PSE,OMP,Greatree.Samick,etc all have numerous trad bows.Just wondering if any of you gentlemen have a favorite among these bows that comprise the lower end of the market?There certainly has been a lot of positive things said about the Sage,for instance.

Anything I can find at a garage sale will do.

Neil Tarbell has been making bows for 60 years or so... and you can get one of his brand new for around $150 today. My stepson has one; 65" and 50# draw, smooth as butter, and he loves it.

O come on papadoc how about build your own,well yea garage sale is cheaper. Jeff F

the ones I make myself

Yes but if you don't have a bow shop in your garage it is hard to do. Yes buddy even the ones you redo the risers on work great.

Picked up a Bodnik Slick stick from Kustom King. Walnut riser and all Bamboo limbs. $290 bucks delivered - and the best part - 30 year warrantee. I got the 58" 50lbs @ 28 and it shoots great!

I would vote for the Samick Sage.....one heck of a bow for the money. For a used bow under $100.00, check out the big auction site. I recently got a terrific American Archery Cheetah for less than $75.00......shoots as well as any bow I own.

I'm kinda fond of my own. Suit me infinitely better than them cheap production glass bows and they're free. Jes sayin.

Samick Red Stag one piece recurve is a very good value.

Trad Teck Black Max ILf limbs combined with an inexpensive ILF riser would be a good option as well.

haha I kinda miss that one

I would look at the used bows. Old Redwing Hunters are great without the Bear name premium price. The Bears are great also. Personally I stick with made in America so for me the Samicks are out. I heard they are South Korean?

Browning Wasp

My '69 Kodiak Hunter I bought new for 80.00!.... It's still hunting,and has killed it's share!

I have also heard great things about the old Shakespeare Super Nacedah - the X-30 model. I've seen them for sale for $150 or less and stupidly have not bought one yet.

Samick Stingray is a good one. The Maddog Prairie Predator is the same price tag as these economy bows, but in a league of it's own.

Oh yeah! Forgot about Maddog! The Maddog Prarie Predator. I have heard that is a great shooter and custom too - very economically priced. You certainly don't have to break the bank to get a great bow these days!

I picked up a Shakespeare X22 at a yard sale for a quarter (.25 cents) and killed a fox with it that year. Letting that one hang around for awhile.

I have three custom bows that tend to get a little dusty since I got my Greatree Solo Black longbow. I don't know what it is but I just love to shoot that bow. Cost $145 new.

I paid 200 dollars for this superbly refinished bow...in many ways it is better than new and yet it is 52 years old...I have absolutely no interest in owning an inexpensive new bow...give some thought to what those bows are priced at leaving the factory...shortcuts are a necessity

DDave

$7 worth of 1" PVC, a buck or two worth of B50, and the spray paint was in my basement when I bought the house. Cant get too much cheaper. Except maybe the self bow guys who cut their own wood ;0)

like many have said. I'll take a good 1960's recurve for under $100, or maybe $150 if it is in great shape.

Root, Shakespeare, Browning, Ben Pearson, Bear. All deserve to be used.

I agree with prior posts about the used bow market. Without much effort great condition, name brand bows can be easily acquired for very good prices.

Although I was looking for comments on the new "cheap" bows like the Osprey.etc.etc.Certainly,the Sage and the Verna deserve a hard look. In general the Pearsons are quite a bargain and shoot quite well,especially.Colt.Pinto and Mustang.The Super Necadah seems like an extraordinary bow to me.If you're good at navigating the "big auction site",there are bargains to be had.Leatherwall's classifieds are the first place I'd look.The sellers are usually more trustworthy(lol)

MADDOG PRARIE PREDATOR

I've been shooting a Samick recurve for years. I've killed alligators, hogs, deer, squirrels, ducks, possums, raccoons, etc. etc. etc. Shot stationary, distance, and aerial targets with them.

I wanted a longbow, and after doing much research, and also trying to get a good used bow from ebay (which are all over priced these days), I ended up ordering a Samick Verna from Lancaster archery (as recommended by Jimmy Blackmon). This was my first year hunting with it, and have killed a deer with it. It is a blast to shoot, and very accurate. I know that Samick is Korean made or something, but they are excellent bows for a very cheap price.

They are not the built to be pretty (even though my Verna is IMO), but they are work horses. I own other bows, but when I mean business, and will be dragging it through brush, and mud, and need to make the shot, I bring my Samicks along.

Samick makes some great bargin bows! I also love my old Quinn Stallion. They were also a great buy!

