Welcome to the best Martin Archery recurve bow reviews and guide to Martin’s accessories.
The comparison chart below lists the most popular recurve bows manufactured by Martin Archery. A side-by-side comparison is possible, and you can click the “Our Review” link to read a very detailed overview of that recurve bow. We update this page on a monthly basis; including new information and reviews of previously unlisted Martin recurves. Also check out our list of all Martin Archery recurve reviews.
Top 3 Martin Jaguar Recurve Bows
Martin Jaguar Elite Recurve Bow View on Amazon.com | Martin Hunter View on Amazon.com | Martin Archery Diablo ("Panther") View on Amazon.com |
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| Our Review | Our Review | Our Review | |
| Length | 60" | 62" | 62" |
| Bow Weight | 2.6 lbs | 2.2 lbs. | 2.7 lbs. |
| Draw Weight | 29 to 55 lbs. | 40, 45 50, 55 lbs. | 35, 40, 45, 50, 55 lbs. |
| Takedown? |  | No | |
Martin Archery has been around for well over 60 years and is a very well-known name in the industry. Located in Washington State, they are known for building good quality bows. In late 2013, they launched an effort to revitalize their brand, and the results are surely paying off. They have an excellent website that is incredibly user friendly and allows for a very close up look at their entire lineup of bows…and when I say close up, I mean it. You can literally zoom into any part of any bow and see it zoomed while on the site. Martin has several recurve bows that are very popular, with three even making our to- ten list of recurve bows (the Saber, Jaguar and Hunter). They have bows that range from youth to adult and from newbie to professional and everywhere in between.
What are some similarities that Martin’s most popular recurves feature?
If you read our Martin Archery recurve bow reviews, you’ll notice a few common features:
- Very lightweight
- Very comfortable to hold and shoot, even for long periods
- Extremely smooth to draw and shoot
- You often feel like you are actually drawing less weight than you really are
- Beautiful craftsmanship
- Good vibration dampening
- Very Accurate
Martin Archery has a very impressive lineup of recurve bows on the market. Below is a list of their main categories of recurve bows:
Takedown Bows
Martin offers takedown bows in two categories: Metal Risers and Wood Risers. Their metal risers are strong and sturdy and offer an aggressive ‘modern’ look for their recurves. They currently offer eight bows in this category. Martin offers six bows with wood risers and all are absolutely beautiful and bring out a much more traditional look for the recurve bow enthusiast. Either is going to give great performance enjoying the convenience and portability of a takedown bow.
Traditional (One-Piece) Bows
In Martin’s traditional lineup, they offer a whopping eleven different bows. Many of these could easily be purchased as a work of art, but then you would be missing out on all the fun these can deliver. They truly offer the traditional ‘Old-School’ experience of bow shooting in every sense of the word, just with a bit more comfort!
Youth Bows
Martin offers four recurve bows in their youth lineup. The entry level bows are very simple and inexpensive, but they even offer one that is a bit more advanced that would make even the most seasoned of youth shooters proud.
Martin Archery Accessories
Martin has a very good selection of accessories available, even though some of the items available on their own website are not actually made by them. Below is a list of their accessories, most of which can be used with just about any recurve bow.
Arrows and Arrow Building
Martin offers a decent selection of arrows, primarily carbon. They also offer a lot of accessories for either building or repairing your own arrows as well. From fletching to nocks, to just about anything else you might need, you can find it from them.
Bowfishing
There is a good selection of bowfishing specific equipment from Martin as well, but again, not all is made by Martin. They do have a couple of bows that are designed specifically for bowfishing…these are marked with a “BF” after the model name.
Clothing
If you want to show off your brand of choice, Martin also has a nice line of clothing for the bow shooting enthusiast. From t-shirts to jackets, you have a good selection available.
Quivers
There are a number of quivers offered by Martin. From ones that attach to your belt, to the “Little John” style across your back, there are multiple options available to suit your tastes.
Gloves
Martin offers several variations of gloves and tabs for shooting. I have not personally used them, but given the Martin name, I think any would hold up just fine.
Used Martin recurve bows for Sale
If you really want to purchase a used Martin recurve bow, we recommend doing so over a service or site where it’s possible for you to personally inspect your bow before buying. Used recurves can come with defects that the previous owner may or may not be aware of, and which can only be recognized by an experienced shooter.
We generally tell beginners to get an inexpensive (depending on budget) new recurve, instead of buying a high-end used model that seems like a better deal. Take a moment to check out our top 10 recurve bows where you can read reviews and compare prices.
Best Martin Archery Recurve Bows Review Summary
Overall Martin is a well-known company with a long history. Their efforts over the last couple of years to offer an expanded and modernized lineup of bows is showing some solid promise. Take a little time and do your research on our site and you can find the right Martin bow for your needs, and in your price range.
is the jaguar elite ambidextrous?
can it be sighted from either hand?
I’ve had several Martin bows but I honestly can’t recommend them. They’re pretty mediocre, and the customer service is absolutely AWFUL. For the same price you can get a Samick that will be at least as good, and for a littler more you can get a Bear which will be a huge step up.
I received a Martin takedown bow in a trade, but one of the limbs was out of shape. I ordered another set and ran square into the worst customer service I have had the displeasure of coming across in 60 years. Martin Archery was greatful to take my money and leave me wondering about my bow limbs for a month. Phone calls go without answer, emails without responces and when you do contact them, they are using forign operators (like Americans can’t answer the phone) who promise a call back and never do. It would seem as though they like to implement a policy of thievery.