>>1018503>wondering where i can get a real bow i likeEbay, setup a search to follow for recurve, used, auction, < $100. Category: "Sporting Goods > Outdoor Sports > Archery > Bows > Recurve". Lurk until you see a scuffed but serviceable 1970's recurve around #35. If too many bidders show interest in it before the auction expires, forget about it and move on to the next one. You can get a wonderful first recurve for $80 if you're patient.
Forget about Bear bows, they're way overpriced. Wing recurves can be fantastic, but can be almost as expensive as Bears if they're in good shape, or were made before Wing was bought by Head Ski Company & AMF.
Shakespeare/Root bows, York, and Ben Pearson are all less appreciated on Ebay, and can be a great value if you find the right one. Just remember:
- no cracks
- no delaminations
- no limb twist
- only buy a bow listed as "used", that way you can get a full refund if it's screwed up in some way
- a bowstring is a nice plus, and can save you $15-$20
Many sellers don't know the first thing about archery. Most don't have a bow string so they can string it up and verify there aren't hidden delams or limb twist that shows up under tension. If they do have a string, many will string the bow backwards, or probably do it without a stringer. It's somewhat rare to find a decently priced bow on Ebay, for sale by an archer who's shot it and can vouch for it. Most appear to be listed by "pickers" looking to make a quick buck from a bow found in a storage locker or estate sale. But don't let that stop you, Ebay has a very liberal return policy if a non-functional item has been sold as "used".
Also, to ship a bow across the continental US via USPS, properly packaged, is only about $16 - $25. Watch out for the gougers charging $50 shipping on their auction, that's nonsense.
>t. this has been my hobby, of a sort, for the past three months. 
