Are super sharp broadheads really better?
02-13-2007 | 04:55 PM
#31
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,983
Likes: 0
From: Sturgis, SD
RE: Are super sharp broadheads really better?
Some good replies and thoughts here. I prefer mine razor sharp, I want to cut big arteries, a semi dull blade will not do that. Like has been said, arteries are very compliant and you need a very sharp edge to cut them.
The brain has nothing to do with initiating the clotting cascade, that is incorrect in the article above. Rip it, cut it, dull or sharp, the coagualtion cascade is going to be initiated when bleeding occurs.Ragged edges will make a difference in clotting time, this is not significant whentalking about the difference between a kill or not.
To kill the animal with an arrow you need massive hemorrhage, this means cuttinglargediameterarteries, not veins.Large veins can hemorrhage extensively butare on the lowpressue side of the cardiovascular system, the pressure in themcan decrease enough for aclot to stay in place. Large diameter arteries have very high pressures in them.Much higher thanthat needed to dislodge ablood clot. Ifyoucut a large artery it is not going to clot, period. The only way to stoplarge diameter arterial hemorrhage is to clamp it, tie it or run out of blood. Youwon't cut these structures if your blades are not sharp.
The sharpness ofanyblade is directly related to the angle put on it. The closer theangles on each side of the blade are to each other the sharper the blade. That iswhy it is impossible to sharpen anything by hand as precise as with a laser. The laser will giveyou the same angle, ahand stone never does. That said, the finer the angle the sharper the blade the more delicate the edge. I don't think a burred edge or micro-serrations have anything to do with it. A true razor sharp blade has a very fine angle on it and is more delicate. One that isn't quite as sharp has less angle and is more durable. There is a middle road in there. A 21 degree angle with a laser is going to be much sharper than a 21 degree angle put on by hand and the durability should be the same between the two.
I think you get a false sense of security with a hand honed blade. They are not near as sharp to start with so you don't notice as big a difference after using them .
The brain has nothing to do with initiating the clotting cascade, that is incorrect in the article above. Rip it, cut it, dull or sharp, the coagualtion cascade is going to be initiated when bleeding occurs.Ragged edges will make a difference in clotting time, this is not significant whentalking about the difference between a kill or not.
To kill the animal with an arrow you need massive hemorrhage, this means cuttinglargediameterarteries, not veins.Large veins can hemorrhage extensively butare on the lowpressue side of the cardiovascular system, the pressure in themcan decrease enough for aclot to stay in place. Large diameter arteries have very high pressures in them.Much higher thanthat needed to dislodge ablood clot. Ifyoucut a large artery it is not going to clot, period. The only way to stoplarge diameter arterial hemorrhage is to clamp it, tie it or run out of blood. Youwon't cut these structures if your blades are not sharp.
The sharpness ofanyblade is directly related to the angle put on it. The closer theangles on each side of the blade are to each other the sharper the blade. That iswhy it is impossible to sharpen anything by hand as precise as with a laser. The laser will giveyou the same angle, ahand stone never does. That said, the finer the angle the sharper the blade the more delicate the edge. I don't think a burred edge or micro-serrations have anything to do with it. A true razor sharp blade has a very fine angle on it and is more delicate. One that isn't quite as sharp has less angle and is more durable. There is a middle road in there. A 21 degree angle with a laser is going to be much sharper than a 21 degree angle put on by hand and the durability should be the same between the two.
I think you get a false sense of security with a hand honed blade. They are not near as sharp to start with so you don't notice as big a difference after using them .
