How sharp is sharp enough?

[Ron LaClair]

In deer camp last fall, I'm serrating one of Tim Cosgroves Trailmaker heads for him

   

[Sixby]

Ron, That will only work with left wing fletch. You using the wrong wing to hold that file Bro.

God bless, Steve

[Sixby]

Ron, That will only work with left wing fletch. You using the wrong wing to hold that file Bro.

God bless, Steve

[tracker12]

Burr sharp for me.  Bad results are from poorly placed shots not the Broadhead as many blame.

[Charlie Lamb]

I've switched back and forth over the years but favoring slightly rougher filed edge... though it will still cut hair.

Now I typically use both at once. I bring the edge to a razor like polish with multiple stones and my KME jig... love that tool!
Next I rake the edge with the corner of a file ala Howard Hill, Tom Mussato, et al. Then it's back to the KME and a hard Arkansas stone to polish off the burr left by the file raking.

It makes for a very rugged edge that cuts everything it touches can't be "wiped smooth" by passing across bone.

I like Ron's method as well. He knows a thing or two about killing critters.
Gene Wensel has used a serrate edge in the past. He used a checkering file from Brownell's. He knows a thing or two as well.

[shreffler]

Originally posted by Spookinelk:
Anyone else use an Accusharp carbide sharpener? I have no problem getting a shaving sharp edge in a few swipes across my Zwickey and Magnus 2 blades. To answer the original question I like them shaving sharp and at one time I spent a lot of time sharpening but now I get comparable results in a lot less time.

I'll have to check these out. Had no idea they'd work that well on broadheads.

[Burnsie]

So when I look at them my eyes bleed.

[Ron LaClair]

We all have our preferred method of touching up our broadheads and who's to say which way is best. Sometimes I file serrations on the blade and sometimes I don't, it depends on the broadhead and my mood.

I've also did it the way Charlie does with the edge of the file but I haven't honed it again after doing that. I find the older I get the more set in my ways I am an I just do things the way I've always done them.

A friend of mine is a well known flint knapper and has killed a bunch of critters with the heads he has knapped. He was at a big shoot some years back and was showing a group of younger guys how he sharpened a steel point by putting a burr edge on the head with the edge of a file. One of the guys ask him why he didn't use a shaving edge to which he replied, "I don't wanna shave em, I just wanna kill em" He wasn't trying to be funny, he was serious.          

That friend was old Norm Blaker, I call him old because he just a little older then me.      

   

[joe skipp]

For field touch ups...I prefer the RADA wheel sharpner. Puts a razor edge on any head.

[pdk25]

Thank you Joe.  I always said you made great sense.

[Gundog68]

I only can tell from knives: A super polished edge may not better cutting meat/flesh than others. I tried several grit and came out with 800-1000 grit works best on my knives to cut meat. So i do the fingernail test and a paper tissue test. Crumble a paper tissue an try to cut this only with the weight of the knife.

[JEFF B]

a Bastard file and a steel will do just fine    

[JEFF B]

a Bastard file and a steel will do just fine    

[shreffler]

Ron, it's worked for humans for thousands of years - I suppose the saying "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" fits appropriately here.

[joe skipp]

Start with a 10 mil file, leather strop. Then like I said earlier, for field...RADA

   

   

 

[damascusdave]

Originally posted by DanielB89:
I spoke with Dave Oligee of Simmons Broadheads a few weeks ago before a turkey hunt.  I told him that I was not getting the broadheads "shaving sharp" and wanted to know what he used to get his sharp.  His response kind of shocked me.  He said, "Dan, why would you want them razor sharp?  I only ever get mine burr sharp".  He then went on to explain that he only uses a small file and gets a good burr and then he takes them hunting.  

Take that for what it's worth.

[damascusdave]

What I meant to add to the above before posting was this...I was checking the edge on one of my knives this morning and realized that there was a noticeable burr that I would want to take off before getting serious with the knife...at the same time I realized that a broadhead only needs to do a one time cutting job and a burred head will do that rather nicely...I am going to spend more time shooting and less time sharpening from now on

DDave

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Originally posted by Scott E:
If it snaps a rubber band easy it's sharp enough for me.

I like the rubber band test too.... it gives you a good idea what that broadhead is going to do to veins and arteries.....

I prefer a file edge over a razor edge that can be touched up easily in the field. i filed edge with the burrs work like a serrated edge knife..... if sharpened correctly you can shave with them too, but they typically peel a little skin with the hair.   :eek: ....  The fingernail check works well too. i use that one with my fish hooks a lot.

I like the fact that a filed edge holds longer in my quiver than a razor edge.