Buy a Samick Sage, put a SBD (silent but deadly) string on it. With matched arrows it will shoot with, and out shoot bows costing 5 times as much. DO NOT OVER BOW YOURSELF, limbs are $75 at Lancasters. You can always buy heavier limbs later. Mine loves 600 spine arrows, and shoots those arrows to the same point of aim with 30# limbs to 45# limbs.

This bow is no longer made but the Martin Victory is a really nice shooting bow. No noise or handshock and silky smooth.

Aside from bows I have made myself, I have a dozen vintage recurves and longbows that are top shelf in performance and appearance.. I know how to refinish-refurbish them, straighten a limb twist if necessary, make new bowstrings. Don't have over 150.00 in any of them.. Damon Howatt Hi Speed, Herters International Match Hunters, Doug Duncan longbow, Bear 50's vintage statics..Wings, The list is long..

I have one small advantage over some: I shoot bows over 65# routinely..and not everyone wants such heavier bows..so I can pick them up quite reasonably.. I have 45.00 in this old Qing Thunderbird..What a shooter!..Jim

I've been reading some great stuff on the "BODNIK" (Bearpaw) Bows. "Big Bear, Slick Stick,Red Man," German engineering and Craftsmanship for a very reasonable price. The 30 year warranty is transferable too for the second hand market.

I've got two Samick Red Stag takedowns that were very low priced but shoot GREAT!!

Any early classic bows usally can be picked up for less so why mess with Samicks and related when you can have quality with a classic era and easyier resale abilitys should you desire to change out?

What kinda bargin when you get a lesser desirable bow especially not much resale value? You usally can get out of a classic what you put into it.

Just my couple cents and some thoughts on cheep new bows.

I think Frisky has an old Savage Deathmaster that he likes and he strikes me as a frugal guy! Best wishes to Frisky he keeps us laughing.

Having written 3 books on vintage bows, my bias shows. But the Samick comments hold true, in part because they make great copies of USA classics.

I think we are down to two USA volume production companies, depending on your definition of "production", so the buy-American mantra limits options.

Performance wise you lose NOTHING to high dollar customs with either a Samick or most any brand name old bow so long as fitted with a better string.

Pure price? I favor mating the Cartel triple 62 riser to the Sage limbs (The Carsage). Their lesser cost CA-60 with a tweak to deepen the arrow shelf, is the equal of my RER d/r longbow, just not as pretty, but 1/3 the price. The Stingray emulates a certain Widow, the Volcano is a Mamba, etc. etc.

Rick

Another "Made in America" I used recurve is the Shakespeare X-29 Cascade. They're not much to look at, but are a short, vintage recurve I've come to respect. They also can be found in higher draw eights, as well as lower, much like the Browning Cobra I and the Browning Wasp, which are also favorites of mine. I will always look for vintage made in America recurve over buying a new bow made overseas. I'm not saying I think every one should do this, but that's how I roll.

What buddyb says x2! Out here in Warsh'n'ton, there's a fella Duane Spangler, who makes bows and sells 'em for under $100 mostly. Bought a Bamboo Backed Ash from him years ago, not a bad bow. By the way, watch him around your woman! While I was at the ATM, he was flirt'n up storm with my wife, GAVE her a bow! He's a real good guy, really!

To answer the OP's question: unashamedly a Samick Red Stag T/D.

Check out KP archery on EBay. Solid hickory bows from Georgia for $52 and $15 shipping. Allow 10 to 14 days for USPS to find your house. Great introduction, somewhat reminiscent of the old lemonwood bows from the last century. I'm having a great time with mine. Quite a contrast to my Bear Patriot and Grizzly, but great fun from inside 40 yards.

One inexpensive longbow not mentioned is the 21st Century Trainer. Certain limitations: highest draw weight, 40#, length, 60", black glass and maple limbs and handle. Still a good shooting bow made in Texas. I have one. Paid $150 plus shipping.

Ditto what Ken Williams stated. The Red Stag T/D is my current hunting bow. Darn thing shoots so good I cant put it down. Stick a decent string on it and you've got one heckuva shooting bow for around $200. I decked mine up a bit with a nice Thunderhorn Linx quiver and recently stuck on a Bear Weather Rest. I would carry it anywhere, any time, to any hunt.

It ain't for me but my wifes E-Bay special is a dandy.It cost only $ 115 Australian dollars.I just gave it a refurb and it looks like new.Unfortunatly she was too ill to try it out so I have it a test shoot today. 47#/28 1960's Sabo hunter.I was getting 1/12" to 2" groups at 15 yards.Although it wasn't on target it was impressive because the bow is RH and I shoot left.My right hand shooting ain't the best.

