishing’s 2009 catalog a few weeks prior, but hadn’t really put the two together. At 3.7 pounds it is light, smooth-drawing, has a 34″ ATA and 8.25″ BH for finger shooting and forgiveness, accommodates draw lengths from 25-31″ and draw weights from 25-60 pounds. It looks cool, too, in its blue camo and comes equipped with No-Glovs.
Also in the bowfishing line are two new arrow shafts, the Yellow Fin and the Shocker. The Yellow Fin is a 5/16″ diameter 1200 grain fiberglass composite boasting +/-.0075″ straightness tolerance. The Shocker is high “M” carbon with radial weave and +/-.003″ straightness. It is available in 5/16″ at 1075 grains or 21/64″ at 1300 grains. There are two exciting things about this arrow. First, it has a built in shock absorber in the forward end to reduce damage to the arrow when unintentionally hitting hard objects like rocks. Second, it will accept normal nocks which can be indexed as well as lighted nocks without the use of accuracy destroying outserts. That’s exciting. We picked up a couple and will be trying them out shortly (we hope).
As previously mentioned there is a range including 3D targets upstairs as well as a pro shop with a variety of high-quality products downstairs. If you are in the area I suggest stopping by for a visit. I know I can’t wait to go back and shoot the Ventilator. For more information visit Forge Bow Company, Inc at www.forgebow.com or give Steve a call at 414-732-7400.
happy hunting, dv
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Coming up on Mostly Archery
- Bowfishing – Preparing the Boat
- Anatomy of a Bowfishing Bow
- dv Completes a Half Marathon
- First 2009 Batch O’ Bowfishes
