Toelke or Fedora?

[sam barrett]

I believe the Toelke and Fedora bows are similar.  Interested in a Toelke takedown recurve or a Fedora 560 td recurve.  Can anyone tell me what differences there might be?  Especially if you've shot both bows.  Thanks, Sam

[vermonster13]

Fedoras have been faster in my experience, Toelkes quieter. Both are well made bows and it is more a which fits you better choice than much else.

[stick hunter]

Fedora no question! besides Mike taught Mr. Toelke.

[sam barrett]

Anybody else?

[Kapellmeister]

Not familiar with Toelke but I can certainly vouch for Fedora... my 52" Stalker is awesome and Mike & Carol are just as awesome folks!

[Bob B.]

Well, I seem to be in the minority.  I had and sold a fedora Xcellerator.  64 inches, 48@30.  It was dead in the hand and pretty quiet.  It was well made.  It was fast and very "intuitive", the arrow just went where I wanted it to go.

I currently have a Toelke Whip, 64 inches,48@30.  It too is dead in the hand.  It is fast and very quiet.  It hits where ya point.

The difference to me ... the Toelke was built to fit my hand, the Fedora was not.  The Toelke has narrower thinner-deeper cored limbs ... my opinion, lots more geometry or thought put into the limb design to keep the limbs light but quick ( again purely an opinion).  The Whip has more detailed limb tips ... at least that is true in my case.

Here are some number to consider.  Fedora, 515 grain arrow, 48 pounds @ 30inch draw = 172 FPS and about 40 decibels at 10 yards from the shooter.   Toelke, 515 grain arrow, 48 pounds @ 30 inch draw = 175 FPS and does not register on the decimeter 10 yards from the shooter.  

Both bows were continuos loop string with rubber silencers with a brace heigth of 7 inches.  ** As Brace height increassed the sound and pitch of the Fedora increased markedly, yet not noticably at all with the Toelke.  ** the Toelke with an SBD skinny string in flemish twist, 6 strand "psycho" and wool string silencer, even quieter and the arrow is 180 FPS.


While my findings are like the others in the quiet edge deffinatley goes to the Toelke Whip, I have found my Whip to be faster, but marginally so.  Both shot very well and were dead in the hand.  Both beautiful.  Perhaps the Toelke Whip is more expensive, slightly faster and quieter.  Dan is a Super man to deal with and the bow once ordered is sent to your door in a few weeks to 2 months.  The Fedora Xcellorator may be cheaper and the preformance is less but not by much.  I think the delivery time on them is pretty fast as well.

Anyway, this is my personal data.  I doubt you will go wrong with either one.  I hope this is of some use to you.

Bob.

[Oregon Okie]

haven't shot a fedora but I shot a Toelke and literally whooped after the first shot. Just waiting till I can get one.

[Jim Wright]

I shoot recurves to add a class and sometimes two at 3d shoots. I have owned one of Dan's older design Slim Line Take-downs and currently own the newer Curlew. The Curlew is as quiet as the S.L, I can't tell you how often fellow shooters have made comments about how quiet both are. The main difference between the two is the Curlew's limbs are pre-loaded a bit and while very smooth drawing has slightly more initial resistance in the draw. The result is that the bow is extremely fast and my 62" 54 lbs. @29" Curlew chronograhed a 10.4 to 1 arrow at 185 f.p.s. but where the bow really shines is with heavy arrows. I am shooting a bit in excess of 12 to 1 to keep f.p.s. the same as my other bows. I have not shot a Fedora take-down.

[GRINCH]

I've never owned a toelke but have a few fedoras,shot great my son-in-law has my fedora excellerator now,I would have to agree with vermonster call both bowyers and then decide.