How sharp is sharp enough?

[Rob W.]

I agree with Jeff. I can get a zwickey or similar type head pretty sharp but the heads made from cutlery grade steel I have I'm almost afraid to handle and they dont quiver dull like others.

[Orion]

I agree that the sharper one can get them the better, but don't forget about steel hardness and edge bevel.  A steel that is too soft is likely to roll the edge reducing the blade's cutting effectiveness.  One that's too hard might break if it hits bone, effectively stopping penetration.  And an edge that has too acute an angle is likely to roll, even on soft tissue, unless it is made of good quality, properly hardened steel.

[SuperK]

I'm with Jeff and Orion.    

[Friend]

Once shaving sharp, they are sharp enough when you are confident.

[amicus]

For me, my broadheads are never sharp enough. Even when the hair pops off with the slightest touch, I always wish I could get them sharper.

I agree 100% with Sharpster.

Gilbert

[Shawn Leonard]

Guys have been killing stuff for a long time using just a file. I use a file on my Snuffers and am happy with how sharp they are. I like it cause as said above I can just stick a file in my pack and get stuff plenty sharp. Shawn

[Shakes.602]

SCAREY SHARP!!      Be Afraid of it because its so Sharp!!  

[Oogaboogachiefwalkingdeer]

You can't get any sharper than a clean fresh flaked edge of obsidian and I doubt anyone can get a steel  edge as sharp as a good piece of cooked rock with a fresh clean edge.  on  level. They worked 10,000 plus years and still l do  today.   When viewed in a micro scope the rock is tens of times sharper than the sharpest steel scaple  a Dr would use. Mike Smyth

[Recurve50 LBS]

Sharpster taught me how to sharpen my knives and 2 balde broadheads. Recently some nice folks here got me straightend out on how to sharpen Snuffers.

Now everything I sharpen not only shaves hair but it POPS hair off with minimal effort.

So I do prefer a polished, non serated edge BUT I carry a 8" bastard file (just in case a head needs to be touched up after shooting it into dirt and rocks) in my day pack when I go out to the woods to hunt

[JimB]

[Bill Carlsen]

Jeff Strubberg is right on, as well.

[Landshark160]

Originally posted by USN_Sam1385:
 

Originally posted by Bjorn:
Get them sharp enough that they shave hair like crazy. No excuses and no compromise; if they don't shave hair easily off you arm wet or not you need to do more work on the head.

I have never seen a blade/broadhead sharp enough to do this in real life. Heard about it a lot, but never actually seen it. Even sent my knives to a professional sharpening service that guaranteed it, and still didn't happen. [/b]

http://www.youtube.com/user/landshark160#p/u/2/MtNBQoVlz80

[Hill Hunter]

If you look at the edge to hard your eyes should bleed.

[jax]

Mint what stones do you use with your kme. I only got two with mine and I shoot the muzzy phantoms as well but can't get them sharp to shave hair

[Roger Norris]

Jim B that is damned impressive.

[Benny Nganabbarru]

I never can shave with my broadheads, and so don't believe the cliche to be true for me. They slice rubber bands, and if I put them in the right place, the feral animals fall over. They leave good blood trails, too, although not every well-hit animal does.

[Running Buck]

I sharpen all my broadheads with the tru angle system. File first then with the stones, they keep the same bevel and finish up with a very keen edge. The lightest touch will remove hair.

[Looper]

I always gauged the sharpness of my broadheads by seeing if they catch on my thumbnail. That has always proven to be a sufficient test to me, and I've shot through a lot of different critters. I just use a sharp mill file, make a burr, and very lightly take it off from the opposite side. The edge is nowhere near polished, though.

I've got a KME sharpener, but really haven't used it, yet. I think I'll see just how polished I can get one of these Stos head I have.