Standing Bear

I think I will throw this into this discussion, steel grades, edge types etc...

Did anyone ever ask themselves why a number of years back why the Thunderhead was such an effecient broadhead, why it had the ability to retain an edge even after going through an animal ( hide, muscle tissue and bone ).

Well, in my 30 years of working with various steels I came to understand the value of applying the appropriate edge on different type grade steels....

Let me show you the success of the Compound ( Double ) bevel edge system with a series of pictures I took of the Thunderhead broadhead blade.

I think you reckognize this broadhead, it is still used by many in bowhunting.



Here is a closer look at one of the blades, I think you'll start noticing the double bevels.



Let's get a closer look at this blade



And here is real close up of the Thunderhead double bevel edge blade. The final edge has been ground with a much finer sharpening wheel enabling a razor sharp edge.



Edge support is the key to a broadhead's success and with the arrival of stainless steel, it is my opinion we now have the technology to increase further more the edge's strength and durability by applying precise multi heat treating/cryogenics and customized tempering processes. Stainless steel broadheads using these new processes will blow your minds away, believe me

seminole

Standing Bear: they say a picture is worth a thousand words. You get 5,000! Excellent point!

Arrowds

You've nailed it exactly correct in the unique ability to perform specific RC hardening of blade materials to enhance durability via reduction of fracture rates exponentially. Also, you mention Cryogenics....very astute for sure. One other option to enhance durability prior to cryogenics is to Nitrogen Implant the metal...You bombard the metal via Positively charge Nitrogen Ions at high velocity which penetrate deeply within the crystal lattice structure of the metal.....then perform the cryogenics to realign the molecular structure of the metal..viola..one wicked tough and durable edge. You add a major and then minnor grind angles plus the hone angle...and the durability is simply wicked.
New technology, advancements in design/performance...Lethal Engineering...it's what we do!
Yep...high tech rednecks for sure!

Arrowds

outbackbowhunter...just read your post. Please don't misunderstand what I stated. I did not say the single bevel would not work on big boar hogs...what I stated in condensed form was that to isolate such a small variable as single vs double to somehow claim superior penetration performance....just not going to be scientifically supported to be the differentiator in lethality of any animal in all hunting situations. The effort to cherry pick one or two hunts where such an engagement of bone resulted in penetration...all well and good...but overall...the particular physical shape, construction of and momentum applied to the broadhead tipped arrow remain more important features. The reality is...in specific measurement of penetration on boar hogs...I see many more arrows remaining within the hog when a broadhead is fixed bladed two, three or four blades....single/double bevel...than I do when compressible cutting width capability is used given the exact same shot placement, overall mass/spine of arrow/broadhead and distance to animal. Meaning...when you can reduce your cutting width to get thru bone/shoulder plates...momentum remains more in a straight line and uses much less energy to get thru such obstacles. Means more momentum left over to continue passing completely thru and leaving a clear and open wound channel with no arrow left in the animal more often. Consider also that our study allowed such comparisons in penetration performance/lethality of two bladed designs with single or double bevel against a FOUR bladed, compressible cutting width design. Meaning the compressible cutting width broadhead engage frictional forces enhancing resistance to penetration twice that of two bladed designs....yet consistently passed thru the animal signifcantly more often than only two bladed designs regardless of bevel. Thus, in our humble opinion...Overall lethality is exponentially enhanced due to more significant lethal tissue damage during same distance of vital tissue penetration and clearing of wound channel for enhanced opportunity in blood reaching the ground for follow up of game animal.

deercamp

okay now that i need glasses after reading this great forum i need a few answers. so arrowds what do you believe is the best broadhead style in your opinion? mr outbakbowhunter you make broadheads and i didn't see what you thought were better in your post single bevel or double bevel? last but not least huntfulltime (i love that) i was with you all the way until you said that you use the rage still after all of that an archery dealer from down south was at a show with randy ulmer recently. he did a demonstration with 2 blade rage. he took a shot at the target and half way to the target the rage opens up and nose dives into the floor so the next time that deer is out there 50 yards in the field you might want to pretend that you are out of state i have read all of the ashby reports and was thinking about trying a two blade cut on contact this year but i haven't decided which ones to try yet.

Outbakbowhunter

I purposely did not mention which style of bevel I personally prefer. But since you asked, I like single bevels.

For game the size of pigs I dont really think it makes that much difference, if your getting pass through with a razor sharp broadhead the animal is not any more deceased in either case.

I make both types because if your selling a product the customer buys what they prefer.......

Broadheads with pop out blades and other gimmicks, in my opinion, are only useful for people who cant ( dont know how ) or are too lazy to tune their bows and arrow to broadheads.

Now before you tell me about the all the pro archers who use nothing but a mechanical style, just pause for a second and consider what "pro archer" means.

I have yet to see any style of mechanical head that can survive a significant bone hit and not take damage to its blades or ferrules.

Sometimes they work ok and sometimes they dont, and I know many will differ in opinion......but the style of broadheads that work pretty much all the time, if I do my part, is what I prefer in my quiver.

deercamp

of course all of the big shots on tv are getting paid. if someone wants to pay me i'll use there broadhead, i don't care what kind it is. let's face it most of the bh on the market today are pretty decent for the most part. i have gone back and fourth from fixed to mechanical heads like everyone else has.
i plan on using a fixed cut on contact this year possibly the silver flames xl 125. they are awfully expensive but after spending 800 on a new sr-71 strother bow 200 sight 150 arrows ect... you get the point what's another 80 on three razor sharp bh. they can be re sharpened and used over again not like most mechs that i have used i end up throwing them away.