Keshes Takedown Recurve Bow Review

When we heard the same factory that makes the Samick Sage was also producing the Keshes Takedown Recurve Bow, we decided it was a bow we couldn’t pass up trying out. So we gathered the team and took a fresh one out to the range. Needless to say, we were not disappointed and determined the bow to be worthy of a full review.

Our Verdict

The Keshes Takedown Recurve Bow is a user-friendly, affordable and versatile option for archers and bowhunters of all levels. However, we primarily recommend it for enthusiastic and frequent hunters who may be new to traditional bowhunting and are wanting to learn and include it in their hunting repertoire. 

Pros:

• Easy assembly and takedown
• Wide range of draw weight options
• Impressive accuracy
• Both right- and left-handed models
• Affordable price point
• Lightweight
• Bushings for accessories
• Includes important accessories
• Comes with a stringer tool

Cons:

• Limited finish options
• No limb-tip reinforcement
• 29-inch draw length

Keshes Takedown Recurve Bow Features and Specs

Before diving into our detailed opinions on the Keshes Takedown Recurve Bow, let’s take a look at its objective specifications. These are the basic facts you need to know before deciding if this bow is right for you.

• Available draw weights: 15-60 pounds
• Draw length: 29 inches
• AMO Length: 62 inches
• Riser material: Wood
• Limb material: Laminated fiberglass and maple wood
• Handedness: Both right- and left-handed
• Arrow rest: Stick-on
• Finish: Brown, gold and black
• Bowstring: 14-strand B-55 Dacron string

What We Liked About the Keshes Takedown Recurve Bow

There’s a lot to like about the Keshes Takedown Recurve Bow, especially if you’re in the market for an easy-to-use but effective hunting recurve. These are the standout features and aspects of the bow that we believe will benefit bowhunters and other archers as well.

Easy Assembly and Takedown

The Keshes recurve bow is a takedown bow, which means you can remove the limbs from the riser. This has several benefits, namely that you can change out the limbs for different draw weights and store and transport it more easily.

In the case of the Keshes Takedown Recurve Bow, its takedown design is particularly convenient. It has knobs, which we found a lot simpler to use than many of the other models we looked at that require an Allen key. Even if you don’t mind having to keep track of a tool, the knobs make it a lot faster and more precise.

Wide Range of Draw Weights

The Keshes Takedown Recurve Bow is available in a wide range of draw weights, starting from 15 pounds and going up to 60 pounds. This means it works for archers with varying skill levels and upper-body strength, as well as those looking to gradually increase their draw weight as they progress in archery.

One important consideration is that many states require at least 40 pounds of draw weight for traditional bowhunting. This is part of why it’s such a good starter hunting bow. You can start out with 40 pounds and increase all the way up to 60 if you want to hunt bigger game or over longer ranges.

Impressive Accuracy

What impressed us most when we took this bow to the range was how accurate and consistent it was, especially considering the takedown design and low price point. It helps that it comes with a sight, of course, but even without taking this into account, the shot has a good trajectory out of the riser, even with high draw weights.

This makes it a great bow for target shooting, of course, but it’s also another reason we recommend it for hunters new to traditional archery. If you’re looking to take advantage of the archery hunting season, it’s nice that you can get decent accuracy right out of the box and don’t have to spend too much time on the range practicing before hitting the tree stand. 

Both Right- and Left-Handed

The Keshes Takedown Recurve Bow is available for both right- and left-handed archers. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case with recurve bows. 

If you’re right handed, you hold the grip with your left hand and draw the bowstring with your right. If you’re left handed, it’s the other way around. It’s important to get a bow with the correct handedness because using the incorrect version is more likely to result in painful wrist slap. Plus, it will probably reduce your accuracy.

Affordable Price Point

We have to admit that one of the first things that drew us to the Keshes Takedown Recurve Bow was its price tag. Despite coming off the same line as the name-brand and highly popular Samick Sage, the Keshes bow is affordable for just about any budget. 

This low price point also makes it a good starter bow. Say you’ve been rifle hunting for years but now want to break into bowhunting as a way to hunt during the rut. You likely don’t want to invest in a top-shelf bow like the Bear Super Kodiak because you aren’t sure how much you’re going to like it or if it will be your main hunting weapon. This price point is a lot less intimidating. 

