File sharpened “toothy” edge vs razor sharp polished edge?

[Zking]

From a physiology standpoint the more jagged the cut the more clotting is activated as the chemicals that trigger the clotting cascade are released be damaged cells. So if you damage twice as many cells for the same width cut you trigger more clotting without increased hemorrhage.

If the blade angle is the same I don’t see how a more or less polished edge would dull faster. Does anyone have insight on that?

 

[Trumpkin The Dwarf]

From a physiology standpoint the more jagged the cut the more clotting is activated as the chemicals that trigger the clotting cascade are released be damaged cells. So if you damage twice as many cells for the same width cut you trigger more clotting without increased hemorrhage.

If the blade angle is the same I don’t see how a more or less polished edge would dull faster. Does anyone have insight on that?

In my experience, you can polish edges without actually achieving a refined apex. Leaving the burr on can make an edge feel super sharp but it will dull quickly. Likewise, it’s possible to round over the apex using softer polishing wheels or poor stropping technique. You can see your nose hairs in the reflection, but if the apex isn’t refined properly it doesn’t matter.

 

[Beendare]

From a physiology standpoint the more jagged the cut the more clotting is activated as the chemicals that trigger the clotting cascade are released be damaged cells. So if you damage twice as many cells for the same width cut you trigger more clotting without increased hemorrhage.

If the blade angle is the same I don’t see how a more or less polished edge would dull faster. Does anyone have insight on that?

I don't think thats true. If you think you have a grabby sharp edge check the opposite side of the bevel to see if it was just the burr you are feeling.

There is a lot of info on testing the best edge and steel on Bladeforums.com. The competitions where they cut through Manila rope are probably the best determining factor on what works best in our case with BH's. I have seen a couple of guys comment that they hone the edge down then hit it with a rougher 400 grit diamond. I've seen others that are a big fan of a micro bevel at a wider angle to make the edge tougher.

We need them sharp but also a little bit durable as the head might encounter bone.
The design matters too. The longer tapered designs put less dulling pressure on the bevelled edge. The short heads chop their way in with more hair, hide and bone contact which can dull an edge fast. It's all a trade off and thankfully just about everything works most of the time.

 

[Old3Toe]

The Bowyer's Edge with Dean Torges

Leaving this link here as a broadhead sharpening reference, especially for those of us who file sharpen broadheads. It's all technique and understanding, not rocket surgery.

 

[KyleR1985]

Dull broadheads will go through an animal at really close to the same rate as sharp broadheads, all else being equal.

Dull broadheads will not cut as much pressurized blood containing vessels as sharp ones, all else being equal.

For the vessels that do get cut, those cut by dull blades will clot/close faster than those cut by sharp blades.

None of this is particularly controversial.

All of this is on a continuum.

If you’re trying to compare pretty sharp broadheads to really sharp broadheads, You likely have to kill many animals to start to quantify the differences. I would be wary of human beings’ propensity to post hoc events to fit their mental model.


Across 100 or so medium/big game animals killed with a bow, and dozens more I’ve been witness to, I’ve landed on: surgically sharp fixed heads on 500-550gr arrows shot through a broadside ish calm animal without breaking their leg bone (punching a scapula doesn’t see to change things). This combo seems to lead to animals that dont run far, animals that dont know they dying, animals that lose enough blood pressure to get it to their brains quickly, animals that die within sight or sound of where I shot them.

Drop arrow weight, shoot a mechanical, shoot a dull broadhead, take a steep shot angle, break a leg, shoot a jacked up animal, and results can vary wildly. To be clear I have done, and continue to do some or all of these things.

But I have not seen a single compelling reason across all of it to shoot a dull broadhead.