Fred Bear Sharp?

[tradrookie93]

This is not an edge debate. How sharp is the "Fred Bear" edge? Is it just sharp enough to cut hair? Would it shave?

[ChuckC]

I have to ask......WHAT is the Fred Bear edge ?

[tradrookie93]

That what I've heard people call it. It's just a filed edge. Making a burr and just nocking it off.

[tomsm44]

I've done it.  File sharp, then hit it for a few minutes on a kitchen knife steel.  It'll shave as clean as a leather stropped edge, but you can feel the rough edge drag on your skin.  I've only killed one deer with trad gear, but it performed very well on that one.

[Shadowhnter]

If that's what it is, then done correctly it will shave hair.

[Bud B.]

Originally posted by Shadowhnter:
If that's what it is, then done correctly it will shave hair.

Yes it will. And slice fingers.  

[crazynate]

I use a Fred bear edge if you wanna call it that. I get the burr done than just touch it with either leather or a steel. I shot through a 300# pig  with a 450 grain arrow using them like that and a few whitetails. It's a rough edge not like a muzzy. But it works for me.

[crazynate]

And yes it will shave hair right off my arm with ease.

[dragonheart]

I like razor sharp.  I gave razor sharp broad heads a real chance a few seasons back.  After reading Ashbys work, he suggests that BH should be sharp enough to shave your beard with ease.  My experience concurs with him.  Two critters I took really changed my mind.  A sow and a buck that both went less than 45 yrds.  Bloodtrails were to say the least no issue.
I hunted for many years with file sharp, but I am now firmly in the razor sharp camp.  If a hunter does not wish to take the time to obtain needed equipment and skill to learn sharpening to a razor level, I really think they would be well served to just buy razor sharp cut on contact BH.  It would be money well spent in recovery of game.

Research Article Part 8

http://tuffhead.com/education/ashby.html

[mnbwhtr]

I've never been able to shave with that method, it takes a little longer with a razoredge clamp but when done they will pop hairs off just sliding the blade over your arm. I'm a firm believer in RAZOR sharp heads.

[elkhunter45]

One observation that I would like to bring into the conversation is that Fred shot a 65# bow. There is considerable more energy available with that heavy of a draw weight than say a 45# bow. I shoot a 50# @ 28 and I try to get my heads as sharp as I can. I believe that I have less margin of error than a heavy bow guy would. While all bows require a sharp edge to get penetration, it is imperative for those of us shooting lighter equipment.  I have three step process that I use. First, I use a flat file to widen the edge as Fred did, then I use a 3R hollow ground jig that I run my Zwickey's through to get the hollow ground profile, and them some time on a ceramic rod to get the razor edge.

[huskyarcher]

I personally like it best. Simple, and works every time! I heard someone say one time a surgeon uses the edge he does to minimize bleeding, and heal quickly, I want neither of those things! Im not in any way trying to start a debate, i just have had great results with "Fred Bear sharp."

[Rob DiStefano]

"fred bear edge".  never heard that one and i thought i'd heard it all.  live and learn, eh?

this is simple stuff, no need for over thinking.

all that matters is if you did the sharpening job right, and the broad will shave hair off yer arm.  that's it.  

now you'll prolly ask, how do i sharpen a 2, 3, or 4 blade broadhead?  go check out the 'how to - resources' board, just a few clicks away.

[Sam McMichael]

Either a razor edge or a "Fred Bear" edge will shave hair or kill a game animal just fine. If you don't believe it, just read some of the threads similar to this all over the place. You will get convincing stories that "prove" each edge is better than the other. But, if it will shave hair, it will do the trick as long as the shot placement is good.

[Charlie Lamb]

Well said Rob!    

Originally posted by Rob DiStefano:
.....all that matters is if you did the sharpening job right, and the broad will shave hair off yer arm.

[Rob DiStefano]

really, i don't understand the logic behind threads like this.  what is there NOT to understand about broadhead lethality?  make it sharp like a razor.  so sharp that yer scared to touch it.  protect that edge, too - don't wanna dull it needlessly cause you want it to do its job well (IF you do yer job well with arrow placement).

again, if yer not sure how to get most any blade razor sharp, seek out out our resources board.  if that don't help, then make a thread and ask how.

[Mr.Vic]

I Agree Rob, maybe another forum section for beginners to ask these questions is needed along with. Which arrow is the best,do i need a 200 grain broadhead, how fast can i make my arrow, is 25% FOC too much on and on an on...i been on trad gang since the early 2000's and left for a while due to home circumstances along with the same old boring questions being asked every week.. There's a wealth of knowledge for any answer if people use the search features that are on here. I see it everyday young people love to make things complicated...Bowhunting with the trad bow an life is better if things are simple. Also seems people now days want to be shooters instead of hunters.

[Butch Speer]

Originally posted by huskyarcher:
 I heard someone say one time a surgeon uses the edge he does to minimize bleeding,

I hate to admit this but, last year I was shooting a razor sharp Bear razorhead into a foam target.  The BH was stuck in the target. In stead of turning the target upside down and putting my foot on the target, Was wearing shorts. I just put my knee on it, pulled and that razor sharp head went across my calf right below the knee. I dropped the arrow and looked down. Already had blood in my shoe.Went to my work bench, grabbed a roll of paper towels to hold against it and hobbeled to the steps to go upstairs. Four inch cut plus hit a vein. Left a blood trail across the basement a blind man could follow. Never believe a razor sharp edge reduces the bleeding.

[Terry Green]

You are correct sir it does not reduce bleeding ....it actually encourages bleeding because a super smooth cut will not coagulate as quick as a jagged one...
there's not as same amount of trauma sent to the area plus the surgeon uses such a scalpel also to reduce scarring.

The cleaner the cut the easier it is for the surgeon to work on you and the tissues he's fixing.

This however does not mean that a File Edge will not work and kill game make no mistake about it.A file edge will serve its purpose and more so if done correctly.

I'm going to continue to call this a file edge because I've been around for a while and I've never heard it called a Fred Bear Edge... maybe that's a new term made up by someone.