Samick Sage 62″ Takedown Recurve
TL;DRThe classic first takedown recurve: 62″, with limbs from 25 to 60 lb on one riser and brass bushings for upgrades. I haven’t shot one, so there’s no score: buy it at 25–30 lb if your draw is up to about 28″.
What’s good
- Limbs from 25 to 60 lb on one riser
- Brass bushings for a plunger, stabilizer, sight or quiver
- Sold in left- and right-hand
What’s not
- Rated for draws up to about 28″
- Not ILF: takes Samick-fit limbs
- Stick-on rest and Dacron string are basic
Ask anyone for a first recurve and someone says “get a Samick Sage.” 😅 For an adult beginner with a draw up to about 28″, that’s sound advice, as long as you buy light limbs: 25 or 30 lb.
I haven’t shot a Sage (my own bow is a one-piece Sanlida Royal X8), but the specs, fit and checks below help you buy once and grow into it instead of fighting a bow that’s too heavy. 👍
Samick Sage specs: a 62″ takedown recurve that grows with you
The Sage is a three-piece takedown recurve: a laminated wood riser and two bolt-on limbs of fiberglass over a hard maple core. Limbs come in 25 to 60 lb, so you keep the riser and buy heavier limbs as you get stronger.
The riser has brass bushings for a plunger, a stabilizer, a sight and a quiver. In the box, per the Amazon listing: the riser, two limbs, a 14-strand Dacron string, a stick-on arrow rest and an assembly manual.
Takedown recurve
62″
25–60 lb
28″
7½–8¼″
Left or right
John from Lancaster Archery Supply, the shop in the video, is open about where the Sage saves money:
The tray system in the Samick Sage, it helps to keep the cost down… it does take some away from the bow aesthetically, but at the price point it’s something most of us are willing to overlook.
That’s a looks trade-off, not a shooting one: the tray’s job is to keep the limbs and the string centered, and that’s what matters on a first bow.
Samick Sage
Samick Sage Archery Takedown Recurve Bow 62 inch - Bows for Teens to Adults - Beginners to Advanced, for Hunting & Target Practice, 40LB Draw Weight Right Handed
by Samick Sage
Affiliate link: I may earn a commission, at no cost to you.
Key features
- 62″ takedown recurve: limbs from 25 to 60 lb fit the same riser
- Start light and buy heavier limbs later, without a new bow
- Brass bushings ready for a plunger, stabilizer, sight or quiver
- Comes with a 14-strand Dacron string and a stick-on rest
Specs
- Hand
- Right
- Brand
- Samick Sage
- Model
- SAGE-40R
- Draw weight
- 40 lb
- Color
- Brown
- Length
- 26″
- Weight
- 1.5 lb
Who the Samick Sage fits, and who needs a longer bow
The Sage suits adults with a draw length up to about 28″. Its weights are rated at a 28″ draw, and on a recurve the weight keeps climbing the further past that you pull.
A longer draw needs a longer bow: Southwest Archery, for example, suggests its 64″ Spyder XL for draws over 30″. Not sure of yours? The draw length calculator gets you close.
- Good fit: adult beginners with an average draw, anyone who wants to start light and step up, archers who plan to add a rest, plunger or sight later.
- Poor fit: very long draws, small kids (the lightest limbs are 25 lb), and anyone who wants ILF limbs from other brands.
Before you buy a Sage: 3 checks for limbs, fit and arrows
The Sage is a good first bow if you set it up right. These three checks matter most before you order.
1. Buy lighter limbs than you think
Start an adult at 25 or 30 lb. Canada Archery Online, which sells the Sage, suggests 25 lb to start for beginners. I ordered my own first bow at 45 lb, and the first time I tried to pull it I got maybe three shots in before I was done.
My test for any bow: pull to your cheekbone and hold for three seconds, long enough to take a good breath. With a takedown, moving up later means new limbs, not a new bow.
2. Check the limbs and the fitting
String it with a bow stringer and sight down the string: the limb tips should line up and neither limb should look twisted. The Sage isn’t ILF: it takes Samick-fit limbs, and some shops now sell it as the Samick Classic.
The limb fitting is part of this check. Lancaster Archery Supply’s John explains what it does:
You can see that the limb is aligned with a bolt and an aluminum tray… that tray is what keeps the limb aligned, to keep the limbs centered and the string centered.
So when you sight down the string, check that each limb sits snug in its tray before you blame the limb. Still off once both are seated? Send it back.
3. Plan for arrows matched to your bow
Arrows aren’t in the box. Get arrows cut to your draw length and spined for your draw weight; the ones bundled with my own bow were too long and flew left and right.
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Samick Sage vs my Sanlida Royal X8: takedown or one-piece?
My own bow is a 60″ one-piece Sanlida Royal X8, so here’s how the two line up on paper. The big difference: the Sage lets you change draw weight without buying a new bow.
| Spec | Samick Sage | Sanlida Royal X8 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Three-piece takedown | One-piece |
| Length | 62″ | 60″ |
| Draw weights | 25–60 lb | 30–60 lb |
| Hands | Left or right | Right only |
| Accessory bushings | Plunger, stabilizer, sight, quiver | None listed |
| In the box | Bow, string, stick-on rest | Bow, bag, string, stringer, rest, glove, arm guard, string dampers, 6 arrows |
I love my Royal X8, but I started it at 45 lb and had no lighter limbs to swap to. That’s the Sage’s best argument as a first bow. More options are in my best recurve bows for beginners roundup.
If you want the Sage's specs and the three checks on one page to take shopping, here they are.
// FAQ
Questions about the Samick Sage
Quick answers about the Samick Sage: who it fits, draw weight, limbs and what comes in the box.
Is the Samick Sage good for beginners?
For most adults with a draw up to about 28″, yes: it’s a takedown, so you can start light and change limbs later. I haven’t shot one; this is from the specs and how it’s built.
What draw weight Samick Sage should I buy?
Start at 25 or 30 lb. Pick a weight you can pull to your cheekbone and hold for three seconds.
Is the Samick Sage ILF?
No. Its limbs attach with Samick’s own bolt-on fitting, so you need Sage-compatible limbs.
Can you hunt with a Samick Sage?
It’s sold in weights up to 60 lb. Check your state’s minimum draw weight and broadhead rules, and only hunt once you can place every arrow at your hunting distance.
Is the Samick Sage left-handed?
It’s sold in left- and right-hand versions. The hand is set by the riser, so order the right one.
What comes with the Samick Sage?
Per the Amazon listing: the riser, two limbs, a 14-strand Dacron string, a stick-on arrow rest and an assembly manual. No arrows.
Should you buy the Samick Sage? My honest take
If you’re an adult beginner with a draw up to about 28″, the Sage is a sensible first recurve: start light, learn your form, and buy heavier limbs when you’re ready.
I’ll score it only after I’ve bought one and shot it for 30 days. Until then, this page sticks to the listing, the maker’s specs and what I’d tell a friend.
