Melvin Forbes, designer of the famous Mountain Rifle Model 20, dies at the age of 77

Melvin Forbes, founder of Ultra Light Arms and pioneer in the construction of lightweight rifles – and recipient of the Golden Bullseye Pioneer Award from NRA Publications – passed away on June 5, 2024 at his home in Granville, West Virginia. He was 77 years old.

Melvin Forbes is a native of the Mountain State, born in Morgantown on November 25, 1946. After graduating from high school in 1965, he became a mold maker in the glass industry. As a young man who always had an interest in firearms, he also did a bit of gunsmithing and began working in that field on the side. He soon became a skilled machinist, eventually teaching mechanical engineering at the Monongalia County Vocational School.

In 1983, he quit his job as a high school shop teacher to devote himself full-time to rifle building. He envisioned the world’s most accurate and reliable bolt-action hunting rifle that weighed less than 6 pounds. His vision became the Model 20, which he introduced at the 1985 SHOT Show. Soon, Melvin’s rifles had an incredibly well-earned reputation for pound-for-pound accuracy and reliability. Since then, they have been featured in the gun press as models of excellence and are coveted by sheep hunters and alpine hunters worldwide.

In 1999, Ultra Light Arms’ success attracted the interest of Colt, who purchased the company. Unfortunately, Ultra Light Arms ran into trouble under Colt’s management, prompting Forbes to buy it back a few years later. In 2012, Titan Machine purchased Ultra Light Arms from Forbes, but the brand went under again under new management. Forbes simply bought it back again. This time, he renamed it New Ultra Light Arms. Ten years later, in 2022, he sold his company one last time to Wilson Combat. The respected custom pistol and rifle manufacturer still builds Forbes’ signature Model 20 today.

In 2011, NRA Publications recognized Melvin Forbes’ craftsmanship, honoring the former craftsman as a Golden Bullseye Pioneer at the annual exclusive Golden Bullseye Awards ceremony. Melvin Forbes “brought the world of shooting and hunting to life with his 5-pound rifles that shoot as well as many rifles twice their weight,” said John Zent, ​​then editorial director of NRA Publications. “Other gun manufacturers and gunsmiths took notice, studied what this guy was doing and have copied his ideas to varying degrees.” Today, American hunters have fully embraced the trend toward ultralight hunting rifles, creating a demand for a specific category of hunting gear. “These days,” Zent said, “there is no shortage and plenty of models to choose from, some of them damn good — but only one original still made by the man we honor today.”

A former member of the Granville City Council, Melvin Forbes was a leader in his community. A longtime teacher, he recognized the need to promote gunsmithing skills and, with his family, established the Melvin Forbes Next Generation Scholarship at Montgomery Community College in North Carolina in 2023. The first scholarship will be awarded this fall. Melvin Forbes was, of course, also an avid hunter and outdoorsman. He leaves behind his wife of 59 years, Patricia, two children, six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.