I’ve tried dozens of takedown recurve bows, but they were all extremely difficult to disassemble and reassemble. I was barking up the wrong tree. The Samick Sage takedown recurve bow became an instant favorite for storage, but also for the well-balanced feeling and sturdy grip that my previous bow just didn’t have.
The Samick Sage takedown is one of my favorite bows at the moment, so I wanted to share my review on its features and flaws with you today.
- SIZE – the Samick Sage Recurve bow is 62” long, 28” draw length, and choose your draw weight from 25-60lb.
- INCLUDES: Riser - 2 Fiberglass laminated limbs - 14 Strands dacron bowstring – Stick on arrow rest – assembly instructions. Limbs are interchangeable...
- HAND ORIENTATION - Right Handed - Hold the bow with your LEFT hand and pull the string with your RIGHT. Left Handed - Hold the bow with your RIGHT hand and...
- FEATURES - Pre-installed threaded Brass Bushings for various attachments and upgrades, such as, Brass Plunger, Stabilizer, Sight, Quiver, Bow fishing reel.
- ERGONOMICALLY DESIGNED - risers are designed with lightweight Maple wood, and a comfortable ergonomic grip, so it’s easy to hold and your hands don’t...
Last update on 2023-03-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Things to Consider Before Buying a Takedown Recurve Bow
You have to know how to maintain the material that your bow is made out of. Most limbs and risers (handles) are going to come with a fiberglass coating or shell on them, which will rest on top of the normal wood. Those coatings aren’t meant to last forever, but thankfully, it’s something you can maintain and avoid major repairs for five to ten years.
Draw weight is a big part of buying a recurve bow. The other type of bow you could buy is a compound bow, which has adjustable draw weight levers so you can change it between a wide range at any time. They are traditionally used for hunting, and while they can be 60% easier to pull back than recurve bows, they’re not allowed in competitions and are not something you use for target practice.
You have to select a draw weight at the time of purchase. The draw weight will be relevant to your abilities and physical prowess, so get a bow that matches your capabilities. Don’t make a common archer’s pitfall of buying a bow outside of your draw weight because you will grow into it; you will get frustrated and possibly put the bow down altogether.
Last, but not least, your recurve might come with brass bushings. This is a good thing, though it can sometimes cost extra. They allow you to augment your bow with detachable quivers, sights, and stabilizers, to help right your aim and steady your shots.
I personally don’t use augmentations on my bow, but I know other archers who love having three- and five-pin sights attached to theirs. If you’re even considering getting a sight, or you’re new to archery and don’t know what you want, you should opt for brass bushings when available.
Samick Sage Takedown Recurve Bow Review
Now for the moment we’ve been waiting for. The Samick Sage by SAS is a lightweight and durable bow, but it can be difficult to realign it after you take it out of storage.
The limbs are easy to take down, not quite as easy to put back up. Built with brass bushings, you can add mods to your Samick Sage (like sights and quivers) as you like, making it extremely versatile.
Lastly, it’s available in both left-handed and right-handed designs, with a wide range of draw weights depending on your skill level.
Pros:
- Ultralight limb design for lower carry weight
- Excellent weight distribution for balanced shots
- Easy to take down the limbs for storage
- Pre-installed brass bushings allow you to mod your bow
- Wide range of sizes available from 25 lb of draw weight to 60 lb
Cons:
- Risers often come in a slightly dulled colored compared to photographs
- Limb alignment issues can happen if you’re new to takedown bows
- Does not include a bow stringer
Grip
Your grip is on the riser. SAS did a great job of keeping the riser natural, while still cutting enough angles to make it easy to grip onto your bow with ease.
There’s no additional traction like you would find with rubber grips, but it contours to the shape of your hand well. Your risers are important; they’re where the arrow rest, bushings, and limbs all connect, and in terms of quality, SAS hit this one out of the park.
Built from a solid wood construction with a black fiberglass coating, it’s smooth against your hand and stays nice and steady, even if your hands start to sweat while shooting on a hot day. It’s a simple grip, but effective.
