A takedown recurve bow provides archers with excellent maneuverability and versatility. Takedown bows have removable limbs which can be stored away, packed up in a backpack, or swapped out to change the bow’s draw weight.
However, with the wrong takedown bow, you could end up with poorly-fitted limbs, splinters, and an unreliable safety hazard. It’s hard to know which of the takedowns on the market today are the winners, and which are the lemons. That’s where we come in!
We’ve gone hunting for the absolute best models out there today. After examining all the numerous takedown recurve models currently available on the market, we have narrowed the list down to the 3 best options on the market based on price, features, and user reviews. We’ve done extensive research to put together our own in-depth reviews, which will talk you through everything you need to know about these three great weapons.
Let’s look at our favorites in turn, as and then help you figure out how you can determine which one is best for your needs.
First, take a quick look at our current most popular recommendations:
The Top 5 Best Takedown Recurve Bows
5. Samick Sage
The Samick Sage is the best-selling takedown on the market, period! It’s been around for more than 25 years, and there are some archers out there who have been shooting the same Sage since they first came out! We love these bows because they have limb options for virtually any draw weight, and are incredibly affordable.
Pros:
It’s simple, practical, and no-nonsense. This bow isn’t close to the fanciest on the market, but it has all the hallmarks of a classic takedown: smart design, quality materials, and lots of room for modifications.
The riser block is made from a layered wood system. We love the full, exposed grains of the woodwork, which makes this look like a much more expensive bow than it actually is.
The riser also comes pre-fitted with sockets for adding on accessories later. The brass sockets will hold a quiver, sight, quieting device, or other additions as you acquire them.
It’s available in draw weights from 30 to 60, pounds, with all sorts of options in between. Since it’s a takedown bow, you can switch out the limbs as you need to, whether to hunt different game or to adjust as you improve your archery skills.It’s also available in both right and left-handed models.
With so many weight options, this is a takedown you can learn on, and then take into the field on a hunt. Just keep adding stronger limbs as your strength and accuracy develop!
The limbs are made from a combination of hard maple and fiberglass, for an excellent compromise between flexibility and repeatability. While the Samick is a budget bow, it uses very nearly the same materials as the top-shelf models.
Cons:
As you’d expect from such an inexpensive bow, there are a few quality control issues. Some previous buyers had issues with poorly cut woods, which meant that a limb wouldn’t fit quite properly. That’s something you can resolve during the return window, but it is still a bit of an annoyance. Reviewers also noticed some flaws in the fit and finish, whether it be a messy gloss, or stray bead of glue. Again, this is far from the fanciest bow out there. With that said, it outstrips the budget competition in terms of performance.
We did see a few reports of cracked limbs. However, it was very rare, and the vast majority of buyers didn’t have any issues whatsoever.
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4. Martin Jaguar
The Jaguar is a great affordable bridge between the budget-priced Sage and the high-end Martin takedowns. It has all the key features that make Martins stand out, from the aluminum riser to the thermal grip. We like this one for its smooth shots, as well as the excellent price.
Pros:
It’s very light. At just 2.7 pounds, this is one of the lightest takedowns on the market! Plus, the 60” length makes it manageable for most archers.
It shoots very smoothly. Previous buyers were overwhelmingly impressed by the Jaguar’s performance, and compared it to much more expensive bows they had shot. This one’s definitely a more reliable performer than the Sage, overall.
The limbs are built from laminated wood and fiberglass, which give you a good balance of flex and stability. At the same draw weight, this one has a bit more snap in its shot than the Sage. That makes it a punchier hunter in the field.
The aluminum riser provides superb strength without much bulk at all. It’s also pre-drilled and threaded so that you can bolt on accessories. We love the pre-socketed aluminum because it means that all the add-ons will fit exactly as they’re supposed to. That’s especially important if you’ll be tacking on a sight!
We also love the riser’s special thermal grip. It helps keep your hands neutral temperature and steady, so you keep a firm grip and make your shot. Between the aluminum riser and the molding of the grip, several previous buyers said this one feels like a hybrid between a gun and a bow.
It’s very easy to assemble, and to take down after you’re done shooting for the day.
It’s more affordable than other Martins, like the Panther or Saber. This one performs like more expensive models, but is priced to compete with budget takedowns like the Sage.
Cons:
The arrow-rest is very cheaply made, and previous buyers said it felt like a poor after-thought on the part of the manufacturer.
The Jaguar had a few issues with limb fractures when it first came out. Judging by reviews from buyers in the past year or so, that’s not an issue anymore.
3. PSE Razorback Takedown Recurve Bow
The Razorback wooden bow is a good choice for a beginner. It is an affordable, and lightweight bow. A model for the youth and young users is available on the market. This bow can also fit for schools archery. Other uses include shooting, field shooting, and recreational target.