The affordable price also makes this a good gift or starter bow for a youth archer. If they end up not liking archery, you haven’t invested too much. And it’s no problem to upgrade in the future.

Lightweight Design

At just about three pounds, the Keshes Takedown Recurve Bow features a lightweight design, so it’s easy to carry and maneuver through thick brush or into a tree stand. Most importantly, it’s ideal for hunters because you often have to hold the bow drawn while you wait for your quarry to come into range or stand at the right angle. The light weight puts a lot less tension on your shoulder muscles so you can aim steadily for longer.

Similarly, a lightweight bow allows for longer target shooting sessions with less fatigue. The Keshes bow’s lightweight design makes it more fun at the range and more accurate over long periods of time.

Comes with a Stringer Tool

Although you may have heard of the “knee bend method,” you need a stringer tool to safely string and unstring a recurve bow. This device is essentially just a cable that you attach on the end of either limb. Then you can step on the cable with your foot to provide leverage while you apply tension to the limbs and slide the bowstring on or off. Trying to string a recurve bow by hand can damage or warp the limbs and could even result in injury.

Unfortunately, many recurve bows out there do not come with a stringer tool, so you have to find one separately. Consequently, we liked that Keshes included one in their recurve package. It increases the overall value, makes it so beginners don’t have to navigate the market to find their own, and eliminates the temptation to try doing it by hand.

Important Accessories Included

One of the advantages of the Keshes Takedown Recurve Bow is that it comes with several useful accessories, such as a sight, stick-on arrow rest and two nocking points. The sight, while not absolutely necessary, can improve your accuracy, especially when hunting. The stick-on arrow rest dramatically improves accuracy and also makes your arrows last longer. The two nocking points attach to your bowstring as a marker for nocking your arrows, so you shoot more consistently.

First of all, these added accessories add value to the package. You get more for your money. 

Additionally, it’s always nice for beginners because you have what you need to start using the bow right away. That said, you do have to buy arrows. 

Finally, it also saves you the hassle of purchasing these items separately. Not only would this mean more time and money looking through the market, but if you’re a beginner, you might not know exactly what you need or what’s compatible with your bow. Keshes does a lot of this for you.

Pre-Installed Brass Bushings for Accessories

The Keshes Takedown Recurve Bow is designed with pre-installed brass bushings, which allow you to easily attach accessories such as sights, stabilizers and advanced arrow rests. This feature makes it convenient for you to customize your bow according to your preferences and personal needs. 

This gives it versatility and is another reason we like it as a hunting bow. You can upgrade it based on the game and location you’re hunting.

Durability and Consistency

Manufactured by the same facility as the famous Samick Sage, you can trust the quality craftsmanship in the Keshes takedown recurve. We particularly noticed the toughness of the hardwood riser and could tell it can likely hold up to frequent use and rough hunting terrain.

The limbs are well-laminated as well. The maple wood provides consistent tension and durability while the fiberglass makes it flexible and more resistant to the elements. Overall, they are consistent and maintain their power over time.

What We Didn’t Like

No bow or product is perfect, and we want to give it to you straight. Given it’s especially low price, it’s not surprising that the Keshes bow has a few drawbacks. Make sure to take these into consideration as well.

Limited Finish Options

The Keshes Takedown Recurve Bow comes in a single finish option, which may not suit everyone’s tastes. We would probably have preferred a different color or wood pattern, but we didn’t have a choice.

That said, it’s a bigger deal when it comes to hunting. Regardless of your tastes, you need to effectively blend into your surroundings to be a successful hunter, so if the finish doesn’t match your environment, you’re out of luck. Fortunately, the wood design should work for most people, but make sure to check.

Dacron Bowstring

One of our biggest issues with the Keshes takedown bow was the Dacron bowstring. Dacron is a common material for bowstrings and a good one, but not the best. It’s known for being slightly stretchy compared to other materials like FastFlight. This can lead to a slower arrow speed and decreased performance over time as it stretches and loses tension. 

Unfortunately, the Keshes bow’s limb tips aren’t reinforced. This means you can’t upgrade the bowstring to a higher-quality material without first reinforcing the limb tips, which is an investment and hassle. 

