Steel for flying knives

JTknives

JTknives

Joined
Jun 11, 2006
Messages
8,651
I have been tossing around the idea of making some broad head blades for archery hunting. A budy who hunts every year with a bow sent me a few of his favorit broad heads to try out this year. First thing I noticed is the blade steel was rather soft and does not hold an edge worth a dang. After a few shots into the bag the razor sharp edge is gone. I ran the blade to the shop and it measures 52rc. I did some research and it seams like that's normal for broad heads to not hold an edge at all. So my thought was to acquire some thin stock and make some replacement blades. But with all the options of steel out there what would be the best for this chore. First steel(s) that come to my mind is S7 and 3V in maybe the 58rc range. I'm after first and foremost toughness as its not uncommon for these to impact bone and then wear resistance. I can see the current blades failing quickly if it comes in contact with any bone of any substance.

So what do you think, any ideas to what would work best for this. The current blades are .040 thick so the replacement stock would need to be at least close to this. I have some 1/16" A2 that I could try but it would need to be surfaced down.

Thanks guys.
 
Message a guy on here named osage outlaw. He's a primitive archer guy and should be able to assist you
 
The last 2 bucks I've killed with a crossbow were with homeade broadheads. 2 years ago I shot a buck thru both shoulder
blades with a broadhead I made, Ats-34 @ 61-62 Rc. Last year double lunged one with one of the same heads but never
touched a rib. Both deer were dead within 30 feet of where they were hit. The heads were made with .063 stock @ 125
grains- give or take a grain.
Ken.
 
I shoot all the broadheads I hunt with numerous times. The blades are silver brazed into the slot of
a 8x32 screw. The head with the 1 on it killed both deer. I wouldn't worry too much about shock on
green bone. If I trust my knives I should be able to trust my arrowheads.

Ken.
 
If I was going to go nuts and manufacture arrowheads I'd get them exactley the way I wanted them
and have a few hundred waterjet cut. As is a red cutoff wheel on a die grinder works well. If I need to
make 3 or 7 more its not a big deal. Does feel good to watch them go home though.
Ken.
 
I imagine that just about anything in a carbon/tool steel would work for a broad head... just temper it a little harder and put a little shallower of a secondary angle on the edge.

AEB-L might be a decent candidate, or D2.
 
Lots of broad heads are similar to razor blades so I would guess Aebl would work well.....but so would other steels.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top