The bow comes with a draw weight of 20 lb, 25 lb, 30 lb, and 35 lb. Although it lacks some accessories in the basic package, you can still buy them separately and fix them.
Assembling and using PSE Razorback is amazingly comfortable. It does not require any Allen wrench to assemble or disassemble. Its weight is about 2.2 pounds. Thus, it is the portable and lightest option amongst the Recurve Bows.
Pros:
It has a steady riser made of three different types of wood, beech, nurmawhite, and walnut. The three are combined using lamination method. That model gives the ‘riser’ a great hold and look. The bow is lighter in weight. It weighs 2.2 lbs without any accessories attached to it. Therefore, women, youths, as well as the beginners, can use it for a long time without stressing their shoulders.
On comfortability, the riser is well shaped. It has a large grip which fits the hand perfectly without a struggle. You can hold it for a long time without the riser digging into your palm when drawing. For the people who are small sized palm, it is still perfect for them. Due to the presence of pre-drilled holes, it accepts accessories such as quiver, sight, and stabilizers. Having such accessories helps a lot in developing your skills and various aspects of an archery shooter. Although accessories you will purchase them separately, the presence of the pre-drilled holes to fix them is the most important. The bow is great and accurate for target shooting, which will help you to familiarize with archery. Its accuracy at 30 yards and below is very high. Its starter pack is the most affordable choice on the list, and therefore, the best option for beginners in archery and the youth. Even if it gets damaged, the loss is still minimal. Assembling and disassembling is very easy since it does not require an Allen wrench or other tools to tighten. You just attach the limbs and tighten them using your free hand. Use a stringer to put a string on your bow.
NOTE: Never string the Razorback bow manually without a stringer.
Cons:
PSE Razorback is not powerful due to its lower draws weight, that is, cannot be used for activities like hunting which requires large bows. Even for smaller games, it is not suitable. Arrow rest is not included in the buying package when purchasing meaning you have to make another separate order to buy the arrow rest. Sometimes the laminating fiberglass on the limbs separates with the wood after a few months of usage, although it is rare.
2. Southwest Archery Spyder Takedown Recurve Bow
The bow is one of the oldest Sage Bow models. But these do not affect its effectiveness in performance. The model has its unique features. Some of the features include advancement of the parts and an attractive design. These make Spyder stand out as the best Sage model in the field of takedown recurve bow.
Pros:
Spyder bow has been made very stable, by the use of a laminated red hardwood in fiberglass giving a two-ton semi-gloss finish, making it stronger and increase its durability. Spyder bow cannot get damaged easily. Again, when it comes to a colder climate, it would not feel cold to grip as you compare to the metallic riser. Improvement in the design of some parts like riser having rounded edges, reinforced limb tips and, enhanced limb bolts. All these improvements make the bow even more compact, convenient to use, and lighter. Its aim is very accurate, meaning you can hit the target quickly and easily. Even if you want to, its weight raises you just change its limb. Spyder is the improvement of Samick Sage 2.0. One of the improvement is that Samick Sage has got hard edges at the limb and riser pockets, but that of the Spyder is round. It makes them lighter, sleeker and also more comfortable. All this makes it feel and look more streamlined. There are various varieties of limbs which you can choose which are compatible with Spyder which is advantageous for your bow cannot stop working. With any available quality riser, it is not necessary that you buy a new bow. Whenever the limb gets weak, you just look for a stronger and quality set of limbs, and that’s all. The bow, which is handcrafted is a marvel when looking at it. The rise is smart; you can even show it off to your friends during the hunting season or even display it at home. Spyder constitutes a Dacron bowstring, free Allen wrench, and an arrow rest. All this these can be used during disassembling and also when assembling your bow. The limb has a reinforced tip to make it withstand high tension, especially with a large weight draw which produces a high speed of the arrow.
It is easy to assemble or disassemble this type of bow. With the necessary tools, it is very easy within thirty minutes you can finish that work. Both right handed and left handed variations are available. Therefore, everybody can own Spyder bow either it a right handed person or left handed person. Transportation of Spyder bow is super-easy since disassembling is quick. With the included takedown bow case, transportation can even be more comfortable.
Cons:
The arrow has a weak and cheap rest, which may need replacing with a better one. Screwing the upper limb is harder than the lower limb, this may be as a result of misalignment threading. The presence of weird little bubbles on their limbs. These give that impression that the limbs may be weak or you may end up thinking that the bow can snap off during the hunting trip. Note: The bubbles have not affected the performance or the quality of the bow at all.
1. Martin Saber
“hits hard and accurately every time”
The Martin Saber is our top quality recommendation for a takedown bow. It’s a larger, more powerful bow than the Jaguar, and has a lot of the same features that made the smaller Martin one of our favorites. We’re particularly impressed by the Saber’s integrated dampening systems in the riser, which give you a surprisingly smooth, steady shot for such a powerful bow.
