As you can read above, there is a difference between the two (knives / broadheads). These differences may not be immediately descernable, but they impact on the physical needs of the metals used. Almost like a 1/2" socket and a 1/4" socket. They are used for different things.
Knives... well they are used for a variety of things, but typically they are not stuck into objects at 150 -300 FPS. They slice, they carve, they do a number of things that require sharpness. They are typically not great for prying things (breakage) or for use as an ax (again, breakage. They can be sharpened once in a while and it doesn't matter how difficult it is do do this as they usually hold onto their edge quite well.
A broadhead now, it does its job by impacting skin and meat and bones and rocks etc. By necessity it needs to be relatively small and light weight. It is sharpened all the time (heck.. it is carried in a manner that makes it more likely to dull even before it is used than a knife). so ease in sharpening (softer metal ??)is important.
Impact of any kind can cause a very hard metal to break, so a degree of hardness that can keep a reasonable edge and not break on contact is important.
This same thing would be expected with rock such as flint and obsidian. Sure, an obsidian flake is as sharp as it gets, but it won't stand up to the shock of hitting a deer's side most times, like a broadhead. An obsidian broadhead (bifacially worked) is nowhere near as sharp as a flake, but it is sturdier and holds up to the impact fairly well.
From my point of view, they are different tools, requiring different qualities.
ChuckC
Topic: I've always wondered.... (Read 338 times)
