Can you guys please list some nice recurves under $500?
"Nice"=smooth, quiet, reasonably fast and well mannered, ect...
but also nice looking.
I don't want a samick sage, for example.
I'm thinking maybe a dryad epic riser?
any other ideas would be welcome, pics awesome.

New or used?
My first "real" bow was a Bob Lee Hunter.
I bought it used for well under your budget.
Definitely felt different than my other samick type bow.
I retired the bow and shoot it every now and then. Still a shooter, for sure.

new... I realize that there are endless used bows, but they come and go and there is no solid and consistent reference.

None new for that price

My suggestions would be the classifieds, TG classifieds have a couple that have caught my eye depending on the poundage you are looking for.  Craigslist in your area might be another great place to look.

QuoteOriginally posted by Michael Arnette:
None new for that price

If you are going to rule out ones like the Sage then yep. I would look used.

So what bows are commonly available used? I'm not interested in "vintage" old bows from before maybe 10 years ago.

Are you right or left handed?

You can get a brand new TimberHawk Talon Hunter for $579. That is the best deal going on a new custom in my opinion.

I am right handed.

You can get great deals on bows that are only a few months to a few years old in the classifieds. I've gotten some high end bows that were a little over 50% of thier original cost.

I paid 325 dollars for my used Morrison riser with Trad Tech limbs, 325 for my Cascade and 300 for my Hoyt Desperado...if you are going to put a whole bunch of conditions on what you are willing to buy then there is not a whole lot we can do to help you...there was risk involved with all 3 of those bows since I was unable to shoot any of them

DDave

Check Lancaster Archery.  They have several Samick T/D models that are significantly higher-end than the Sage, yet well below your price ceiling - DeerMaster, Phoenix II, NightHawk.  My Samick Phantom is more toward the lower end of the spectrum, and it is a great performer in all ways, especially for a budget bow.

An older bighorn will go for 300 to 400 and be a fantastic shooter same with standard bob thompson  zipper.Then there are the older black widows for around 500 bucks can't go wrong with them they will shoot with anything out there.  Right now there are 5 widows in the classifieds and the big auction site got my eye on three of them.

Hoyt Excel and some entry limbs would come under that budget.

There's a reason a nice td recurve costs more than $500 new.....lots of time goes into the nice ones. Your best bet is to look for a used one.

For $625 you can get a stalker stickbows coyote. That's a full custom bow that will out shoot any of the $500 production bows by a large margin.

I would run a wanted add here on Tradgang in the Classfieds if your a contributing member.It cost money to be a member of that and do business their.Or try another site that has buy,sale trade and Wanted.Just state what your interested in as far as a T.D and the lengths and poundage range that suits you.You will get some responses

As far as a new custom T.D you  might look at Crooked Stik who is a T-gang sponser and is said to build very nice bows.Around 550 I think for a 3  PC.

When you find a  new Custom take Down Bow by a  reputable bowyer, for under 500, let me know.

I agree with everyone else,  if that is your budget, sign up to be a  contributor and shop the classifieds.  Great deals pop up all the time.

What length and draw weight are you looking for?