After 35 yrs hunting: New understanding of "Sharp broadheads"

[Steel]

"I had to keep fussin with them constantly to stay sharp..even in the quiver for just a day!"

  Doc thats my problem after about two hunts my arrows come out of my back quiver dull and I have to touch them back up. I am not haveing any issues putting critters down I have bagged a half dozen wild hogs and a nice mature whitetail buck this fall all recovered within 25 to 60 yards. I will say I have not been impressed with the last few blood trails I had to work with and the shots were all good double lung hits.

[Jason R. Wesbrock]

Ron,

Now THAT's sharp!!!  

[Sharpster]

Originally posted by Jason R. Wesbrock:
Ron,

Now THAT's sharp!!!      

Jason,

Yup, sure is!!     Better have a big 'ol can of sulfer handy if you were to get cut with that!

Seriously though, that's a broadhead that will leave a disgusting bloodtrail. KSdan is absolutely right, there's a world of difference between sharp and  sharp and the level of  broadhead sharpness is second only to shot placement and pass through penetration in the long list of factors that influence blood trail quality, quantity and game recovery.

Ron

[Teacher_of_the_Arcane]

Okay.....

So where on this scale of sharpness does the well done knapped flint hunting point belong?  I've read any number of times that they are sharper than a surgeons scalpel.

[Sharpster]

Lobo,

I'd bet that a well knapped flint head would be right up there near, or at the top of the sharpness scale. We could all learn a thing or two from the Native American broadhead makers!    

Ron

[Doc Nock]

But Ron....

Given our many discussions, the phrase "well knapped" is like "really sharp".  Everyone's perception is different.

I thought my heads were really scary sharp w/ their 20* bevel...till we talked. And they were...but fragile as a cold beer at a frat party.  :rolleyes:    :eek:

I have a friend who's into the primitive arts...and he makes/sells knapped heads. I asked him "how sharp are they really?" when we first met 17 years ago. He wouldn't let me touch them. He held my hand...and flicked it over my thumb.  :eek:  

He could cut smoke with them suckers! But then, not every knapped head is that sharp...just like the variations in our individual perception of our own "super sharp" heads, ---till we compare to something superior...as KSDan did!

[KSdan]

Check out my New Year's deer thread.  A SHARP head did it again.  The deer barely flinched.

Appreciate the heads up from George on learning new first aid skills and extra strings.  Getting cut with SHARP you may not even know it until it is too late!!  Far different from those ragged cuts I have experienced from file sharpened heads!        

[Biggie Hoffman]

I've been doing this since the early 60's and I too have forgotten what "sharp" really is. I don't think it's possible for any carbon head to be as sharp as a Silverflame simply because of the densities of the materials I don't care who sharpens them.
After slupping into the "that's sharp enough" category over the years, the SF's reminded me that I need to put more effort into my sharpeneing sessions.
Foregt penetration. Most all sharp heads penetrate, but the difference in blood trails is amazing.

[Sharpster]

Originally posted by Biggie Hoffman:
I've been doing this since the early 60's and I too have forgotten what "sharp" really is. I don't think it's possible for any carbon head to be as sharp as a Silverflame simply because of the densities of the materials I don't care who sharpens them.
After slupping into the "that's sharp enough" category over the years, the SF's reminded me that I need to put more effort into my sharpeneing sessions.
Foregt penetration. Most all sharp heads penetrate, but the difference in blood trails is amazing.

Hey Biggie! I think I resemble that remark?!  

Gotta agree to some extent but not completely. Just like anything else, lots of variables. I'm no metalurgist but, find that most carbon steel heads can be sharpened to the same level as the legendary 'Flames BUT...darn few will hold an edge like they do. Markus certainly has put together a near perfect combination of steel, hardening, and crazy sharpness. (maybe that's why they cost so much...?)

Can't argue with your last statement though:

(quote) "Most all sharp heads penetrate, but the difference in blood trails is amazing".

Been harpin' that point for a lot of years.  

Ron

[Kingwouldbe]

Originally posted by Biggie Hoffman:
I've been doing this since the early 60's and I too have forgotten what "sharp" really is. I don't think it's possible for any carbon head to be as sharp as a Silverflame simply because of the densities of the materials I don't care who sharpens them.
After slupping into the "that's sharp enough" category over the years, the SF's reminded me that I need to put more effort into my sharpeneing sessions.
Foregt penetration. Most all sharp heads penetrate, but the difference in blood trails is amazing.

Biggie, I think that's big of you, (pun intended)
to admit, that even a bow hunting legend such as your self, who has been Bowhunting since the 60's can even fall into the false notion that, " that's good enough" to kill sharp, compared to that thing is so sharp be careful.

Thank you my friend for your honesty, and Happy New Year

[Daddy Bear]

How many of you guys draw your arrows Hill style from a back quiver and nock to your bow string in one motion while using sharp broadheads?

Though I've done this a bazillion times stump shooting, hunting small game, and using practice broadheads to the point I can do so at speed while blind folded, I'm always worried about slicing up the arrows left in the quiver and cutting off my ear when drawing this way with a sharp Grizzly!

[Mo. Huntin]

That does it I am going to get out my heads and see if I can get them crazy sharp.  Thanks for the reminder.

[Fallguy]

I think Biggie nailed it. TAKE THE TIME TO DO IT RIGHT!!! We can all fall into the That's good enough mode. Some heads will be able to hold a edge longer than others because of the steel that is used to make them. But I think all are capable of being EXTREMELY SHARP if enough time is taken and proper technique is used. We spend 1 or 2 hours per shaft on wood arrows start to finish, yet we want to sharpen a broad head in less that 15 minutes per head. Time spent getting a broad head to its ultimate potential is time well spent. Don't miss understand me 40 years of sharpening blades I am still learning and perfecting my technique. I am far from perfect but I am moving forward. Enjoy the journey.

[AKCrazyhorse]

So Ron, what's the trick to getting a 3 blade head like a snuffer or Razor Cap to cut like that?

[Zenzele]

Just my 2 cents worth... I own German kinetics, they are as we all agree scary. However, I feel that most other BH's can be sharpened to that SHARP level. Whether they hold that edge or not is questionable... My Grizz; Eskimo's are really sharp, but they wont hold an edge as well as the Kinetics (witch are imo harder to get sharp once dull)... Said and done, take the time to make your BH's so sharp that you fear handling them.