Opps that had a typo in it .should have been( gave it a test shoot).Here is a before picture in cammo paint

Yep Leroy, got 2 of those KP bows!

This is a picture of the 21st Century Trainer longbow I have (from his facebook page)

Paid $90 for this 59 Grizzly...still a fine shooter

I think some of the best values are the vintage bows..providing one is knowlegeable enuf to pick the better designs and assess the condition well..

Couple of years ago..I found a 1970's Herters Bob Barrie designed takedown recurve with two sets of limbs in near mint condition..One set is 45# and the other 65#..which equate to about 50# and 70#@30" draw.. Paid 150.00 for the bow.. It's a fine shooter, very fast and quite simple to take down..No bolts.. I think Bob Barrie's nephew is redoing the takedown and offers them for sale today..

I also have a Groves Spitfire Magnum recurve from the '70's that's 73#@30" draw that's very fast and quite pretty..Paid 100.00 for that one and one could not duplicate it with the finest fastes recurves today for under 800.00.. So keep your eyes peeled for the best of the vintage bows.. The Bear bows command more colector's prices..but there are many fine bows that aren't as sought after as the old Bears..Jim

I agree with the posters advocating vintage bows...the Shakespeare Sierra frequently comes up for under $100 and is a simply designed bow that punches way above it weight. Other good bows at low price I have are the Blackhawk Avenger, Browning Nomad and Nomad Stalker and the Shakespeare Necedah...

I like older bears! But with that being said I think a beginner is probably better off to buy something like a sage package offered by twig archery with a warranty or a prarrie predator by maddog. No doubt there are some good deals on the big auction but if you don't know what your looking for its easy to get burned also . Johnny

My "go to" bow is a '68ish Shakespeare Necedah. It wasn't in perfect shape so I didn't mind "perfecting" the grip. I think I paid $30.

As for Samick, I "warfed" a set of 45# Sage limbs to a Super Grizzly riser, and it shoots faster, and more accurately than my 55# K Hunter. Same arrows.

After I got it shooting I lost interest in this Frankenbastardbow, and have never finished it cosmetically. BUT... I would not be afraid to hunt with it tomorrow.

-Joe

Hoyt owns a company by the name Fuse that makes some good shooting recurves in that same price range and they are 3 piece takedown bows .

Yes, I do have a Deathmaster and it's anything but a lower end bow. In fact, it's the Bow of Bows, superior to any and all bows regularly shown in this forum. That said, a good lower-end bow is a Bear 76er.

Joe

'67 Bear Tigercat, paid 69 bucks for it. Quick clean up with cleaner wax, new string, off to the races! Not an adult size bow, got a Maddog Pup for the kids, was pretty impressed with it! 95 bucks, pretty nice. Day it showed up, couldn't put it down for very long.. I,'ve got a long bow on the way, should be finished in mid March, what got the whole thing started for me was slapping a PVC bow together. Bout 7-8 dollars for the some 3/4" pipe, little chunk of 1" for the riser, bit of para cord for a string, and some mongrel arrows..

Quinn Stallion. Love these bows, it's a shame they aren't available anymore.

The Quinn Stallion is a great bow. The Quinn family were hard to beat, great folks.

90 bucks for this herters match grade hunter. Money well spent.

Another

TG: Yep, the Quinns were first class folks...that's one of the reasons I'm glad to own one of their bows.

Widows, Blacktails, Schaefers, They are decent cheap bows. :)

I love second an third hand bows with a lot of Zip left in them. Priced cheaper. >>>------>

I prefer the american made classics....a vintage bow...such as Browning Explorer.

If you like a new R/D longbow which is a fast shooter call Kegan McCabe in PA. His Omega longbows are great.

Stumpkiller, How could you not mention Wing bows ? Very few used Wing bows on the market, especially the top end ones (P11 for example). Now I realize that Bear, Pearson, Hoyt out produced them, so not as many Wings available. But when they are, they don't last long Wish I could find one. I know you didn't mean to slight them, but I just had to speak up as the Wing bows were my favorites. I hunted and shot target with a P11 for 40 + years (shot Bears before that).. Sold it due to health problems. I wanted someone else to enjoy it ! Good shooting !

Agree with Wings...Falcon is a great bow that you can pick up for a song...I love mine.

I have two Hunters, one in 58" and the other 52".

If you want you can Spend a bit more money (but not much) and treat yourself to to a Wing Thunderbird!

A celebration of design and classy phenolic that is rock steady, fires arrows like missiles and hits precisely where you're looking...it comes by its reputation honestly!

49# 62" Omega longbow.

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