One of the greatest features of Tooth of the Arrow Broadheads is their ability to be used and abused in target faces and big bucks, then resharpened and used again.
This feature comes from our world-class heat-treating process, the high-quality carbon steel we use, and the fact that each head is machined out of a solid steel bar. That’s right, we take a bar of steel and ‘carve’ a broadhead out of it. No moving parts mean less room for failure, and high attention to detail in every step of the manufacturing means you are not buying just another disposable broadhead.
We make two sharpeners for our broadheads to help you get them so sharp that even Sweeney Todd would approve. They both feature the same fool-proof design, one with 320-grit stones and the other with finer 600-grit stones to hone that edge to its surgical capability. We recently made a video breaking down exactly how to use our sharpener; check that out here or below.
After making that video, I started thinking about the ‘1% better’ rule I talk about in these blogs and on YouTube. We should do it if we can make ourselves even 1% more lethal as bowhunters.
Is there anything I could do to make my broadheads even 1% sharper using our sharpener? I reached out to a friend whose life revolves around traditional archery. He spends his evenings not watching hockey or baseball on TV but sharpening his broadheads, going over every one of his arrows in excruciating detail, and honing every part of his craft as a traditional bowman.
He gave me some invaluable tips that I will now share with you and one of my own that will help you make your Tooth of the Arrow Broadheads even sharper.
Before I worked with Tooth of the Arrow, I was simply a bowhunter who loved the broadheads. I kept a sharpener in my truck; whenever I used it, I just used it dry. It worked, and I brought some broadheads back to life with it, but I never considered using oil because of the mess it would make in my truck.
When I started taking things more seriously, I realized I should sharpen my broadheads at home with oil before heading out.
Applying honing oil to the stones before sharpening lubricates the stones and prevents dry friction that can damage the blades if your angle isn’t perfect.
I still keep a sharpener in my truck to be used dry if I need it, but my blades are sharper now than when I didn’t use oil. Be sure to wipe any excess oil off the blades when you are done, and you won’t regret the small mess required to get that edge razor-sharp!
This next one came from my good friend, that traditional bowhunting guru I mentioned earlier. I had always sharpened my heads while they were on the end of an arrow for easier handling, but he suggested that I don’t fully tighten the head on the shaft. This allows the head to rotate itself into an optimal position for sharpening and takes some human error out of the process.
Sure enough, I tried it, and he was right. I will screw the head onto a shaft and then back it off about ¼ turn so it is stable but can twist on its own. The sharpening process, which I thought was simple enough, just got simpler.
Just like when shooting, hand position matters when it comes to sharpening. I have always held the arrow shaft a few inches back from the point, not giving much thought to my hand position and just doing what was comfortable. That is what you will see me doing in the video linked above.
My friend suggested that I place my hand nearer the front of the arrow with my index finger on the back of the blade, which points up. This, combined with the loose broadhead being able to twist itself into an optimal sharpening angle, gives me maximum control over the edge.
There is no way that the broadhead can make a micro-adjustment that would put that edge at a poor angle which would do more harm than good. I tried this second tip of his, and once again, he was right.
As a compound archer, I must admit that there is a lot we can learn from the traditional guys and gals. They willingly make their lives harder. Sure, we have it harder than rifle hunters, but we gain additional time and tags that they don’t by choosing to bow hunt.
These traditional guys have my utmost respect because they don’t gain any competitive advantage by choosing trad gear over compound. The sharpness of their broadheads matters a lot more than it does for us compound shooters. With their arrows flying on average only about 60%-70% of our speed, anything they can do to increase penetration matters. Sharpening their broadheads and getting them even 1% sharper is one of those things.
Had a big sow under the feeder last week, stalked down with the Hoyt to around 20 yds and sent it. The arrow blew through so quick I had trouble finding it after it went around 50 feet further into the woods, I was shocked. Went back and got my dog on his lead and he went straight to the hog on a massive blood trail. Shot placement is always key, you do your part and TOTA will do its. I can attach pics if it was an option.
I have to use them in the field but have had them down the range and they are spot on with my field points. I tested them with my compound and with my crossbow, both flew perfect. Well machined and super sharp. The ones I tested, I used the sharpener on them and brought them right back to deadly. Can't wait to see what they will do in the field on game. Highly Recommend these.
Awesome broadheads flies right with field points. Shot javelina at 46 yards thru some jumping cactus and prickly pear double lung and ran 15 yards and piled up
Since I’ve started using these broad heads I am 5 for 5 on deer and have watched all 5 animals expire within sight of the shot. Not every shot was perfect but there was significant damage every time. I also like being able to sharpen these often. I believe this makes a big difference.
