Hunting Axes

Broadhead Sharpening: Touch-up and Resharpening

Broadhead Sharpening: Touch-up and Resharpening

Factory-sharp is a starting point, not a finish line. Every fixed head that goes in a quiver picks up microscopic edge damage from the strap, the vibration, and the storage. Field-touch-up is a 60-second habit before every hunt. Full resharpening is a winter-workshop job for single-bevel and premium double-bevel heads.

5 steps to a shaving-sharp broadhead

  1. Inspect the edge under strong light. Angle the blade so light glints off the edge. Any glint means dull. A truly sharp edge does not reflect light.
  2. Set the bevel angle on a flat stone. For double-bevels, use a 25 to 30 degree included angle (KME sharpener or a fine ceramic rod set). For single-bevels, match the factory grind (usually 25 degrees).
  3. Alternate strokes edge-leading. Push the blade edge-first across a 1000 grit stone, then flip and repeat. 10 to 15 strokes per side is plenty for a touch-up.
  4. Move to a strop or 6000 grit. Trailing strokes only, edge dragging away from the strop. This polishes the burr off and takes the edge from sharp to shaving-sharp.
  5. Test on paper. A properly sharpened head cuts printer paper on a draw stroke with zero snag. If it snags, back to the strop.

Head-specific sharpening notes

Slick Trick, QAD Exodus, and Muzzy Trocar use replaceable blades. Do not resharpen; replace. Iron Will, G5 Montec, and Cutthroat single-bevels are designed for repeated resharpening; a single Iron Will S100 outlives 3 seasons of replaceable-blade wear if you strop it after every practice session.

The tri-hone versus KME question

The Smith’s tri-hone (medium, fine, ultra-fine) works for touch-up on chisel tips. The KME Sharpener with a broadhead adapter is the gold standard for single-bevels and premium heads because it sets a consistent angle. If you shoot Iron Will or Cutthroat, buy the KME.

KME with the broadhead attachment turned my G5 Montecs from ‘sharp’ to ‘scary sharp.’ Blood trails got shorter and easier to follow. Worth every penny for the guys who resharpen instead of replace.

Rokslide, Broadhead Forum, 2024

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