archeryx

Good morning to all.

After some correspondence with several people, specifically Tony at Slick Trick, I have decided to share my story with all of you. I've been building arrows for years. From target arrows to hunting arrows, I've fletched, cut, inserted, and spin tested many hundreds of arrows. As with any other thing in life that I do alot, I became complacent about certain aspects. We all know that today's broadheads are extremely well engineered and most importantly, extremely sharp. With that being said, I continually installed broadheads on my arrows without the assistance of a broadhead wrench. It's so simple, you just spin it on right? True, but have you ever thought of how bad it could be? I found out the hard way last Saturday evening.

I shoot arrows that utilize the half-out insert system. Because I am somewhat O/C about having all my stuff look the same, I index all my broadheads to be in the same position with the arrow. I know they all shoot the same no matter which way they are turned, I'm just funny like that. Having tightened the head to the half out I began to glue the insert into the arrow. As I began to twist and push in the insert, I met resistance right near the end of being all the way in. I pushed a little harder when it all went bad. My fingers lost their grip and slid down the ferrule of the head leading to the 4 blade cut on contact penetrating into the meaty part of my palm on my right hand. The room went black for a brief moment (due to hitting some nerves) and I immediately jerked my hand away. I took my left hand and put direct pressure on my palm still not knowing how bad it was. I immediately went to the sink to wash off the blood. When I removed my left hand from the wound, I knew I was in trouble. I was home alone at the time and my right hand looked like a pot on the stove boiling over. I grabbed a towel and wrapped it tight and then dialed 911 because I knew I couldn't drive. At some point I called my wife about 30 minutes away and said "I cut my hand really [exletive] bad! I am going to the hospital" and then hung up. The ambulance along with 3 patrol cars screamed up to my driveway with all the neighborhood watching. After applying a trauma dressing by the FD, my friend, whom my wife had called arrived and offered to take me to the ER.

The emergency department staff patched me up with twelve stitches and a splint. The whole time sitting in the ER, I could only sit there and think "Is my season over?" It hadn't even started yet. I was so disgusted with myself. How could I have done something so silly? Just two weeks before, I had a close call by barely cutting that oh so familiar spot between the knuckle on the inside of the middle finger. I even mentioned to my wife how 'I should probably invest in a broadhead wrench, because these damn things are sharp."

I saw a hand specialist two days later. He shook his head after evaluating me and said "you are extremely lucky." I had full range of motion with the middle, ring, pinky finger, and thumb. I only had about half range of motion with my index (that's right the trigger finger). The entire thumb side of that finger was numb from tip to base. As of this time, I already have about 85% range of motion and 20% feeling back in that side of the finger. My palm is still sore as heck but seems to be healing nicely. The specialist said I should fully recover from the injury, it will just take some time.

Within 60 hours of the accident, I already adjusted my release and how I drew the bow. I am not going to miss opening day. I'm back to splitting golf tees at 20 yards and broadheads are center punching the Rinhart at 50 yards. A guy in the local shop yesterday had not seen me in a while and asked what happened. After I told him, he said "...so you don't have some creative story like rescuing someone while you were on duty?" and "how do you differentiate heroics from stupidity?". The second statement was in jest but I followed up with "When was the last time you used a broadhead wrench?" After a few moments of silence I said, "I guess I don't have to rebut your previous comment." He smiled and shook his head as in point well taken. Several of the guys in the shop have already stated that they will remember that picture in their minds next time they screw on broadheads.

I am not submitting this story to preach to anyone on why you should use a broadhead wrench. I believe we are all adults making our own decisions. I just wanted to share my story in hopes that it may save someone else from ruining their season or possibly career because of a little slip. I'm not one that wants to pad the world with rubber bumpers but I will use a broadhead wrench from now on. I bought one the other day.

I'd like to thank all of you for taking the time to read this passage. Some manufacturers used to include wrenches with their heads. Some still do but alot do not. Do you think that you would use one if it came with a pack of broadheads? If not, will you regret if your season ends before it begins? I would like to hear your thoughts.

Good luck to everyone this season and may you all stay safe.

Respectfully,

Brian Hoffman

Attached Images

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cartman308

Ouch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Athens Factory Staff Shooter

05_sprcrw

Ouch glad your hand is getting better and that you are ok. Hopefully you can get back in the stand quickly. Definitely a good reality check for me because I never use a bh wrench like I know I should.

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New Breed Archery Samurai Genetix 82lbs 29" 550 Grains 16% F.O.C. 282 fps, RFA Phoenix and Razorhawk Broadheads

Standing Bear

I say your season is starting with a bang !!!!!! You Sir, have the attitude and courage of a true Champion. Now get out there and Shoot'em straight !!!!

Daniel

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kmrcstintn

I don't use a broadhead wrench, but I have cut resistant kevlar gloves that I use for assembly, insertion, removal of my broadheads; I will look into getting a broadhead wrench when the gloves start to wear out

archeryx

Thanks everyone for voting so far. Let's keep this near the top.

Also in my original post, I posed the thought of more companies including a wrench with a pack of heads. Should all companies include one with their heads? If so, would you use it?

The shooting is going well. I feel sorry for all those poor deer. Well, almost! Monday morning is nearing.

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DawgBone

OOOOOWWW!

I do use the wrench when they come with one. After looking at that pic I'll use some vice grips when they don't

Glad you're ok, man!

Big Boar

Ouch.

Hope you recover fully and fast.

I wish your poll had "Sometimes". I usually do not use a wrench to put my old RM Preimers on my arrows because I do not overly tghten them, but sometimes I need one to remove them.

Also as a broadhead collector I have dozens of different wrenches that were supplied with heads. Many times when putting heads together they require assembly before they can be mounted on an arrow. In these cases I always use a wrench

archeryx

Good point on the 'Sometimes' part. I thought about including it, but 'sometimes' means that you truly don't use one every time, which I guess is the way I wanted to poll to reflect. My sometimes was only about 6 times in the last 12 years probably so I consider that a big notta! Thanks for clarifying your use of one though. It's going to be interesting to see when and why people do or dont use them.

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archeryx

So the hand is better and even managed to get a doe less than half an hour into the season here in Kansas. Since I'm operating on one and a half hands, my dear friend Leon even rushed out the door this morning since it wasn't even 7:30 yet and helped me gut and load her.

100 gr Razor Trick (Even the one that went in my hand!)

Attached Images

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Standing Bear

Now that made my day, congratulations on your doe !!!!!!!!!! Great pictures

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Authorized Athens Archery Dealer, Athens Factory Staff Shooter Swhacker Pro Staff

Big Boar

Congrats. You must have an angel sitting on your shoulder.

meateater

Man that looks super painfull!! Glad to hear your doing ok and no major damage!! I use a broadhead wrench if the heads I using came with one. but most of the time I don't use them because like you said not all manufactures include them any more. After seeing this I will be using a wrench!!

Alaskan Assassin

A couple years ago on a bear hunt, we had a bear high, unstalkable with the bow, so I grabbed a rifle and took the bear. Back on the boat, I was taking the BH off my arrows to put stuff away. As I gripped down and torqued harder to get the BH loose, it suddenly let go. Gave me really good cuts on thumb and forefinger, but not as bad as OP's. Fortunately, I was able to bandage up, glove up, and finish fleshing the hide.

I guess that's a long way of saying... Now I use a wrench!!!

archeryx

Long way, short way, glad to see I'm not the only one to find out the hard way.

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