Pros:
It adds some serious size to the Jaguar’s platform. The Saber has a 64” length, compared to the Jaguar’s 60” That might not seem like much, but it adds a serious power boost, so you can shoot harder and faster at the same draw weight.
Translation: you can hunt even larger game without feeling underpowered! The Saber is a takedown you can bring along for harvesting anything from whitetail deer to moose.
The Saber’s riser is made out of the same light, strong aluminum as the Jaguar. It’s a bit larger, so that the limbs aren’t taking on any more stress due to the length of the bow. Most of the pressure is focused on the riser, which actually has double recurves to handle it with ease.
In addition to the thermal grip feature, this one’s riser is loaded with two “vortex” systems for dampening vibrations. That makes for a smoother shot, and really cuts down on the noise. The extra quiet factor makes the Saber a smooth hunter–even with the added power!
Previous buyers were very impressed at the fluid shot. One who had shot both the Saber and the Jaguar said that while the Saber’s riser is longer and heavier than that of the Jaguar, the effect is much less vibration and feedback.
It’s more reliable than the Samick or Jaguar. We didn’t find any reliability or durability issues with the Saber.
Cons:
The larger size means this one weighs about .7 pounds heavier than the Jaguar. It’s still under 3.5 pounds, but the Saber still isn’t quite as agile as the smaller Martin.
Smaller-framed archers may have a hard time handling the 64” length, as well as the weight.
Just as with the Jaguar, the arrow rest is pretty poorly made. You’ll probably want to replace it eventually.
Best Takedown Recurve Bows – 2017 List
Model | Pros | Cons | Price | Our Rating |
---|---|---|---|---|
Martin Saber | our top quality recommendation | isn’t quite as agile as the smaller Martin Jaguar | $$$ | 4.3 |
Martin Jaguar | smooth shots and excellent price | arrow-rest is very cheaply made | $$ | 4.2 |
Samick Sage | simple, practical, and no-nonsense | a few quality control issues | $$ | 4.8 |
PSE Razorback | light, with a great look and feel | not as powerful as others on the list | $ | 4.1 |
Spyder Takedown | very stable and accurate | the arrow has a cheap and weak rest | $$ | 4.2 |
How to Choose the Top Bow for You
Now that you have an insight into the best takedown recurves on the market, it’s time to decide which takedown model is best for you. Let’s look at what experts believe are the most important factors to consider before making your purchase.
What Factors Should Archers Consider?
•Portability and convenience are the primary reasons takedown bows are so popular. Make sure your takedown bow is simple and easy to assemble. It should have a limb-lock system that’s easy to fasten, but hard to undo by accident. You’ll usually be able to do this just by hand, but do keep in mind that some models require an Allen wrench or some tool that’s included with the bow. If this is not something you are comfortable using, it is a good idea to choose a different one.
•Decide whether you are going to use your bow for target practice or shooting small or large game. While all 3 of our recommendations are designed for hunting, a larger bow with a high draw weight will be necessary when hunting for large game.
Think about your experience level. The great thing about takedown bows is that you can change the draw weight as you improve as an archer. They give you the ability to increase your draw weight as you become more comfortable and accurate while shooting the bow. Instead of buying a new bow, you simply replace the limbs!
With that said, you’ll want to choose the right weight for your experience level and body strength now. Remember that you should always err on the side of comfort. While you COULD pull back 60 pounds, for instance, you probably can’t do it without straining. It’s best to start low, and develop your form before you move up. So, when you’re deciding on your takedown, pick a nice starting point, and make sure you can upgrade from there as necessary.
Conclusion:
After taking a closer look at our recommendations, you’re ready to start making decisions. Let’s figure out which of these bows is the best choice for you!
If you’re shopping on a budget, the Samick Sage will be the clear choice. It’s the cheapest option here, by a good $50 or so. The wide range of draw weights available make the Sage an ideal bow for new archers, who need a weapon that’ll grow with their skills. It’s also the best choice for people who want a more traditional-looking bow, since it has a nice wood grain design.
If you’re looking for something a bit more powerful, but still in a small, maneuverable package, you should have a look at the Jaguar. It’s the lightest bow here, and it manages to hit slightly harder than the Sage. It has most of the features of the Saber, in a smaller and more affordable package.
For the best overall performance in a takedown recurve bow, you’ll want to go for the Martin Saber. It’s the most powerful of the three, thanks in large part to the jumbo size. Even with its more powerful punch, it shoots the smoothest, thanks to the smart vibration cushioning system. On the downside, it’s also the largest and heaviest takedown bow here.
What’s Next?
Want to compare the rest of the best takedown recurve bows? Check out the best sellers on Amazon!