Ease of Use
When you pull the string back, whether you use a bow release or not, it should feel smooth. With recurve bows like the Samick Sage, you feel that resistance, but in a healthy and balanced way.
These are simple to use, thanks to the lightweight design and narrow build. They don’t cloud up your view, which is nice (because I’ve used some compounds that just block up a high percentage of my field of view).
I’ve personally purchased the 50 lb draw weight version of the Samick Sage, and it works wonders, but I’ve heard reports of the 55 and 60 lb models going through limbs a bit quicker. That brings me on to my next talking point.
Flexibility
Flexibility is the reason why limbs and risers are sealed in fiberglass. You need a certain amount of moisture in wood to keep it flexible, but not enough to allow it to mold (that number is usually around 7% to 11%).
I don’t know what percentage the moisture content of the Samick Sage limbs are, but the thorough fiberglass coating is slick to the touch and keeps this entire bow nice and bendy.
I’ve purchased bargain bows, which is why I believe in “you get what you pay for”, I had one bow snap and the string lashed my arm; it was not a fun time.
While I’m using the Samick Sage, there’s no trepidation. I know it’s going to hold on and release nice and smooth when I go to make my shot.
Hardware
This refers to the brass bushings, knobs (for connecting the limbs) and the string itself. I consider string hardware because it’s something that can be switched out, much like washers.
Brass bushings are standard for recurve bows, and there’s no super high or low quality here; they’re just simple brass bushings. They do their job.
You can attach a bow sight, quiver, or any other attachment onto them. I personally don’t because I like the visibility, but the option is there. It might come in handy if you’re considering this for a child/teenager and they need that extra quiver by their side for competitive archery.
SAS includes their B-50 bow string, which is basically the middle-of-the-road string for just about every brand of recurve on the market. It’s good; it lasts about one-two years and doesn’t bite when you go to take the limbs down. It’s a good quality string, just not the gold standard.
Alternatives to the Samick Sage
Samick Sage vs Gonex Takedown Recurve Bow
I was admittedly drawn to this bow for its affordable price. I think it’s a great purchase, with just a few minors. They advertise that you can stand on the string and stretch it out, but as an archer, you know the feeling of a quality bow. This is built the degree that I would call fair.
It’s a “you get what you pay for” kind of bow. It works wonders, has a smooth shot, and the maple fiberglass limb isn’t fragile by any means. It loses its luster after about ten hours of use, but it holds strong through and through.
Samick Sage vs Samick SAS Sage Premier Takedown Recurve
Another one by Samick, because how could I avoid them? I’ve used the Samick SAS Sage in the past, and it’s like a slightly improved package compared to the standard Samick Sage bow. Much like other SAS bows, this has a fast flight string for quicker releases due to higher elasticity. It’s as smooth as it can be to use this bow.
The limbs are easy enough to take down, and you get a bow stringer with your purchase, I just think that the handle feels a tad bit bulky. That could just be me. I haven’t used the brass bushings to add a stabilizer or sight yet, but they’re there for you to augment your bow if you’d like.
Samick Sage vs Courage SAS Hunting Takedown Recurve Bow
With a hard wood rise and powerful range of draw weights, I like the Courage for its long draw and precise release. I don’t personally use it for hunting, so instead, it helps to hit targets from a farther range. It’s as close to a longbow as you can get while still having takedown limbs.
The act of taking the limbs down is a little involved, but storing them is simple. The durability behind this bow is one of its best features. It’s a little more expensive than the Samick Sage, but it’ll last you for ages as a worthy investment.
Conclusion – Is the Samick Sage Takedown Recurve Bow for You?
While the Samick Sage is one of the best bows around, you can still make good with some of the alternative models that I laid out for you if you’re looking for a takedown recurve bow.
For a quality bow, you can’t get better than Samick: smoother shots, better storage, and a powerful all-around design are hard to beat.