Who makes a broadhead essentially like the Bear Razorhead? I would like find something with the same basic size and shape. Especially important is steel of the same hardness. There are some really good heads that are so hard I just can't get them sharp. I like Zwickie, but it is hard for me to sharpen. Something similar to the old Magnus would be good as well. Thanks. I did a search but did not find anything very recent.
The new Magnus Stinger is very similar. It's been around for a while with a good reputation for effectiveness.
Any time I get a head that doesn't want pop hair I put it back on a coarse diamond stone and re-hone the edge bevel then go back to the finer stones to clean it up.
For me that's part of the trad thing...sharpening axes, knives and broadheads by hand.
Ace standards. You can get them really sharp with a file.
I consider the stinger to be the best head I have ever used. With both function and ease of sharpening being considered. Very similar design to a razor head.
Stingers are the closest you will find to the old screw-in bear razorheads; at least in terms of overall design ....the stingers however have better steel, and a few other improvements.
Do the Stingers come in a glue on style?
With True Angle system the Zwickey are super easy to make super sharp like all other 2 blades
Sam, why don't you just shoot Bear Rzorheads? They were pretty easy to sharpen. BTW, I'm still looking for the inserts for the Herter's Farbenglass arrows for you. I found a whole bunch of arrows, some with new Razorheads attached.
No
For glue-on.....I don't know of any that would be close to that design (same profile, vented, etc)
To make a Zwicky Eskimo sharp enough to shave is quite easy. You need there things, a good or new file, a diamond jewel stick and a leather belt. It's easy.
Unfortunately Magnus Stingers don't come in a glue-in version.
The Eclipse glue on are a nice head,close in shape.
Doesn't look like Eclipse is making the glue on style anymore
A lot of options in a glue-on head that are not vented and are 2.5" by 1 (1/4, 1/8, or 1/16), which would be similar.
Quote from: pavan on August 16, 2019, 05:57:01 PM
To make a Zwicky Eskimo sharp enough to shave is quite easy. You need there things, a good or new file, a diamond jewel stick and a leather belt. It's easy.
Uhm, that's sounds anything but easy. How about a head that you just need a stone. Maybe a fine diamond stone and an extra fine Arkansas to finish?
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Nope, using a file on a Zwicky is easy, pay a few extra strokes to the laminated tip, run the file at a cross angle that has some bite like a machine stroke, (avoid rounding strokes), smooth and easy with the jewel stick, strop away from the edge on a taunt leather belt, then shave what ever needs shaving. I have taught folks that couldn't sharpen a pencil to sharpen a Zwicky, they all could do it, even a 14 year old girl.
I'm not a file guy for heads. Like the Wooman "Elite". Comes in the package dull as a butter knife.
To me a quality head comes to me sharp. Can be sharpened easily on a small stone I can carry on a backpack hunt and still holds a razor edge once touched up.
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Pavan, when you use the file, do you file from the back of the edge forward, or do you file "into" the cutting edge. I'm afraid that 14 year old girl you mentioned may be better at this than I am.
Stinger, do you know of a source for Razorheads?
You can find lots of Razorheads on Ebay. And for less money than most new heads .
I like rib-tech and Ace standard
Sam, when I show people how to sharpen, I go from back to front on all edges. Depending on the head, i may reverse the head and go from front to back. I also switch hands and gain a stroke by filing left handed when I sharpen from back to front on the away edges myself, most folks are not coordinated that way. With certain heads it is easier to file from front to back. If I am only using a file and going for a smooth file edge, like on a 145 Ribtec,(they love files) I will go from front to back, preserving the cutting teeth on the away side, depending on left wing or right wing arrows. I often like a light serration that cuts into the arrow rotation. I made a bunch of single bevel Hills years ago when Grizzlys only came in right wing for left hand fletching counter clockwise rotation. That big ferule can get in the way of the file with Hills, filing into the blade can give a more predictable cutting angle, especially with the 140 grain Hills and it helps to shave a flat spot into the ferule when doing it. Once the single bevel is hunting sharp i apply a light serration with a file with the round safety edge,(they have a single row of teeth that stick out on the corner) on the bevel side of the blade, which preserves the cutting hooks on the flat side of the blade. More blood on the ground quicker. Lots of variations work, not something the OP was asking for he seems to be looking for something more ready made, but this stuff is really quite simple.
Quote from: Charlie Lamb on August 16, 2019, 10:39:34 PM
Doesn't look like Eclipse is making the glue on style anymore
Oh I really liked the 145 grain inch and five sixteenths. Have to get them on the classifieds.
While the subject was in my head, I just sharpened a new 140 Hill. new file, from from back to front into the blade on all four edges, (switched hands), then about 12 passes with a tilted towards me RADA, then about six strokes from firm to light with a jewel stick, then a couple passes on a tight light leather belt, equals a big hairless spot on my left arm, less than ten minutes.
I have located a source of a bunch of Bear Razorheads and am working out a deal. This should keep me fixed up for a while.
Shot my first deer 1976 with a Razorhead. Always keep a few around.
What didn't Fred shoot with one?
Good info too Pavan
In response to OP- Stingers or Muzzy Phantoms for sure. I use both, easy to keep sharp.
There is somebody,don't remember his name,that makes copies of the Razorhead and Pearson Deadheads. They're named Razerhead and Dreadhead respectively.
Quote from: Sam McMichael on August 16, 2019, 10:26:53 AM
Who makes a broadhead essentially like the Bear Razorhead? I would like find something with the same basic size and shape. Especially important is steel of the same hardness. There are some really good heads that are so hard I just can't get them sharp. I like Zwickie, but it is hard for me to sharpen. Something similar to the old Magnus would be good as well. Thanks. I did a search but did not find anything very recent.
Zwickey are the easiest to sharpen - if feeling challenged get a KME ! That will keep you happy even for the stingers and almost all your flat blades. Curved heads like simmons will need a proprietary system or a lansky.
I used to have a hard time with Zwickey as well. Then I watched this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCm2thbGoZI&list=PLr4Jyxim-wBYaI1JEN3Fw0cbgG_tE2Dav&index=37&t=0s
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCm2thbGoZI&list=PLr4Jyxim-wBYaI1JEN3Fw0cbgG_tE2Dav&index=37&t=0s)
That made the trick for me. I still refine them a bit with ceramic rods, but they shave my hair before that.
I spent hours with diamond stones, using a light pressure, and for some reason I couldn't get them sharp at all. Maybe I was not being consistent with the angle, I don't know. A few minutes with the file and the job was done.
Sometimes you just need to find what works for you I guess.
I use the the three river suggestion of the using a felt tip pen for the last few strokes with a file, it helps to know where you're going by seeing where you've been. I have seen false assumptions when the magic marker ink is taken off, when there is still a ways to go. When going for just a file edge on a head like ribtec, it pays to count strokes and save the black magic marker for the finishing strokes.
Sam, have you checked out the werewolf heads from Eclipse? They have the same basic head shape as a razor head and come in various weights. They are a breeze to get "scary sharp" and hold up very well.