Additionally, the Dacron bowstring comes in a 14-strand version. The number of strands you need depends on the power of the bow. Higher draw weights require more strands. 

14 is right in the middle and a good number for draw weights from about 30 to 50 pounds. However, if you want lower or higher draw weight, you might want a different bowstring. In this case, you can at least change out the bowstring for another Dacron bowstring with a different strand count, but you’ll have to do all this yourself.

Quality of the Sight

Another downside to the Keshes Takedown Recurve Bow is the quality of the included sight. Now, it’s a bonus that Keshes included a sight at all, but it’s very basic and unlikely to be up to the standards of experienced archers or bowhunters. 

We also had a lot of trouble with its adjustments when we took it to the range and were constantly having to fiddle with it and readjust settings that had gotten out of whack. This can lead to inconsistent shooting performance.

We decided that the sight is a good starting point for beginners, but you’ll likely want to upgrade it, especially if you’re going to be bowhunting. Luckily, this is easy to do thanks to the brass bushings.

29-inch Draw Length

If you don’t know your draw length, it’s a good idea to have it professionally measured by a bowyer or at your local archery shop. However, you can get a good estimate by measuring your wingspan in inches from the tip of one middle finger to the other with your arms stretched out at your sides and dividing by 2.5. If this is still too much work for you, most people’s wingspan is about the same as their height, so you can quickly get a rough estimate by dividing your height in inches by 2.5.

This means the Keshes takedown recurve bow is ideal for archers around six feet tall with a margin of a couple inches on either side. If you’re much taller than this, the shot may be a bit awkward and negatively affect your accuracy. 

If you’re shorter, you may still be able to use the bow, but keep in mind that the draw weights are rated for a full 29-inch draw. In other words most women and youth archers won’t get the full power out of the bow. 

Keshes Takedown Recurve Bow: Things to Keep in Mind

If you’re convinced that the Keshes Takedown Recurve Bow is the model for you, there are still a few factors to consider before making the final purchase.

Know Your Draw Weight

As with any recurve bow, you need to know the draw weight you can handle comfortably. The Keshes Takedown Recurve Bow is available in a range of draw weights, from 15 to 60 pounds. This means you can choose a bow that’s right for your strength and experience level.

If you’re a beginner, lighter draw weights are usually better. This is especially true if you have limited upper-body strength. For full-grown men, you can likely still learn on a moderate draw weight, but 50-60 pounds will be too much. 

Just remember that if you’re going bowhunting, you’ll need to check your state’s draw weight requirements. Most have a minimum draw weight of 40 pounds.

You May Need Some Other Accessories

While the Keshes Takedown Recurve Bow comes with pre-installed brass bushings for accessories, it does not include the accessories themselves. You may want to purchase sights, stabilizers, or arrow rests separately, depending on your needs and preferences.

The bow comes with a sight, but if you’re planning on doing some serious hunting, we recommend a more advanced model. Additionally, stabilizers and limb dampeners can give you a better chance of success.

That said, there are four essential accessories not included with the Keshes recurve bow that you have you get separately. These are:

• Arrows: Although you probably only need three or four for hunting, you might want as many as 12 for a more convenient range experience.
• Quiver: You use a quiver to carry your arrows. There are many different kinds, including detachable quivers that you can install on the bow itself.
• Finger tab or glove: Repeatedly drawing a bowstring with your bare fingertips can cause pain and even permanent nerve damage. A finger tab or glove protects your fingertips and also gives you a more stable grip for better accuracy.
• Wrist guard: When you release a recurve bow, the bowstring often slaps your wrist. This can be painful, especially when done repeatedly. A wrist guard slides over your wrist to absorb the impact of the bowstring. 

Who Should Use the Keshes Takedown Recurve Bow?

The Keshes Takedown Recurve Bow is above all a beginner bow and it can serve a range of interests from hunting to target shooting to LARPing. However, we primarily recommend it for those just getting into traditional bowhunting.

With an affordable price point and a lot of included accessories, it’s an easy way to jump into the archery hunting season and start filling your freezer with venison. Plus, it has the power to take down big game and meet minimum draw weight requirements.